Ex-Wilco Member Jay Bennett dies at 45
Sad news today – Jay Bennett, former guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Wilco, passed away early Sunday morning in Urbana, IL, according to a spokesman for his family. Jay was part of the band Wilco from 1994 to 2001 and his influence on the band’s growth was great. He was with the band since the A.M. tour and left the group in ’01 when Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was in the process of being released. The exact cause of death is still undetermined and an autopsy is underway. Below is an excerpt from the Chicago Sun Times:
Born in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows, Bennett began playing in bands as a teenager. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned multiple degrees in secondary education, math and political science. In between, he co-founded the Replacements-like power-pop band Titanic Love Affair, which released three albums during the alternative-rock heyday between 1991 and 1996, when it was dropped from its label.
Bennett was working at a VCR repair shop in Champaign when he was tapped to join Wilco as it toured in support of its first album, “A.M.” A talented arranger and versatile musician who could play virtually any instrument he picked up, from mandolin to Mellotron, Bennett formed a fruitful partnership with Wilco bandleader Jeff Tweedy. His contributions over a seven-year period were key to the albums that resulted in the band’s national breakthrough, including “Being There” (1996), “Summerteeth” (1999) and “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” (2002).
source: Chicago Sun Times
Wilco’s publicist released the following from Jeff Tweedy: “We are all deeply saddened by this tragedy. We will miss Jay as we remember him — as a truly unique and gifted human being and one who made welcome and significant contributions to the band’s songs and evolution. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends in this very difficult time.”
RIP Jay Bennett 1963-2009
