Vic Chesnutt
Encyclopedia
James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American
singer-songwriter
from Athens, Georgia
. His first album, Little
, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
, a tribute album
of mainstream artists covering his songs.
Chesnutt released seventeen albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe
, and a 1996 release on Capitol Records
, About to Choke
. His musical style has been described by Bryan Carroll of allmusic.com as a "skewed, refracted version of Americana
that is haunting, funny, poignant, and occasionally mystical, usually all at once".
Injuries from a 1983 car accident left him partially paralyzed; he used a wheelchair and had limited use of his hands.
, Georgia
, where he first started writing songs at the age of five. At 18, a car accident left him partially paralyzed; in a December 1, 2009 interview with Terry Gross
on her NPR show Fresh Air
, he said he was "a quadriplegic from [his] neck down", and although he had feeling and some movement in his body, he could not walk "functionally" and that, although he realized shortly afterward that he could still play guitar, he could only play simple chords. After his recovery he left Zebulon and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
; the poetry he read there (by Stevie Smith
, Walt Whitman
, Wallace Stevens
, W. H. Auden
, Stephen Crane
, and Emily Dickinson
) served to inspire and influence him.
When he was 13, Chesnutt declared that he was an atheist, a position that he maintained for the rest of his life.
On December 25, 2009, Chesnutt died from an overdose of muscle relaxants that had left him in a coma in an Athens hospital. In the 2009 interview with Terry Gross, while discussing the song "Flirted with You All My Life", he said, "You know, I've attempted suicide three or four times. It didn't take."
; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.
. Stipe went on to produce Chesnutt's first two albums, Little
(1990) and West of Rome (1991).
In 1993, Chesnutt was the subject of filmmaker Peter Sillen's independently produced documentary, Speed Racer: Welcome to the World of Vic Chesnutt, which was shown on PBS. Chesnutt also had a small role as "Terence" in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton
movie Sling Blade
, which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.
In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund
. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Cracker
, Garbage
, The Smashing Pumpkins
(with Red Red Meat
), Madonna
, R.E.M.
, Soul Asylum
, and Live
.
, under the name of brute.
Chesnutt wrote "Aunt Avis" and co-wrote "Blight", "Protein-Drink/Sewing-Machine", which are often performed live by Widespead Panic. "Aunt Avis" appeared on WSP's album Bombs & Butterflies
, and Chesnutt made a guest appearance as well. The 1997 video for "Aunt Avis" was directed by Billy Bob Thornton
and featured Chesnutt.
After getting to know engineer Scott Stuckey
during the recording of West of Rome, Stuckey and Chesnutt became close friends and would go on to collaborate on various projects including, producing two more albums together, co-writing "Weed to the Rescue" for the Hempilation album, as well as working on numerous videos including "Ladle" for Capitol Records
. At the time of his death, Chesnutt and Stuckey were working on a documentary about Chesnutt's music. The film is tentatively titled, "Degenerate" and should be out some time in 2012.
Chesnutt's 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette
was recorded with alt-country
group Lambchop
as the backing band. The album Merriment
was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Chesnutt writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music.
The 2005 album Ghetto Bells featured famed guitarist Bill Frisell
, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale
. Ghetto Bells also featured lyricist and composer Van Dyke Parks
on accordion and keyboards. Chesnutt's wife, Tina, would frequently play bass on his albums, including Ghetto Bells. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett
also appeared on the album.
In the winter of 2006, he recorded North Star Deserter
at the Hotel2Tango
in Montreal
. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records
. The record included contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor
, as well as Fugazi
's Guy Picciotto
. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen
.
In 2008, Athens, Georgia
based Elephant 6 collective recording artists Elf Power
collaborated with Chesnutt on the album Dark Developments, released as Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and the Amorphous Strums. The "amorphous strums" refers to Curtiss Pernice and Sam Mixon, who also played on the album.
In 2009, Chesnutt worked with many of the same contributors to the album North Star Deserter
to release the album "At the Cut" in September. Also, Like with North Star Deserter the album was recorded in Montreal and released on Constellation Records
. Later in 2009, Vic recorded the album titled "Skitter on Take-off" which was inspired by the two albums recorded in Montreal and was released on Vapour.
In 2009, he sang on the track "Grim Augury" on from the album Dark Night of the Soul by Danger Mouse
of Gnarls Barkley
, Sparklehorse
, and director David Lynch
.
label. He then recorded About to Choke
(1996) for Capitol Records. The Salesman and Bernadette
(1998) was on PolyGram
; Merriment
(2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART
was the label for the self-performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Chesnutt then found a home at the New West Records
label, which released two of his albums. In 2004, New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.
, which he said helped with his medical problems. He contributed the track "Weed to the Rescue" to the 1998 Hempilation II charity album, with proceeds going to NORML, an American organization dedicated to marijuana legalization.
He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies
' 2007 album Trinity Revisited
, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session
. In 2011 Cowboy Junkies released Demons
, an album of eleven Chesnutt covers.
With brute.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
from Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
. His first album, Little
Little (album)
Little is the debut album by Vic Chesnutt, released in 1990. Produced by R.E.M. frontman, Michael Stipe, it was Chesnutt's first solo release. The album was re-released on July 5, 2004.-Overview:...
, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success didn't come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation is a 1996 tribute album that featured a variety of alternative rock bands covering songs written by quadriplegic musician Vic Chesnutt...
, a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
of mainstream artists covering his songs.
Chesnutt released seventeen albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe
Michael Stipe
John Michael Stipe is an American singer and lyricist. He was the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band R.E.M.Stipe is noted and occasionally parodied for the "mumbling" style of his early career as well as his social and political activism. He was in charge of R.E.M.'s visual image; often...
, and a 1996 release on Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, About to Choke
About to Choke
About to Choke is a 1996 album by Vic Chesnutt, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was known for his raw, expressive vocals.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt# "Myrtle" – 3:09# "New Town" – 4:09...
. His musical style has been described by Bryan Carroll of allmusic.com as a "skewed, refracted version of Americana
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
that is haunting, funny, poignant, and occasionally mystical, usually all at once".
Injuries from a 1983 car accident left him partially paralyzed; he used a wheelchair and had limited use of his hands.
Personal life
An adoptee, Chesnutt was raised in ZebulonZebulon, Georgia
Zebulon is a city in Pike County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,181 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Pike County...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, where he first started writing songs at the age of five. At 18, a car accident left him partially paralyzed; in a December 1, 2009 interview with Terry Gross
Terry Gross
Terry Gross is the host and co-executive producer of Fresh Air, an interview format radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed throughout the United States by National Public Radio....
on her NPR show Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
, he said he was "a quadriplegic from [his] neck down", and although he had feeling and some movement in his body, he could not walk "functionally" and that, although he realized shortly afterward that he could still play guitar, he could only play simple chords. After his recovery he left Zebulon and moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
; the poetry he read there (by Stevie Smith
Stevie Smith
Florence Margaret Smith, known as Stevie Smith was an English poet and novelist.-Life:Stevie Smith, born Florence Margaret Smith in Kingston upon Hull, was the second daughter of Ethel and Charles Smith. Contemporary Women Poets...
, Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
, Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens
Wallace Stevens was an American Modernist poet. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, educated at Harvard and then New York Law School, and spent most of his life working as a lawyer for the Hartford insurance company in Connecticut.His best-known poems include "Anecdote of the Jar",...
, W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
, Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane was an American novelist, short story writer, poet and journalist. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism and Impressionism...
, and Emily Dickinson
Emily Dickinson
Emily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
) served to inspire and influence him.
When he was 13, Chesnutt declared that he was an atheist, a position that he maintained for the rest of his life.
On December 25, 2009, Chesnutt died from an overdose of muscle relaxants that had left him in a coma in an Athens hospital. In the 2009 interview with Terry Gross, while discussing the song "Flirted with You All My Life", he said, "You know, I've attempted suicide three or four times. It didn't take."
Early career and films
Around 1985, Chesnutt moved to Athens and joined the band, La-Di-Das, with future member of the Dashboard Saviors Todd McBride. After leaving that group, he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club40 Watt Club
The 40 Watt Club is a music venue in Athens, Georgia. Along with CBGB's, the Whisky a Go Go, and selected others, it was instrumental in launching American punk rock and "New Wave music."...
; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
. Stipe went on to produce Chesnutt's first two albums, Little
Little (album)
Little is the debut album by Vic Chesnutt, released in 1990. Produced by R.E.M. frontman, Michael Stipe, it was Chesnutt's first solo release. The album was re-released on July 5, 2004.-Overview:...
(1990) and West of Rome (1991).
In 1993, Chesnutt was the subject of filmmaker Peter Sillen's independently produced documentary, Speed Racer: Welcome to the World of Vic Chesnutt, which was shown on PBS. Chesnutt also had a small role as "Terence" in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
movie Sling Blade
Sling Blade
Sling Blade is a 1996 American drama film set in rural Arkansas, written and directed by Billy Bob Thornton, who also stars in the lead role. It tells the story of a mentally impaired man named Karl Childers who is released from a psychiatric hospital, where he has lived since killing his mother...
, which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.
In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation
Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation is a 1996 tribute album that featured a variety of alternative rock bands covering songs written by quadriplegic musician Vic Chesnutt...
, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund
Sweet Relief Fund
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a non-profit charity that maintains a financial fund from which professional musicians can draw from when in need of medical care or financial needs...
. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Cracker
Cracker (band)
Cracker is an American alternative rock band featuring founders/songwriters singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. They are best known for their platinum-selling 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, featuring the hit songs "Low", "Euro-Trash Girl", and "Get Off This".Founders Lowery and Hickman...
, Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
, The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins
The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...
(with Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat
Red Red Meat was a '90s Chicago-area blues-influenced alternative rock band. After their break-up, frontman Tim Rutili went on to form Califone, for which many of Red Red Meat's former members, including producer Brian Deck, often record and perform...
), Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
, Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum
Soul Asylum is an American alternative rock band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1983.The band originally formed in 1981 under the name Loud Fast Rules, with the original line-up consisting of Dan Murphy, Dave Pirner, Karl Mueller and Pat Morley. The latter was replaced by Grant Young in...
, and Live
Live (band)
Live is an American rock band from York, Pennsylvania, composed of Chad Taylor , Patrick Dahlheimer , and Chad Gracey . Lead singer and principal songwriter Ed Kowalczyk left the band in November 2009....
.
Collaborations
He recorded with many other groups and artists. He made two albums with fellow Athens group Widespread PanicWidespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
, under the name of brute.
Brute.
brute. was a side project band by guitarist Vic Chesnutt and the members of Widespread Panic.-History:The first known grouping of Chesnutt with the members of the band was at John Keane's studio in Athens, Georgia. There, the collaboration recorded an album in early December 1993...
Chesnutt wrote "Aunt Avis" and co-wrote "Blight", "Protein-Drink/Sewing-Machine", which are often performed live by Widespead Panic. "Aunt Avis" appeared on WSP's album Bombs & Butterflies
Bombs & Butterflies
Bombs & Butterflies is the fifth studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band Widespread Panic. The band started recording the album in July 1996 at John Keane's studio in Athens. The band held a CD release party at Morton Theatre in Athens, one day prior to their Fox Theatre New Year's Eve run...
, and Chesnutt made a guest appearance as well. The 1997 video for "Aunt Avis" was directed by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
and featured Chesnutt.
After getting to know engineer Scott Stuckey
Scott Stuckey
Scott Stuckey is a filmmaker and record producer from Washington D.C.Stuckey was born in Eastman, Georgia. He is the creator of the cult TV show Pancake Mountain...
during the recording of West of Rome, Stuckey and Chesnutt became close friends and would go on to collaborate on various projects including, producing two more albums together, co-writing "Weed to the Rescue" for the Hempilation album, as well as working on numerous videos including "Ladle" for Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. At the time of his death, Chesnutt and Stuckey were working on a documentary about Chesnutt's music. The film is tentatively titled, "Degenerate" and should be out some time in 2012.
Chesnutt's 1998 album The Salesman and Bernadette
The Salesman and Bernadette
The Salesman And Bernadette is a 1998 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are from the American alternative country group Lambchop.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt#"Duty Free" – 3:13...
was recorded with alt-country
Alternative country
Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...
group Lambchop
Lambchop (band)
Lambchop, originally Posterchild, is a band from Nashville, Tennessee. Lambchop is loosely associated with the alternative country genre...
as the backing band. The album Merriment
Merriment
Merriment is a 2000 album by Vic Chesnutt. The album is a collaborative effort between Georgia based musicians - Vic Chesnutt and Kelly & Nikki Keneipp, with Chesnutt writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music...
was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Chesnutt writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music.
The 2005 album Ghetto Bells featured famed guitarist Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell
William Richard "Bill" Frisell is an American guitarist and composer.One of the leading guitarists in jazz since the late 1980s, Frisell's eclectic music touches on progressive folk, classical music, country music, noise and more...
, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale
Ruhrtriennale
The Ruhrtriennale is an annual music and arts festival in the northwestern area of Germany which runs between mid-August and mid-October. It was founded in 2002 by the government of North Rhine-Westphalia with Gerard Mortier, the impresario and former artistic director of the Salzburg Festival, as...
. Ghetto Bells also featured lyricist and composer Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
on accordion and keyboards. Chesnutt's wife, Tina, would frequently play bass on his albums, including Ghetto Bells. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett
Liz Durrett
Liz Durrett is an American singer-songwriter based in Athens, Georgia. She is currently signed to Athens-based Warm Records and has released three albums. Her first two albums were produced by her uncle, famed Georgian singer-songwriter, Vic Chesnutt. Her third album, Outside Our Gates was...
also appeared on the album.
In the winter of 2006, he recorded North Star Deserter
North Star Deserter
North Star Deserter is a 2007 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are Guy Picciotto and Canadian Post-rock band, A Silver Mt. Zion...
at the Hotel2Tango
Hotel2Tango
The Hotel2Tango is a 24-track analogue recording studio situated in the Mile End district of Montreal, Quebec. The current facility is the second to bear the name, and was preceded by a similar operation in the same neighborhood until 2007 when the studio changed locations...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records
Constellation Records
Constellation Records is an influential Montreal, Quebec independent record label known for its contributions to experimental genres of music. It is most famous for releasing the albums of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and Do Make Say...
. The record included contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band which originated from Montreal, Quebec in 1994...
, as well as Fugazi
Fugazi (band)
Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1987. The band's continual members are guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty....
's Guy Picciotto
Guy Picciotto
Guy Picciotto is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, musician, and producer from Washington, DC.He is most widely known for his role as the guitarist and vocalist of Fugazi, as well as Rites of Spring.-Rites of Spring & Early Projects:...
. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen
Jem Cohen
Jem Alan Cohen is an award-winning New York City-based filmmaker known for his observational portraits of urban landscapes, blending of media formats and collaborations with music artists. He is the recipient of the Independent Spirit Award and many first place awards for feature filmmaking...
.
In 2008, Athens, Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
based Elephant 6 collective recording artists Elf Power
Elf Power
Elf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
collaborated with Chesnutt on the album Dark Developments, released as Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, and the Amorphous Strums. The "amorphous strums" refers to Curtiss Pernice and Sam Mixon, who also played on the album.
In 2009, Chesnutt worked with many of the same contributors to the album North Star Deserter
North Star Deserter
North Star Deserter is a 2007 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are Guy Picciotto and Canadian Post-rock band, A Silver Mt. Zion...
to release the album "At the Cut" in September. Also, Like with North Star Deserter the album was recorded in Montreal and released on Constellation Records
Constellation Records
Constellation Records is an influential Montreal, Quebec independent record label known for its contributions to experimental genres of music. It is most famous for releasing the albums of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, and Do Make Say...
. Later in 2009, Vic recorded the album titled "Skitter on Take-off" which was inspired by the two albums recorded in Montreal and was released on Vapour.
In 2009, he sang on the track "Grim Augury" on from the album Dark Night of the Soul by Danger Mouse
Danger Mouse
Brian Joseph Burton , better known by his stage name Danger Mouse, is an American musician, songwriter and producer. He came to prominence in 2004 when he released The Grey Album, which combined vocal performances from Jay-Z's The Black Album with instrumentals from The Beatles' White Album.He...
of Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley is an American soul duo comprising Danger Mouse and Cee Lo Green. Their first studio album St. Elsewhere was released in 2006; along with its first single "Crazy". Both single and album were a major commercial success and have been noted for their large sales by download...
, Sparklehorse
Sparklehorse
Sparklehorse was an American indie rock band led by the singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous.-History:Sparklehorse's first album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot featuring Bob Rupe of the Silos and Cracker, was a modest college radio success...
, and director David Lynch
David Lynch
David Keith Lynch is an American filmmaker, television director, visual artist, musician and occasional actor. Known for his surrealist films, he has developed his own unique cinematic style, which has been dubbed "Lynchian", and which is characterized by its dream imagery and meticulous sound...
.
Label history
Chesnutt's first four albums were released on the independent Texas HotelTexas Hotel Records
Texas Hotel Records was an independent record label based in Santa Monica, California, which released records by singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt, Henry Rollins and the Rollins Band from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s...
label. He then recorded About to Choke
About to Choke
About to Choke is a 1996 album by Vic Chesnutt, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was known for his raw, expressive vocals.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt# "Myrtle" – 3:09# "New Town" – 4:09...
(1996) for Capitol Records. The Salesman and Bernadette
The Salesman and Bernadette
The Salesman And Bernadette is a 1998 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are from the American alternative country group Lambchop.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt#"Duty Free" – 3:13...
(1998) was on PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
; Merriment
Merriment
Merriment is a 2000 album by Vic Chesnutt. The album is a collaborative effort between Georgia based musicians - Vic Chesnutt and Kelly & Nikki Keneipp, with Chesnutt writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music...
(2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART
SpinART Records
spinART Records is a now-defunct New York City-based independent record label that released recordings by artists such as The Apples in Stereo, Clem Snide, Frank Black and Michael Penn....
was the label for the self-performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Chesnutt then found a home at the New West Records
New West Records
New West Records is a record label based in Los Angeles, California, Austin, Texas, and Athens, Georgia. It was established in 1998, and has been home to several indie rock and alternative country bands as well as representing the PBS show Austin City Limits...
label, which released two of his albums. In 2004, New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.
Compilations
Chesnutt was also a supporter of medical marijuanaMedical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
, which he said helped with his medical problems. He contributed the track "Weed to the Rescue" to the 1998 Hempilation II charity album, with proceeds going to NORML, an American organization dedicated to marijuana legalization.
He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies
Cowboy Junkies are a Canadian alternative country/blues/folk rock band. The group was formed in Toronto in 1985 by Margo Timmins , Michael Timmins , Peter Timmins and Alan Anton ....
' 2007 album Trinity Revisited
Trinity Revisited
Trinity Revisited is an album and a film by Cowboy Junkies, released on October 16, 2007. It is a 20th anniversary edition of their most famous album, The Trinity Session...
, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session
The Trinity Session
The Trinity Session is a 1988 album by Cowboy Junkies, their second album.The music was recorded at Toronto, Ontario's Church of the Holy Trinity on , with the band circled around a single microphone...
. In 2011 Cowboy Junkies released Demons
Demons (Cowboy Junkies album)
Demons is an album by the Canadian rock band Cowboy Junkies, released in 2011. It contains eleven Vic Chesnutt covers. It is Volume Two of the Nomad Series.-Track listing:# "Wrong Piano"# "Flirted With You All My Life"# "See You Around"...
, an album of eleven Chesnutt covers.
Quotations
- "Other people write about the bling and the booty. I write about the pus and the gnats. To me, that's beautiful."
Discography
- 1990 LittleLittle (album)Little is the debut album by Vic Chesnutt, released in 1990. Produced by R.E.M. frontman, Michael Stipe, it was Chesnutt's first solo release. The album was re-released on July 5, 2004.-Overview:...
- 1991 West of Rome
- 1993 Drunk
- 1995 Is the Actor Happy?
- 1996 About to ChokeAbout to ChokeAbout to Choke is a 1996 album by Vic Chesnutt, a singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was known for his raw, expressive vocals.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt# "Myrtle" – 3:09# "New Town" – 4:09...
- 1998 The Salesman and BernadetteThe Salesman and BernadetteThe Salesman And Bernadette is a 1998 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are from the American alternative country group Lambchop.-Track listing:All songs written by Vic Chesnutt#"Duty Free" – 3:13...
- 2000 MerrimentMerrimentMerriment is a 2000 album by Vic Chesnutt. The album is a collaborative effort between Georgia based musicians - Vic Chesnutt and Kelly & Nikki Keneipp, with Chesnutt writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music...
- 2001 Left to his Own Devices
- 2003 Silver Lake
- 2005 Ghetto Bells
- 2005 Extra Credit EP
- 2007 North Star DeserterNorth Star DeserterNorth Star Deserter is a 2007 album by Vic Chesnutt. The backing musicians on the album are Guy Picciotto and Canadian Post-rock band, A Silver Mt. Zion...
- 2008 Dark Developments (with Elf PowerElf PowerElf Power is an indie rock band that originated in Athens, Georgia. Currently, the line-up consists of guitarist/vocalist Andrew Rieger, keyboardist Laura Carter, guitarist Jimmy Hughes, bassist Derek Almstead, and drummer Eric Harris...
and The Amorphous Strums) - 2009 Mitte Ende August OST
- 2009 At the CutAt the CutAt the Cut is a 2009 album by Vic Chesnutt. It was his final album release before his death on December 25, 2009, from an overdose of muscle relaxants...
- 2009 Skitter on Take-OffSkitter on Take-OffSkitter on Take-Off is an album by Vic Chesnutt, released posthumously in 2010 on Vapor Records.-Track listing:#"Feast in the Time of Plague" – 3:53#"Unpacking My Suitcase" – 3:20#"Dimples" – 4:09#"Rips in the Fabric" – 6:00...
With brute.
Brute.
brute. was a side project band by guitarist Vic Chesnutt and the members of Widespread Panic.-History:The first known grouping of Chesnutt with the members of the band was at John Keane's studio in Athens, Georgia. There, the collaboration recorded an album in early December 1993...
- 1995 Nine High a PalletNine High a PalletNine High a Pallet is the first studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band brute., which was a collaboration band between guitarist Vic Chesnutt and members of Widespread Panic....
- 2002 Co-BaltCo-BaltCo-Balt is the second studio album by the Athens, Georgia-based band brute., which was a collaboration band between guitarist Vic Chesnutt and the members of Widespread Panic. It was released seven years after the band's debut release, Nine High a Pallet, on April 9, 2002...
External links
- Daily Telegraph obituary
- Vic Chesnutt collection at the Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
's live music archive