Elliott Smith died Tuesday, apparantly a suicide, adding to this year’s list of deceased musicians: Warren Zevon, Johnny Cash, Robert Palmer … am I missing any? Elliott Smith, expressed through his music, has always appeared to be a sad character, much like Nick Drake. Unfortunately he has followed Drake’s path far too closely.
It’s a dark observation and I wouldn’t wish harm on even the most revolting of musicians but it seems to me that, to the most part, only good musicians die tragically: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Nick Drake and so on. Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, NKOTB seem, by their lack of talent and artisrty, guaranteed to live a long life.
