What's going on? Matthew Jay first, now this. Not a good time for singer-songwriters right now.

I guess it's unconfirmed at this point - let's hope it turns out to be a mistake but it doesn't look good.

Sadly it's not a mistake. There goes, for my money, the best songwriter of the last 10 years. The guy was a proper genius and it's a tragic loss.

I have a friend of mine who had met Elliot Smith on several occasions, apparently a really top fella... so talented, such a shame. my thoughts go out to family and friends.

I really can't believe this. I'm not sure if I've even taken it in properly. Elliott's music has got me through a lot of things recently. His songs have such an acheing angelic quality that so few things I've ever heard have had. I'm so upset that i'll never get to see him play.

At least in death, he will be a legend and it'll make people realise how fragile life is and that if you wanna be touched by other human beings, you shouldnt faff around.

Back to trying to find out the how's and why's he died. Tho I'm pretty sure its either going to be drug or maybe tragic accident related.

Sean
Editor, Drowned in Sound

i can't really believe this. elliott smith was one of the reasons i got into songwriting in the first place, and although i didn't ever get to see him play and don't have any stories to tell, his death is still a massive shame.

and to whoever decided he's a "dullard" and reckons we shouldn't give a shit, i'm sure plenty of people would swap his life for yours in an instant if poss.

RIP elliott.

rip, im stunned

don't know what to say at all. so confused. met him once and saw him four times. a really nice, ordinary, genuinely generous person. considerate and sweet. regardless of his amazing talent he was a really sweet person.

things like this bring musical bitching into prospective.
a true legend

My mate woke me up this morning to tell me that the understated genius that is Elliott Smith had died. Words can not describe that the way i feel, i only hope that this tragedy will wake up other people to fragility of life and and need for every day to be treasured.

He will live on forever through his music.
Rest in peace Elliott

...there's not much more to say than that.
hope he's a happier chap now.
RIP

just found out.
i'm actually crying.
this sweet guy... his perfect songs...
this is so sad.
saw him once live in paris september 2000.
i'll never forget you, baby !

Steven Paul (Elliott) Smith. August 6, 1969 – October 21, 2003.
Elliott Smith was born on August 6, 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska. Elliott
spent his childhood near Dallas, Texas where he began his musical
training at the age of nine, winning a local award for original
composition at the age of ten.

Elliott relocated to Portland, Oregon as a Sophomore at Lincoln High
School where he was achieved the rank of National Merit Scholar.
During his time at Lincoln High School, Elliott joined the
band "Stranger Than Fiction" in which he composed music and
performed until his graduation in 1987.

Elliott later attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts,
where he majored in Philosophy and Political Science. During his
time at Hampshire, Elliott, known then as Elliott Stillwater Rotter,
co-founded the band "A Murder of Crows". He later became a member of
well know band "Heatmiser". It was during this time that Elliott
began to release music as a solo artist.

During his lifetime, Elliott released five full-length albums as a
solo artist as well as a number of singles. Elliott was nominated
for an Academy Award for "Miss Misery", his musical contribution to
the Academy Award winning movie, "Good Will Hunting".


At the time of his death, Elliott was recording his sixth
album, "From A Basement on the Hill".


Elliott is survived by a host of family, friends and fans.

SOURCE: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/03-10/22.shtml

Elliott Smith has died at age 34, according to an obituary posted late Tuesday on Sweet Adeline, Smith's official website. Rumors had been circulating on the Internet all day about Smith's apparent suicide; by early evening, the overwhelming traffic from well-wishers and fans was crashing Sweet Adeline's discussion board. A handful of posts indicated that representatives from Smith's label, Dreamworks, were attempting to contact Charlie Ramirez, the webmaster for Sweet Adeline.

Within hours, Ramirez posted the following: "As you probably realize, I'm pretty devastated about having to say goodbye to Elliott... it's never easy to put into words what someone means to you... Elliott was such a lovely man... I will always have his love, kindness, intelligence, humbleness, creativeness, greatness and so much more in me forever because that's what he was and i'll always love him for being who he was... I'll miss you so much. We will all miss you. See you in heaven, Elliott."

Smith had been working on his sixth studio album, From A Basement On The Hill, since late 2001. At various points, the self-recorded album was being shopped to indie labels and later, tentatively scheduled as a double-disc offering on DreamWorks' 2003 schedule.

Last November, Smith was reportedly involved in a scuffle with Los Angeles county sheriffs at a Flaming Lips show. Smith retained the services of an attorney in the matter, and had publicly sought witnesses to the incident on Sweet Adeline. Smith reportedly claimed his hand was injured in the fracas, causing the cancellation of at least one planned show this spring. But this wasn't the first time Smith had cancelled a show because of pain in his arm. A February 2002 London concert was postponed after Smith had flown all the way across the Atlantic-- claiming he'd slept on the arm during the flight. In May 2002, Smith flubbed more than half of his planned setlist at a Chicago show, again claiming difficulties with an uncooperative hand.

Smith's continued difficulty with live performances and the multiple delays with Basement-- including claims that Smith disappeared for days and couldn't be found-- led many to speculate that the singer might be using heroin or other hard drugs. Smith had written very candidly about past drug use in his songwriting, most notably in the 1995 track "The White Lady Loves You More." In January, Smith even played a benefit show for a free needle exchange aimed at preventing the spread of AIDS and hepatitis among intravenous drug users. Smith's new songs deal frankly and obsessively with drug use and suicide: a quick perusal of the Basement song titles alone yields the now-poignant "Memory Lane," "Strung Out Again," "Let's Get Lost," "Shooting Star," "A Distorted Reality Is Now A Necessity To Be Free" and "Fond Farewell."

I last saw Elliott Smith at the Henry Fonda Theater in Los Angeles nine months ago, a birthday gift from my girlfriend. Out of all the live shows I've ever witnessed-- and I've witnessed a lot-- I've never left a show feeling more uneasy and concerned for the well-being of the artist performing. Smith's live sets have always been hit-or-miss; in particular, his live gigs from the past couple of years have often been marred by forgotten lyrics, butterfingers on his own florid guitar parts, and so on. But on this night, Smith performed beautifully-- mostly unaccompanied on acoustic guitar, but also with some spare drumming and backup vocals on a few songs.

It was his between-songs banter, fractured and urgent, that really fostered my concern. Smith couldn't have asked for any better-- a sold-out, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd, focused intently on the frail and inarticulate figure center stage. "My heart's weak because, like, uh..." Smith started at one point, trailing off in mid-sentence before launching into the obscure single "No Confidence Man." As soon as the song began, Smith became erudite, focused, passionate. Between songs, he stuttered and aborted sentences mid-thought, as if utterly unable to communicate without his music.

Smith was scheduled to play the Los Angeles-area incarnation of this year's All Tomorrow's Parties in November. As previously reported, Smith released the single "Pretty (Ugly Before)" as a limited-edition seven-inch on Suicide Squeeze in August; the single was expected to serve as a teaser for the forthcoming album. In June, Smith was awarded a "Best Rock/Pop Songwriter/Composer" award from the alternative paper LA Weekly.

Like me, Smith grew up in Dallas, TX and was physically and emotionally tormented by insensitive schoolmates before moving west. Smith went to high school in Portland, OR and attended college in Massachusetts. In 1992, Smith formed Heatmiser with bandmates Neil Gust, Tony Lash, and later Sam Coomes. Heatmiser released three albums and an EP, but it was Smith's self-recorded 1994 effort Roman Candle that drew attention to Smith's spare, confessional songwriting and innovative guitar work. After Heatmiser disbanded in 1996, Smith's solo career took off-- eventually landing the singer several songs on the soundtrack to Gus Van Sant's 1997 film Good Will Hunting, including the Oscar-nominated "Miss Misery."

Smith signed with Dreamworks in 1998, quickly serving up the baroque XO and ambitious Figure 8, backing both releases up with extensive full-band tours. Last year, Smith enlisted Flaming Lips manager Scott Booker to manage his career and shop around Basement. In the last ten months, Smith had played acoustic sets extensively across the U.S., including stops in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Philly, and Hoboken. Smith's last public performance was at the University of Utah's Redfest festival last month in Salt Lake City.

.: Sweet Adeline: http://www.sweetadeline.net
.: Elliottsmith.com: http://www.elliottsmith.com
.: Dreamworks: http://www.dreamworksrecords.com

RIP Elliott

I must admit that I couldn't call myself a fan - just didn't get round to investigating him properly - but what I've heard is just great, and it's another tragic waste of a great talent.

Hope you are happier now.

It really does take you by the scruff of the neck when u hear news like this.
More than any 'pop star' Elliot Smith oozed the word REAL to me like no other.

SOURCE: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1479869/10222003/smith_elliott.jhtml?headlines=true

Folk-punk singer/songwriter Elliott Smith has died of an apparent suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of the Coroner's office. Smith's body was found in his apartment, in the Silverlake section of Los Angeles, by a female friend, who took him to a local hospital at approximately 12:18 p.m. on Tuesday.

He was pronounced dead at Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center just over an hour later. He was 34.

A single knife wound that appeared to be self-inflicted was evident on the body, though police detectives are investigating the incident for foul play and/or other possibilities. No other details were available at press time.

Smith (real name Steven Paul Smith) had battled drug and alcohol addition throughout his career. His first two albums, 1994's Roman Candle and the next year's self-titled LP for Olympia, Washington's Kill Rock Stars label, intimated these subjects with haunting, sparsely recorded acoustic songs such as "Needle in the Hay" that drew comparisons to 1960s singer/songwriter Nick Drake and Simon and Garfunkel. He reportedly cleaned up midway through his career, but the problem was believed to have escalated in recent years due to a reclusive nature and sporadic public performances.

A cornerstone of the indie-rock scene in Portland, Oregon, in the mid-1990s, Smith gained critical acclaim with 1997's Either/Or and 1998's XO, albums that best demonstrated his ability to delicately deliver poetic, emotional lyrics and beautifully dark, lush pop melodies. "Miss Misery," his contribution to the film "Good Will Hunting" that earned him an Academy Award nomination in 1997, brought mainstream recognition to the artist regarded as a figurehead of the indie-rock underground, and influenced such artists as Bright Eyes and Dashboard Confessional.

Born August 6, 1969 in Omaha, Nebraska, Smith grew up near Dallas and took an interest in music at age 9, and began writing and recording original compositions as a teenager. He moved to Portland in high school, where he played in a local band, before attending Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Returning to Portland, he formed the alternative-rock quartet Heatmiser with future Quasi member Sam Coomes. The band released three albums and disbanded after hitting its creative stride with 1996's Mic City Sons.

While still a member of Heatmiser, Smith retreated to his basement to focus on more intimate material in vast contrast to Heatmiser's heavier sound. Roman Candle, on which he played all the instruments, was recorded on a four-track and epitomized the lo-fi DIY aesthetic while showcasing Smith's talent to craft emotive song structures that emphasized the dark themes of his lyrics.

The promise of a great songwriter was furthered on Smith's self-titled album. While keeping with an overall melancholy vibe, he concentrated on beautifying the melodies. The songs floated like lullabies, though the lyrics could disrupt sleep for weeks.

Smith continued to play all the instruments on 1997's Either/Or, while focusing on the arrangements. Dramatic constructions combine with Smith's eerily potent stripped-down fare for the album that cemented his role in the indie-folk pantheon. At the time of the LP's release, filmmaker and Portland native Gus Van Sant used Smith's music for the soundtrack to "Good Will Hunting." Smith performed "Miss Misery," which was nominated for Best Original Song, at the Academy Awards show in April 1998. The Oscar went to Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On," from "Titanic," though simply being nominated helped his subsequent LP, 1998's XO, become Smith's best-selling album.

XO and his final album, 2000's Figure 8, both released on major-label DreamWorks Records, were marked by lush textures and acoustic melodies inspired by the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson and latter-day Beatles, that brimmed with a sunny brilliance, but still retained Smith's keen commentaries and forlorn sentiments. He had been working on a follow-up album, From a Basement on the Hill, at the time of his death (see "Elliott Smith Flying Solo On Next LP, But It Won't Sound Like It").

The limited-edition 7-inch single "Pretty (Ugly Before)" was released in August on Seattle indie Suicide Squeeze Records, and the previously unreleased songs "Splittsville" and the instrumental "Snowbunny's Serenade" appear in the film "Southlander: Diary of a Desperate Musician," directed by Silverlake resident Steve Hanft, who's helmed videos for Beck. After limited theatrical showings, the movie was released on DVD October 7.

In June, Smith performed on the second stage of the Field Day festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which was headlined by the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, and Blur. A brief tour of the U.S. followed. He was scheduled to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Los Angeles on November 9.



—Joe D'Angelo, with additional reporting by Ryan J. Downey and Rod Perez

While I mourned Kurt Cobain, Jim Ellison, and others, I have only cried over the death of one other musician: John Lennon. Here's what I posted in the editorial of my own website, www.nighttimes.com:

Elliott Smith, 1969 - 2003

Elliott Smith is dead. I hear it’s suicide, and as I write this at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 22nd, I don’t know any details. For any other rock star, I’d probably be searching all over the Internet to learn more, but I’m currently too stricken with grief. The best I can do is put on Either/Or and turn it up till it hurts.

Elliott Smith was an artist like no other musician today. He’ll never be as famous as Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain or even Material Issue’s Jim Ellison; both suicides from the last decade that I mourned. But those who did know him, or knew his music (which I believe is the same thing), will always be deeply and profoundly affected by this little, shy man who never kissed up to anyone; who was savagely un-hip and looked more like a homeless person than a rock star—and who possibly channeled the most beautiful expressions of emotion ever to grace this earth.

I’d always dreamed of getting the chance to meet Elliott after a show, and to hand him the ten or so short stories I composed, all inspired from his songs on Roman Candle, Either/Or and XO. I believe he taught me how to be a better writer; how to push that feeling into the uncomfortable territory, how to pick out the beauty in the minute details of an ugly or uncomfortable scene. I intended to give him my stories the next time he came to St. Louis or Chicago. There is no other artist that I would have driven five hours alone to see, in torrential rain, through construction zones and miles of farmland at night, damn near risking my life--but he made it totally worth it.

If you’ve followed his career at all, you know he was dropped from the DreamWorks label after Figure 8, and has spent the last three years trying to find a record company to release the still-unreleased album, From the Basement on the Hill. I guess I could get mad and blame the industry for never fully supporting and embracing him (they didn’t). But all his fans know his problems ran deeper than business and it breaks my heart that there was no one there to pull him out of it. Goodbye to the greatest singer/songwriter of the last decade; maybe of the last thirty years. Elliott, I pray that you find the peace you were looking for.

Julia Gordon-Bramer

Editor and Publisher
www.nighttimes.com

I have to say. I am just mind-blown about this.
Listening to his music right now is so upsetting.
I have a friend who is a bit of a joker and sent me an email that Elliott had died. I thought he was kidding, until I went to sweet adeline. When I saw that the page was all text beginning with goodbye elliott, my heart sank so low.

I've been addicted to Elliotts music since about 97 when I first heard him. I had every album within a month.

I have seen him live about 5 times, but unfortunately only got to see him once in Newbury Comics (Boston music store) perform acoustically. I was a fortunate soul to get Elliotts autograph on my all-time favorite CD, Roman Candle. Its the only CD that has not left my CD case in roughly 6 years.

I am more upset because he was just so young and so talented.

He will be greatly missed. I am however looking forward to any music that can be conjured up that had never been released.

Bye Elliott.
You will be GREATLY missed.

Its such a sad day for the music industry.
XO

Hope is all we can get from this.

he was beauitful and fragile and he gave me hope.

Even though i don't know that much of Smith or his music when i read he'd died it actually stopped me in my tracks. It's so sad that a talent like his had to go so early.

Don't know if you're into this kind of thing, but I have this birthday book that gives uncanny personality accounts of people, based on the day they are born, "The Secret Language of Birthdays" by Gary Goldschneider and Joost Elffers.

Here are some highlights from Elliott's birthday, August 6th:

"The Day of Unique Happenings"

Strengths: Interesting, Romantic, Original
Weaknesses: Disillusioned, Reckless, Antisocial

"Those born on Aug 6th have a lust for experience. They are particularly drawn to happenings of a very unique or extraordinary sort, perhaps once-in-a-lifetime occurances, some of which seem impossible or of an inexplicable or divine source. Aug. 6 people may perhaps generate these experiences themselves or simply come on them by chance, take direct part in them or just read and write about them; in any case, it is the mental or physical contact with the experience itself, the personal discovery of something long forgotten or even previously unknown which attracts them like a magnet.

Ordinary life does not hold a great fascination for those born on this day, and they quickly become bored by the mundane...tied to ordinary jobs or less than stellar family situations, there is a danger that they will retreat into a fantasy world to get their kicks. There is also a good chance that following years of deep frustration and angst they may finally decide to leave their stability behind and set out in search of new horizons."

It goes on to talk about "creative genius to reveal the fantastic in the ordinary, and to share such a unique insight with others."

It also says their intense approach to life and need for change makes them difficult to sustain loving relationships.

Sad. Sounds right on, though, doesn't it?

Other famous Aug 6th birthdays include Andy Warhol, Lucille Ball and Alfred Lord tennyson.

I saw him supporting Belle & Sebastian a few years ago and thought he was fantastic. Such beautiful songs, not the kind of music I'd normally go for, but I couldn't help but think he knew something we didn't.

Bye bye.

ive never even heard of this guy but i still think its a shame he died, especially as he has seemed to touch so many people.
i only hope that more people can learn from this and can understand that drinking and drug taking leads to this kind of thing. ive already understood that and made the decision to never drink or smoke or do drugs so i dont end up like that. why cant other people learn? its not hard to grasp, i know the dangers and am avoiding them and im only 15. surely older generations should be able to understand better than i can...
... why dont they learn?

just one of the many
too hard to say what i want
i feel lonely today
promise it'll be better up ther for you
and a little less for the rest of us still here
i love you