RIP Elliott Smith?

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Someone just told me he committed suicide. Terrible.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:10 (twenty years ago) link

what? oh my god, that is fucking horrible, tell me you're joking

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:11 (twenty years ago) link

I wish I could say I was...I just heard this from someone else, though. So if someone can tell me I'm wrong, I'd be very happy to hear it.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:12 (twenty years ago) link

from whom did you hear it? someone reliable? this is going to ruin evening, not to mention my week, and my entire year.

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:15 (twenty years ago) link

holy fucking shit. . .please please please don't let this be true.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:18 (twenty years ago) link

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&edition=us&q=elliott+smith&btnG=Search+News

nothin yet

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:19 (twenty years ago) link

Okay, the person who told me this has a reliable source, but I'm sorry for not getting more details before starting this thread, and I really hope that it's not true and that I'll look like a big idiot/jerk. But it seems to be true.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:20 (twenty years ago) link

As a rule, I don't think we should post news info without a link to back it up. Real news gets online real fast. Without proof it's just gossip and for one this is not the kind of gossip I like to see. I'm superstitous and talking about someone's death prematurely just freaks me out.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:24 (twenty years ago) link

I'm sorry. I just kind of freaked out when I heard. You're right about back-up links.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:26 (twenty years ago) link

I'm not sure that Elliott Smith is a big enough name for major news outlets to rush his obituary online though. I hope this isn't true (guess I said that already).

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:27 (twenty years ago) link

I feel awful for starting this so quickly now. It was an involuntary reaction and I figured someone would have more information. I should have at least given it a different title.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:34 (twenty years ago) link

he was nominated for an Oscar. That's fairly big. Sadly things like suicides are attention getters.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:40 (twenty years ago) link

no mention on his fansites or kpunk.com or killrockstars.com, almost certainly false I'd say. (but it seems Dub Narcotic was in a pretty bad ar wreck, sez kpunk)

― Aaron A., Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:44 (twenty years ago) link

It is mentioned on the fansites - as a rumour. Check out the discussion board at http://www.sweetadeline.net/ (although there's no more information there than there is here).

― Eyeball Kicks (Eyeball Kicks), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:49 (twenty years ago) link

no mention of it yet on any official source. AP wire, CNN, VH1, nuthin.

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 01:59 (twenty years ago) link

I've added the question mark to the thread title at Kirsten's request -- rule of thumb when it comes to any celebrity rumor like this is to disbelief it until something official IS said. a.m.a. veterans know this all too well.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:06 (twenty years ago) link

Thanks, Ned.

― kirsten (kirsten), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:14 (twenty years ago) link

it's true.
but i guess you'll hear the official word tomorrow.

― lolita corpus (lolitacorpus), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:15 (twenty years ago) link

! Wow. I do believe it now, since Lolita is actually in a position to know.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:18 (twenty years ago) link

Fuck... Lolita, what have you heard? This is really horrible.

― Prude (Prude), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:20 (twenty years ago) link

i don't know. this is weird. i just post here cuz, well, it's become my board of choice. i can't say. i don't really know the details anyway. but it's very sad and unfortunately true.

― lolita corpus (lolitacorpus), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:24 (twenty years ago) link

OK this is fucking wretched, wretched, wretched - can't articulate just how awful. Ned & Lolita, you're sure?

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:25 (twenty years ago) link

please please don't fucking say that. . .

i've always turned to elliott's music when i'm down. bizarrely it lefts me up. During a very rough period of my life I was able to speak with him personally several times and it helped a lot. He is a sweet, sweet man.

If this is really true, my heart will be broken.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:27 (twenty years ago) link

I heard it from the same source kirsten did.

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:28 (twenty years ago) link

I heard it from kirsten.

it is very sad.

― RJG (RJG), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:32 (twenty years ago) link

There isn't any info that I see on that Sweet Adeline link.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:46 (twenty years ago) link

oh my god. this is terrible.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 02:59 (twenty years ago) link

amoeba los angeles = 323-245-6400 (they close in an hour).

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:02 (twenty years ago) link

Ned & Lolita, you're sure?

I am sorry to have to confirm this, but I know for a fact that Lolita would know if this was true or not. I trust her implicitly on this point, and if she is saying this, it is true.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:04 (twenty years ago) link

no, ameoba closes at 11 here. and i hope ned is wrong but gosh, i'm at a loss for words

― Vic (Vic), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:06 (twenty years ago) link

What does Amoeba have to do with it?

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:09 (twenty years ago) link

elliott's sister works there (they close in 45 mins.)

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:13 (twenty years ago) link

Um, wouldn't that be a smidge gauche?

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:13 (twenty years ago) link

Jesus H., ever so fucking slightly! If anyone here actually does that, I'll be disgusted.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:15 (twenty years ago) link

"Hi, could I talk to Elliott Smith's sister?"
"Sure, hang on..."

[...]

"Hello?"
"Hi, are you Elliott Smith's sister?"
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"I heard on the Internet that your brother committed suicide, is that true?"
"Oh, hang on, I haven't heard, but let me try his cell..."

[...]

"Hey, you still there?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I called his cell and he didn't answer, and I called home and no one answered, so I called his bowling buddies and they haven't heard from him, so I don't know."
"Oh."
"Sure hope not, though. That would suck!"
"Yup."
"Well, OK, I have to get back to work."
"OK, thanks, Elliott Smith's sister!"
"You're very welcome, good night!"

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:15 (twenty years ago) link

"...say, while you're on the phone, can i place an order for some Kinks reissues?"

― Kingfish (Kingfish), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:17 (twenty years ago) link

This is awful...really, really awful. XO was like the soundtrack of my sophmore year of college. I don't know how many times I played that album driving to and from school. Damn.

― Prude (Prude), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:20 (twenty years ago) link

lordy, i thought some of you were legitimate journalists? (mea culpa)

eg: "hi can you confirm a horrible rumor regarding elliott smith?"

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:21 (twenty years ago) link

That's still not his sister's job.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:22 (twenty years ago) link

(of course: not to his sister)

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:22 (twenty years ago) link

i mean, do you think she'd be finishing up her shift if her brother had died?

no offense chris/ned but... nah nevermind.

it's sad if true.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:23 (twenty years ago) link

I mean, I should hope she hangs up on anyone who tries to ask her that, if it's true or not.

I also imagine that if it's true and she knows it, she's probably called in sick.

(xpost)

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:24 (twenty years ago) link

goddamn. just stop just stop please.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:27 (twenty years ago) link

Um yes, this discussion's gone a bit on the off tangent - some respect and decorum guys! :/

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:31 (twenty years ago) link

thanks sam and trayce,

just offering a legitimate resource to those curious about the rumors,

sorry about that.

― gygax! (gygax!), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:34 (twenty years ago) link

Sigh.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 03:36 (twenty years ago) link

Has anyone heard anything yet? The fan-site is totally swamped.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 04:11 (twenty years ago) link

Dreamworks appear to have confirmed it.

― adaml (adaml), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 04:18 (twenty years ago) link

Link please!?

― Sean (Sean), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 04:25 (twenty years ago) link

well, there is this.

― maura (maura), Wednesday, 22 October 2003 04:37 (twenty years ago) link

Skipping 111 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I wish I had a scanner. I have tons of good pics of Elliott and Quasi together. Either/Or is my favorite of his albums.

(btw, you are all v. sweet folx)

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Thursday, 23 October 2003 00:48 (twenty years ago) link

"Actually I did stop and think about how many times I had seen him perform and the closest figure I could come up with was about 16. Now I realize how truly lucky, and blessed, I was."

Yeah, you are. I never had the chance and he was one of the only artists I pledged I would see perform before calling it a lifetime.

― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Thursday, 23 October 2003 01:35 (twenty years ago) link

I think I saw him once at the Pink Pony on Ludlow Street many many years ago, and he seemed like a decent, regular guy. It's a very sad thing, whether you like his music or not.

― hstencil, Thursday, 23 October 2003 01:40 (twenty years ago) link

me too, francis. i unfortunately never went when i had the chance, and will regret it for quite some time.

― Emilymv (Emilymv), Thursday, 23 October 2003 06:00 (twenty years ago) link

i am totally glad i got to see him play, especially when i did (around the release of XO). one of the best shows i've seen, and i knew every word.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Thursday, 23 October 2003 06:06 (twenty years ago) link

RIP

― David. (Cozen), Thursday, 23 October 2003 08:17 (twenty years ago) link

On the way to school today I sang along to Either/Or and enjoyed the hopefulness and feelings of change the songs invoke in me.

Also, everytime my thoughts return to where they were yesterday, the image of him in his last moments and how he must have felt, I'm forcing them back to happy memories like sharing a joint with him or watching him play. Today will be a better day.

I won't subject my kids to him again but I'm not ready for hip-hop. Today we're listening to Miles Davis.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Thursday, 23 October 2003 12:01 (twenty years ago) link

A good link I was just sent with thoughts from his peers and word on what might become of his unreleased stuff:

http://www.billboard.com/bb/daily/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2008549

I suppose it would be good for ILM but Edgar Allen Poe awaits me. . .

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Thursday, 23 October 2003 16:49 (twenty years ago) link

There is a post on the Velvet Rope today from someone who said that they heard that Elliott and his girlfriend had a big argument in her apartment, and that he stabbed himself after she left. She discovered him dead when she returned. If true, this sheds a new light on what might have been going through his mind at the time; sounds like more of a spur-of-the-moment thing.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Thursday, 23 October 2003 17:43 (twenty years ago) link

Feller on the Walkabouts mailing list just sent along this link to a lengthy interview done with him back in March. I thought I would share, seeing as there are more fans of him here -- and more deeply passionate ones -- than I thought. Please be warned that the headline of the story is extremely but unintentionally cruel, after the fact:

http://www.undertheradarmag.com/es.html

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 23 October 2003 21:45 (twenty years ago) link

Thanks Ned, that was a wonderful article.

Damn.

I was digging through a box of Elliott photos and found something I had completely forgotten about. Once in Austin, I had bought a ticket for his show well in advance but when I got to the venue discovered I had been guest-listed. So as my friend and I left the venue to go get a drink these two little hippie kids asked if we had a spare ticket (it was sold out). I said sure and gave her mine. She asked how much I wanted and I said, forget about it, enjoy the show. She thanked me and then reached into this little pouch around her neck (hippies!) and gave me a little rock she called a Tiger Eye for luck or something. I thought it was a bit odd but sweet.

anyway really nothing to do with him just an odd little memory I had forgotten about. Maybe I'll make a charm out of this rock or something.

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Friday, 24 October 2003 01:08 (twenty years ago) link

A link to photos of the impromptu memorial site in LA:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0111734/images/elliottmemorial/

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 24 October 2003 05:01 (twenty years ago) link

two weeks pass...

a link to lou barlows website

http://www.loobiecore.com/elliottsmith.html

― kephm, Thursday, 13 November 2003 19:28 (twenty years ago) link

bump

― kephm, Thursday, 13 November 2003 19:30 (twenty years ago) link

apologies for interrupting the good vibes and memories of elliott smith...

but LOOBIECORE.COM?

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 13 November 2003 21:05 (twenty years ago) link

Lou Barlow = loobie to his friends, I guess.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Thursday, 13 November 2003 21:11 (twenty years ago) link

yes. lou is sort of an oddball (most obv thing ive written in ilx)
you think thats funny, go see his cat gallery! and the sebado are on tour!

― kephm, Thursday, 13 November 2003 21:32 (twenty years ago) link

I'm a little surprised no other speculation, news, or rumours have surfaced about any of this since. How long before the Rolling STone expose on his tortured final days?

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Thursday, 13 November 2003 22:24 (twenty years ago) link

the obit is in the jessica simpson issue. :(

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 13 November 2003 23:11 (twenty years ago) link

Yeah I was highly disappointed that RS couldn't even bother to put his name on the front cover instead they Jessica Simpson's bitch ass *SWIFFERING*!!! WTF???

But then what do you expect from a magazine who wouldn't even put Johnny Fucking Cash's picture on the cover when he died. Motherfuckers.

Here's part 1 of my elliott memorial tattoo. It involves a roman candle with the stripe pattern from "Figure 8" punching a hole through a heart (mine) and has "XO" on the bottom. We're laying the color in two weeks from now. . .

(sorry for the blurry picture. hard taking a pic of yr own upper arm)

tat

― A Girl Named Sam (thatgirl), Friday, 14 November 2003 06:14 (twenty years ago) link

actually this week's Time Out New York has a story, with the bullshit cover line "the last days of Elliott Smith." Ugh, exploitation city.

― hstencil, Friday, 14 November 2003 06:24 (twenty years ago) link

It's great, Sam

― luna (luna.c), Friday, 14 November 2003 06:26 (twenty years ago) link

Sam it looks great, can't wait to see the finished article!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Friday, 14 November 2003 09:14 (twenty years ago) link

i thought johnny cash did get the RS cover after he passed away? i don't pay enough attention to RS to be sure.

― kephm, Friday, 14 November 2003 16:17 (twenty years ago) link

Looks awesome sam, can't wait to see the finished piece.

― Chris B. Sure (Chris V), Friday, 14 November 2003 16:24 (twenty years ago) link

He got the cover of Time, I think.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 14 November 2003 16:48 (twenty years ago) link

That is an awesome tatoo, Sam.

― El Diablo Robotico (Nicole), Friday, 14 November 2003 17:18 (twenty years ago) link

one month passes...

Hmmmm?

― Chris 'Knuckle Deep' V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 17:46 (twenty years ago) link

That makes sense to me. It always seemed like the most painful suicide method ever.

― dean gulberry (deangulberry), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:12 (twenty years ago) link

Oh god.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:14 (twenty years ago) link

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:15 (twenty years ago) link

in all honesty who would want to murder poor elliott? jesus.

― Chris 'Knuckle Deep' V. (Chris V), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:15 (twenty years ago) link

Well, if he was half as involved with drugs and drug dealers as he appeared to be and was notorious for, that opens up quite a few possibilities right there...

― dean gulberry (deangulberry), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:16 (twenty years ago) link

I would imagine the girlfriend is suspect number one since the person closest is ALWAYS the first suspect in these cases (I should say I don't know her or anything about her so I'm not suggesting anything).

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:28 (twenty years ago) link

I wouldn't jump to any conclusions... he was seriously messed up and it was most likely a suicide based on his history, recent behavior, etc. The coroner is just saying that whether he did it himself is inconclusive.

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:54 (twenty years ago) link

I read on some blog a few days ago that a woman had stabbed him. At the time, I figured it was just typical blog misinformation and now I can't find it again.

― BrianB (BrianB), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 18:58 (twenty years ago) link

i believe had been clean for awhile before his death. the cornors report also noted no presence of illegal substances.

I truly think this was an accident. i think he did stab himself but it was in the heat of the moment. Not pre-meditated. Unfortunately, it was also accurate. :(

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 19:17 (twenty years ago) link

Weren't there two stab wounds though?

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 19:24 (twenty years ago) link

so it took him two tries?

apparently he and his girlfriend where having a huge fight directly before his death. She left the house and went to the corner for some cigarettes and then came home and found him.

I really think it was a distraught, horrible mistake on his part.

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 19:25 (twenty years ago) link

i just hate this. The uncertainity. The waste. especially if it was as my instincts say, an accident. goddamnit. . .

I've been thinking of alot the past week or so anyway. What a bad year. :(

http://i.myspace.com/81/25/15218/2146059_m.jpg

(hope that worked)

― Viva La Sam (thatgirl), Wednesday, 31 December 2003 19:31 (twenty years ago) link

two months pass...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1172275,00.html

― Japanese Giraffe (Japanese Giraffe), Friday, 19 March 2004 13:32 (twenty years ago) link

Never lost for an opinion, Courtney Love called it "the best suicide I ever heard of".

― Kingfish Cowboy (Kingfish), Friday, 19 March 2004 13:51 (twenty years ago) link

I remember this thread.

― RJG (RJG), Friday, 19 March 2004 13:52 (twenty years ago) link

You are not alone. And the story...is unsettling.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:01 (twenty years ago) link

with comments like that you'd think courtney had forgotten about that guy she was married to back in the 90's.

― dyson (dyson), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:06 (twenty years ago) link

it's unfortunate people are so desparate for a story here. let him rest in peace.

yesterday they were interviewing Olivia Harrison on Fresh Air and I found myself wondering if Elliott listened to NPR then I remembered. . .

― Ask For Samantha (thatgirl), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:13 (twenty years ago) link

That story makes me feel woozy.

― Ally C (Ally C), Friday, 19 March 2004 18:44 (twenty years ago) link

eleven years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnEcbDTXu90

― PaulTMA, Monday, 17 August 2015 18:06 (eight years ago) link

six years pass...

picked up the s/t remaster today. it's so much more clear and wide, if a little too loud. beautiful disc booklet...!

― maelin, Sunday, 26 December 2021 17:11 (two years ago) link

whoops thought this was ILM

― maelin, Sunday, 26 December 2021 17:11 (two years ago) link

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