I was deeply saddened to learn this morning that Vic Chesnutt died over the weekend after falling into a coma from an overdose of muscle relaxants.  Here’s the article from the Athens Banner-Herald.  Constellation Records has a post up here which includes some thoughts from his friends, including Jem Cohen, Michael Stipe, Jeff Mangum, and Mark McElhattan. 

Earlier this year I met Vic when he came through Madison with Elf Power to support their collaborative album Dark Developments.  We cleared out some room for him to sleep on the couch by moving the rug and coffee table, so he wheeled on in and amicably cursed out my dogs who tried to sleep with him.  In the morning he and I were the first ones up, and while my Westie sat on his lap we exchanged dog stories for a good while.  He was a kind soul who delighted in revolting and offending.  Laura Carter at times seemed like his mother, offering “just ignore him” looks while he regaled us all about how he could trick his dog into eating his boogers.  And he was nice enough to sign my tour poster, even though his name was advertised nowhere on it.

He was sardonic but you could see the heart behind his words.  Even when we were talking film (I was debating whether to go see the documentary Sherman’s March, and he said, “I saw that film.  The guy in it is really annoying.  It drives me crazy.  I saw it twice. You should go see it, it’s an important film!”)  – he was a flurry of contradictions, passionate and funny.  When he was onstage, his diminutive physical presence was overwhelmed by his voice – he seemed to become his vocals, pouring himself through the microphone.

Pinnochio at the Townhall offered this link to donate to Vic’s family.  If you haven’t watched them already, a good way to remember Vic would be to watch the films he put together with Jimmy Hughes on the Vic Chesnutt/Elf Power European tour.  It’s a Vic’s-Eye-View of the world.  You can browse through the Elf Power category to find them.