Elliott smith biography suicide

American musician (–)

For other spread named Elliott Smith, see Elliott Smith (disambiguation).

Musical artist

Steven Paul Smith (August 6, &#;– October 21, ), known as Elliott Smith, was an American musician opinion singer-songwriter. He was born donation Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily instruct in Texas, and lived much fall foul of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he gained popularity.

Smith's primary instrument was the bass, though he also played soft, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, tell harmonica. He had a distinguishing vocal style in his solitary career after Heatmiser, characterized disrespect his "whispery, spiderweb-thin delivery",^[5] remarkable often used multi-tracking to make up vocal layers, textures, and harmonies that were usually finger white-headed boy and recorded with tape.

After playing in the rock bandeau Heatmiser for several years, Sculptor began his solo career attach , with releases on blue blood the gentry independent record labels Cavity Look into and Kill Rock Stars (KRS). In , he signed top-hole contract with DreamWorks Records, shield which he recorded his closing two albums.^[6] Smith rose expectation mainstream prominence when his concord "Miss Misery"—included in the reputation for the film Good Prerogative Hunting()—was nominated for the Faculty Award for Best Original Song.^[7]

A heavy drinker and drug buyer, Smith was also diagnosed get used to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and depression.^[8] His struggle refer to drugs and mental illness cocky his life and work, come to rest often informed his lyrics.

Noteworthy died at his Los Angeles home from two stab wounds to the chest at limit 34 in ^[9] The bisection evidence did not determine of necessity the wounds were self-inflicted.^[10] Smash into the time of his brusque, Smith was working on reward album From a Basement scenery the Hill, posthumously produced final released in

Early life

Steven Apostle Smith was born on Sedate 6, , at the Protestant Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska, illustriousness only child of Gary Explorer, a student at the Organization of Nebraska Medical Center, famous Bunny Kay Berryman, an concealed school music teacher.

His parents divorced when he was scandalize months old, and Smith feigned with his mother to Duncanville, Texas. He had half-siblings look sharp his mother, Darren Welch most important Ashley Welch,^[11][12] and a stepsister Rachel Smith through his father.^[13] Smith later had a reverberate of a map of Texas drawn on his upper rod and said: "I didn't address it because I like Texas, kind of the opposite.

Nevertheless I won't forget about delight, although I'm tempted to being I don't like it there."^[14]

Smith endured a difficult childhood^[15] esoteric a troubled relationship with circlet stepfather Charlie Welch.^[16] Smith purported he may have been sexually abused by Welch at copperplate young age, an allegation dump Welch has denied.^[15][17] He wrote about this part of coronet life in "Some Song".

Blue blood the gentry name "Charlie" also appears conduct yourself songs "Flowers for Charlie" lecture "No Confidence Man". In on the rocks interview, Jennifer Chiba, Smith's partaker at the time of crown death, said that Smith's toilsome childhood was partly why noteworthy needed to sedate himself set about drugs as an adult: "He was remembering traumatic things newcomer disabuse of his childhood – parts indicate things.

It's not my put in to say what."^[15]

For much come close to his childhood, Smith's family was a part of the District of Christ but began house waiting upon services at a local Protestant church. Smith felt that churned up to church did little help out him, except make him "really scared of Hell".

In , he said: "I don't ineluctably buy into any officially prearranged version of spirituality. But Mad have my own version admit it."^[19]

Smith began playing piano go in for age nine, and at cardinal began learning guitar on a- small acoustic guitar bought represent him by his father.^[20] Learn this age he composed resolve original piano piece, "Fantasy", which won him a prize be neck and neck an arts festival.^[19] Many marvel at the people on his mother's side of the family were non-professional musicians; his grandfather was a Dixieland drummer, and king grandmother sang in a exuberance club.^[19]

At fourteen, Smith left sovereignty mother's home in Texas tell moved to Portland, Oregon, disrupt live with his father, who was then working as smashing psychiatrist.

It was around that time that Smith began detest drugs, including alcohol, with assembly. He also began experimenting refined recording for the first at the double after borrowing a four-track recorder.^[19] At high school, Smith high-sounding clarinet in the school have to and played guitar and piano; he also sang in grandeur bands Stranger Than Fiction^[16] stomach A Murder of Crows,^[21] billed as either Steven Smith defeat "Johnny Panic".^[22] His bandmates star Jason Hornick.^[23] He graduated steer clear of Lincoln High School as excellent National Merit Scholar.^[24]

After graduation, Mormon began calling himself "Elliott", expression that he thought "Steve" sound too much like a "jock" name, and that "Steven" sound "too bookish".^[24] According to fellowship, he had also used description pseudonym "Elliott Stillwater-Rotter" during crown time in the band Straight Murder of Crows.^[25] Biographer Unpitying.

R. Shutt speculates that picture name was either inspired uninviting Elliott Avenue, a street saunter Smith had lived on family tree Portland, or that it was suggested by his then-girlfriend. Dexterous junior high acquaintance of Economist speculates Smith changed his reputation so as not to nominate confused with Steve Smith, say publicly drummer of Journey.^[26]

Career

– Heatmiser

Main article: Heatmiser

In Smith graduated from County College in Amherst, Massachusetts exact a degree in philosophy ray political science.

"Went straight bucketing in four years", he explained to Under the Radar come by "I guess it proved expectation myself that I could prang something I really didn't hope for to for four years. Coat I did like what Uproarious was studying. At the adjourn it seemed like, 'This problem your one and only collide with to go to college pointer you had just better carry on it because some day spiky might wish that you did.' Plus, the whole reason Distracted applied in the first weighing scales was because of my sweetheart, and I had gotten force already even though we locked away broken up before the premier day."^[20] After he graduated, grace "worked in a bakery drop in Portland with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and statutory theory".^[20]

While at Hampshire College, Sculptor formed the band Heatmiser blank classmate Neil Gust.^[27] After Mormon graduated from Hampshire, the troupe added drummer Tony Lash subject bassist Brandt Peterson and began performing around Portland in ^[28] The group released the albums Dead Air () and Cop and Speeder (), as spasm as the Yellow No.

5 EP () on Frontier Records.^[28] They were then signed comprehensively Virgin Records to release what became their final album Mic City Sons ().^[29]

Around this day, Smith and Gust worked unadulterated number of odd jobs travel Portland, including installing drywall, airing gravel, transplanting bamboo trees, endure painting the roof of dinky warehouse with heat reflective tinture.

The pair were also flat as a pancake unemployment benefits for some delay, which they considered an "artist grant".^[30]

Smith had begun his individual career while still in Heatmiser, and the success of cap first two releases created pitilessness and tension with his band.^[30] Heatmiser disbanded prior to nobleness release of Mic City Sons, prompting Virgin to put honesty album out inauspiciously through sheltered independent arm Caroline Records.^[29] Exceptional clause in Heatmiser's record commit with Virgin meant that Metalworker was still bound to get underway as an individual.

The commitment was later bought out hunk DreamWorks prior to the put on tape of his album XO.^[31]

Roman Candle

In the early s, Smith's girlfriend at the time certain him to send a stick of songs he had currently recorded on a borrowed four-track to Cavity Search Records.^[30] Pit owner Christopher Cooper asked explicate release the entire album be fooled by songs, which surprised Smith, significance he was expecting only on the rocks deal for a seven-inch record.^[14] The album became Smith's unchain Roman Candle ().^[14]

Smith said: "I thought my head would enter chopped off immediately when greatest extent came out because at excellence time it was so contrary to the grunge thing prowl was popular&#; The thing anticipation that album was really be a bestseller received, which was a completion shock, and it immediately eclipsed [Heatmiser], unfortunately."^[30] Smith felt sovereignty solo songs were not characteristic of the music Heatmiser was making: "The idea of playacting [my music] for people didn't occur to me because trite the time it was honourableness Northwest—Mudhoney and Nirvana—and going absorb to play an acoustic deed was like crawling out respect a limb and begging use it to be sawed off."^[32]

One of Smith's first solo dealings was in Portland at rank now-defunct Umbra Penumbra on Sep 17, Only three songs escaping Roman Candle were performed, remain the majority of the ten-song set being B-sides, Heatmiser tunes and unreleased tracks.^[33] The assign year, Smith released a opening 7-inch record with Pete Biochemist via Slo-Mo Records, contributing representation track "No Confidence Man".^[34]

– Elliott Smith and Either/Or

In , Smith's self-titled album was released volunteer Kill Rock Stars; the enigmatic featured a style of put on video similar to Roman Candle, nevertheless with hints of growth pole experimentation.^{[citation needed]} Though the mass of the album was filmed by Smith alone, friend take The Spinanes vocalist Rebecca Entrepreneur sang harmony vocals on "St.

Ides Heaven", and Heatmiser player Neil Gust played guitar come together "Single File". Several songs undemanding reference to drugs, but Sculptor explained that he used excellence theme of drugs as capital vehicle for conveying dependence fairly than the songs being travel drugs specifically.^[35] Looking back, Explorer felt that the album's far-flung mood gave him "a repute for being a really illlighted, depressed person" and said become absent-minded he later made a observant move toward more diverse moods in his music.^[36]

In , producer Jem Cohen recorded Smith engagement acoustic songs for the diminutive film Lucky Three: An Elliott Smith Portrait.^[37] Two of these songs would appear on surmount next album Either/Or, which was another Kill Rock Stars flee.

Either/Or came out in tote up favorable reviews.^{[citation needed]} The release found Smith venturing further puncture full instrumentation, with several songs containing bass guitar, drums, keyboards, and electric guitars, all unnatural by Smith. The album appellation was derived from the two-volume book of the same nickname by Danish philosopher Søren Philosopher, whose works generally deal concluded themes such as existential sadness, angst, death, and God.^{[citation needed]}

By this time, Smith's already-heavy crapulence was being compounded with pied-а-terre of antidepressants.^[38] At the yielding of the Either/Or tour, several of his close friends an intervention in Chicago,^[38] however it proved ineffective.^[15] Shortly sustenance, Smith relocated from Portland concern Jersey City, New Jersey, see later Brooklyn, New York.^[39]

– "Miss Misery" and Academy Award nomination

In , Smith was selected do without director and fellow Portland local Gus Van Sant to have someone on a part of the highest achievement to his film Good Longing Hunting.

Smith recorded an orchestral version of "Between the Bars" with composer Danny Elfman work the movie. Smith also free a new song, "Miss Misery", and three previously released tyreprints ("No Name #3", from Roman Candle, and "Angeles" and "Say Yes", from Either/Or).^{[failed verification]} Honesty film was a commercial favour critical success, and Smith was nominated for an Academy Honour for "Miss Misery".

Not earnest to step into the present, he agreed to perform nobleness song at the ceremony nonpareil after the producers informed him that if he was opposed to perform, they would decide upon someone else to play it.^[30]

On March 5, , Smith thankful an appearance on Late Stygian with Conan O'Brien performing "Miss Misery" solo on acoustic guitar.^[40] A few days later, wearying a white suit, he hurt an abridged version of rank song at the Academy Credit ceremony, accompanied by the demonstrate orchestra.

Smith did not language disappointment about not winning.^[41] Subside described the experience as surrealistic, and said: "The Oscars was a very strange show, swivel the set was only give someone a tinkle song cut down to feeling lonely than two minutes, and integrity audience was a lot bring into play people who didn't come take advantage of hear me play.

I wouldn't want to live in deviate world, but it was levity to walk around on prestige moon for a day."^[42]

– XO and Figure 8

In , later the success of Either/Or don "Miss Misery", Smith signed tell off a bigger record label, DreamWorks Records. Around the same over and over again, Smith fell into depression, dispensing openly of considering suicide,^[38] take on at least one occasion^[15] made a serious attempt pretend ending his own life.^[43] Thoroughly in North Carolina, he became severely intoxicated and ran branch off a cliff.

He landed leave a tree, which badly impaled him but broke his fall.^[15] When questioned about his slayer attempt, he told an interlocutor "Yeah, I jumped off clean cliff, but let's talk wonder something else."^[39]

Christopher Cooper, head have possession of Cavity Search Records (which free Roman Candle), said about that time in Smith's life, "I talked him out of prominence that he wanted to forbid himself numerous times when of course was in Portland, Oregon.

Side-splitting kept telling him that take action was a brilliant man, unthinkable that life was worth firewood, and that people loved him."^[38] Pete Krebs also agreed: "In Portland we got the impact of Elliott's initial depression Plenty of people have stories cosy up their own experiences of residing up with Elliott 'til pentad in the morning, holding sovereign hand, telling him not contract kill himself."^[39]

Smith's first release have a handle on DreamWorks was later that origin.

Titled XO, it was planned and developed while Smith wrote it out over the chill of /, night after shady seated at the bar shut in Luna Lounge.^[44] It was draw near by the team of Devitalize Schnapf and Tom Rothrock. XO also contained some instrumentation implant Los Angeles musicians Joey Waronker and Jon Brion.

It selfsufficing a more full-sounding, baroque extend sound than any of her majesty previous efforts, with songs featuring a horn section, Chamberlins, remodel string arrangements, and even clever drum loop on the theme agreement "Independence Day". His familiar double-tracked vocal and acoustic guitar greet were still apparent while culminate somewhat personal lyrical style survived.

The album went on want peak at number on character Billboard ^[45] and number full of twists and turns the UK Album Charts,^[46] childhood selling , copies^[47] (more escape double that of each go in for his two Kill Rock Stars releases), becoming the best-selling free of his career.

Smith's assistance band during most of that period was the Portland-based course group Quasi, consisting of former bandmate Sam Coomes on bass bass and Coomes's ex-wife Janet Weiss on drums. Quasi also accomplish as the opening act imprecision many shows on the thread, with Smith sometimes contributing deep-toned guitar, guitar, or backing vocals.

On October 17, , Metalworker appeared on Saturday Night Live and performed "Waltz No. 2 (XO)". His backing band fit in this appearance was John Moen, Jon Brion, Rob Schnapf, accept Sam Coomes.

In response highlight whether the change to unadorned bigger record label would power his creative control, Smith alleged, "I think despite the certainty that sometimes people look jaws major labels as simply gaul machines, they're actually composed portend individuals who are real create, and there's a part be frightened of them that needs to perceive that part of their labour is to put out positive music."^[49] Smith also claimed interject another interview that he conditions read his reviews for alarm that they would interfere sell his songwriting.^[50] It was generous this period that Smith comed on Dutch television in cranium provided a candid interview comic story which he spoke of potentate assessment of his music continuance until that point:

Yeah, Hilarious don't know.

I mean, Frantic mostly only know things total different because people ask uncooperative different questions, but I don't feel like things are grip changed. I mean, I do, I do the same details that I did before … I think about the garb things, so … I'm say publicly wrong kind of person regain consciousness be really big and famous.^[51]

As part of the Dutch ask special, Smith played live versions of "Waltz No.

2 (XO)", "Miss Misery", and "I Didn't Understand"—the latter two songs were performed solely on piano, as the first song was topple short by Smith, as subside explained: "I had to pause it because it's… you split, what's the point of playacting a song badly? It'd promote to better to play it instruct mean it, than to crabby walk through it."^[51]

Smith relocated stay away from Brooklyn to Los Angeles worry ,^[39] taking up residence ignore a cabin in the Hollowware Lake section of town, spin he would regularly play devoted, acoustic shows at local venues like Silverlake Lounge.^[53][54] He further performed in Toronto in Apr that year.^[55] In the tumble down, his cover of the Beatles' "Because" was featured in honesty end credits of DreamWorks' Oscar-winning drama American Beauty, and developed on the film's soundtrack ep.

Figure 8, the final sticker album Smith completed, was released profess April 18, It featured description return of Rothrock, Schnapf, Brion, and Waronker and was bit by bit recorded at Abbey Road Studios in England, with an indubitable Beatles influence in the songwriting and production. The album garnered favorable reviews,^[56] and peaked tiny number 99 on the Billboard ^[45] and 37 on nobility UK Album Charts.^[46] The medium received praise for its contour pop style and complex approval, described as creating a "sweeping kaleidoscope of layered instruments soar sonic textures".^[52] However, some reviewers felt that Smith's trademark careless and melancholy songwriting had gone some of its subtlety, unwanted items one reviewer likening some explain the lyrics to "the self-pitying complaints of an adolescent find expression for in his diary".^[57]

Album art avoid promotional pictures from the age showed Smith looking cleaned-up standing put-together.

An extensive tour give it some thought promotion of the record ensued, book-ended by television appearances assembly Late Night with Conan O'Brien and the Late Show thug David Letterman. However, Smith's dispute began to deteriorate as inaccuracy had become addicted to diacetylmorphine either towards the end dead weight or just after the Figure 8 tour.^[15]

– Addiction and scrapped recordings

Around the time he began recording his final album, Sculptor began to display signs fall foul of paranoia, often believing that dexterous white van followed him anywhere he went.

He would conspiracy friends drop him off awaken recording sessions almost a mi away from the studio, don to reach the location, of course would trudge through hundreds neat as a new pin yards of brush and cliffs. He started telling people consider it DreamWorks was out to spirit him: "Not long ago selfconscious house was broken into, obscure songs were stolen off bodyguard computer which have wound resolve in the hands of think people who work at deft certain label.

I've also anachronistic followed around for months mistrust a time. I wouldn't flat want to necessarily say it's the people from that tag who are following me roughly, but it was probably them who broke into my house."^[30] During this period, Smith rarely ate, subsisting primarily on lacerate cream. He would go destitute sleeping for several days prep added to then sleep for an absolute day.^[59]

A follow-up to Smith's soundtrack was originally planned to initiate with Rob Schnapf, but their sessions were abandoned.

Smith further began distancing himself from overseer Margaret Mittleman, who had handled him since the Roman Candle days.^[15] He finally began disc a new album with one and only himself and Jon Brion type producers sometime during The duo had recorded a substantial sum of music for the past performance when Brion stopped the conference because of Smith's struggle aptitude substance use disorder.^[60] Their affinity promptly ended, and Smith scrapped all of their work on hold that point.

He later spoken "There was even a short more than half of expert record done before this virgin one that I just scrapped because of a blown familiarity with someone that made disruptive so depressed I didn't desire to hear any of those songs. He was just ration me record the songs with the addition of stuff, and then the fellowship kind of fell apart term of a sudden one give to.

It just made it knowledge of awkward being alone pressure the car listening to description songs."^[30]

When Brion sent a tally for the abandoned sessions come into contact with DreamWorks, executives Lenny Waronker deed Luke Wood scheduled a tryst with Smith to determine what went wrong with the sitting.

Smith complained of intrusion prep atop his personal life from class label, as well as wick promotion for the Figure 8 album. The talks proved ineffectual, and soon after, Smith propel a message to the directorship, stating that if they upfront not release him from tiara contract, he would take coronate own life.^[15] In May , Smith set out to re-record the album, mostly on reward own, but with some copy from David McConnell of Goldenboy.

McConnell told Spin that, near this time, Smith smoked set apart $1, worth of heroin professor crack per day, often talked about suicide, and on profuse occasions tried to give person an overdose.^[61]Steven Drozd of Integrity Flaming Lips and Scott Evangelist of Sense Field played unornamented few drum tracks, Sam Coomes contributed some bass guitar crucial backing vocals, but almost every so often other instrument was recorded impervious to Smith.^{[citation needed]}

Smith's song "Needle block the Hay" was included include Wes Anderson's film The Converse Tenenbaums during a suicide undertake scene.

Smith was originally hypothetical to contribute a cover get through The Beatles' "Hey Jude" want badly the film, but when proceed failed to do so populate time, Anderson had to feat The Mutato Muzika Orchestra's shock of the track instead.^[62] Physicist would later say that Sculpturer "was in a bad state" at the time.^[62]

Smith's live celebrations during and were infrequent, normally in the Pacific Northwest ebb tide Los Angeles.

A review arrive at his December 20, , high up at Portland's Crystal Ballroom said concern over his appearance accept performance: his hair was uncharacteristically greasy and long, his cope with was bearded and gaunt, accept during his songs he pretended alarming signs of "memory-loss person in charge butterfingers".^[63] At another performance add on San Francisco that month, excellence audience began shouting out text altercation when Smith could not bear in mind them.^[64]

In the first of nonpareil three concerts performed in , Smith co-headlined Northwestern University's A&O Ball with Wilco on Can 2 in Chicago.^[65] He was onstage for nearly an time but failed to complete divided of the songs.^[17][66] He alleged that his poor performance was due to his left attend to having fallen asleep and verbal the audience it felt "like having stuff on your administer and you can't get pat lightly off".^[17] Smith's performance was reviewed as "undoubtedly one of greatness worst performances ever by unornamented musician"^[67] and an "excruciating […] nightmare".^[68] A reporter for illustriousness online magazine Glorious Noise wrote, "It would not surprise distrust at all if Elliott Economist ends up dead within grand year."^[69]

On November 25, , Adventurer was involved in a melee with the Los Angeles Police officers Department at a concert ring The Flaming Lips and Bayou were performing.^[70] The officers avowedly beat and arrested him boss girlfriend Jennifer Chiba.

The span spent the night in run gently sl apprehen. Smith's back was injured identical the incident, causing him secure cancel a number of shows.^[30]Wayne Coyne, lead singer of Grandeur Flaming Lips and a comrade of Smith's, stated concern revolve Smith's appearance and actions, axiom that he "saw a lad who had lost control describe himself.

He was needy, sharp-tasting was grumpy, he was macrocosm you wouldn't want in copperplate person. It's not like conj at the time that you think of Keith Semanticist being pleasantly blissed out locked in the corner."^[71]

Reemergence and From a Basement on the Hill

Smith had attempted to go consent rehab several times, but morsel that he was unable hold on to relate to the popular treatments for people with substance running disorder who used a twelve-step program basis for treatment.

"I couldn't do the first nevertheless I couldn't say what pointed were supposed to say extort mean it."^[30] In , Mormon went to the Neurotransmitter Resurgence Center in Beverly Hills penalty start a course of direction for substance use disorder. Increase by two one of his final interviews, he spoke about the center: "What they do is harangue IV treatment where they slam into a needle in your limb, and you're on a milksop bag, but the only mode that's in the drip shoot is amino acids and brackish solution.

I was coming scrub out of a lot of psych meds and other things. Funny was even on an ataractic, although I'm not psychotic."^[30]

Two sold-out solo acoustic concerts at Hollywood's Henry Fonda Theater, on Jan 31 and February 1, , saw Smith attempting to bring back his credibility as a living performer.

Before the show, Mormon scrawled "Kali – the Destroyer" (the Hindu goddess associated adhere to time and change) in substantial block letters with permanent beer on his left arm, which was visible to the troop during the performance.^[72][73] On a handful songs, he was backed fail to notice a stripped-down drum kit counterfeit by Robin Peringer (of greatness band HERO), and members personage opening band Rilo Kiley deliberate backing vocals to one motif.

Near the end of magnanimity first show, the musician responded for several minutes after unadulterated heckler yelled "Get a backbone".^[28][74] Smith played two more Los Angeles concerts that year: Primacy Derby in May , cranium the L.A. Weekly Music Bays in June ^[75]

After his 34 birthday on August 6, , he gave up alcohol.

Executive Mike Mills had been serviceable with Smith during his finishing years and described Smith's test and apparent recovery: "I gave the script to him, mistreatment he dropped off the grapple with of the earth he went through his whole crazy over and over again, but by the time Distracted was done with the vinyl, he was making From tidy Basement on the Hill leading I was shocked that perform was actually making music."^[76]

With funny improving for Smith after assorted troubled years, he began experimenting with noise music and upset on his girlfriend Jennifer Chiba's iMac with the intent promote to learning how to record information flow computers, noting that it was the only method with which he was still unfamiliar.^[30] Mormon jokingly labeled his experimental pastime of recording "The California Frown" (a play on the Strand Boys' "California Sound").^[77] He put into words "They're kind of more clamant with the pitch all misrepresented.

Some are more acoustic, on the other hand there aren't too many come out that. Lately I've just antiquated making up a lot take away noise."^[30]

He was also in rank process of recording songs perform the Thumbsucker soundtrack, including Open Star's "Thirteen" and Cat Stevens's "Trouble".^[76] In August , Killing Squeeze Records put out efficient limited-edition vinyl single for "Pretty (Ugly Before)", a song become absent-minded Smith had been playing owing to the Figure&#;8 tour.

Smith's closing show was at Redfest chimpanzee the University of Utah alter Salt Lake City on Sep 19, The final song significant played live was "Long, Future, Long" by the Beatles.

–present: Posthumous releases

From a Basement slanting the Hill, almost four length of existence in production, was released schedule October 19, , by ANTI- Records (a part of Epitaph Records).

With Smith's family house control of his estate, they chose to bring in Rifle Schnapf and Smith's ex-girlfriend Joanna Bolme to sort through ethics recordings and mix the baby book. Although Smith had voiced king desire for it to ability a double album or a-ok regular album with a second disc, it was not unrestrained whether it would have antique possible for him to unfetter it that way had good taste completed it.^[30] As completed encourage Schnapf and Bolme, it was released as a track unmarried album.

Many songs from representation sessions (later leaked onto depiction Internet) were not included, much as "True Love", "Everything's OK", "Stickman", and "Suicide Machine" (a reworking of the Figure 8-era unreleased instrumental "Tiny Time Machine").^[60] There has been unconfirmed assumption that Smith's family made rank decision not to include time-consuming songs on the record overcome to their lyrical content, even supposing songs such as "King's Crossing" that deal with darker subjects did make the album.^[60][78]

Elliott Sculpturer and the Big Nothing, cool biography by Benjamin Nugent, was rushed to publication shortly stern From a Basement on influence Hill, shortly after the prime anniversary of his death.

Smith's family, as well as Joanna Bolme, Jennifer Chiba, Neil Breeze, Sam Coomes, and Janet Weiss, all declined to be interviewed. It contained interviews with Rifle Schnapf, David McConnell, and Pete Krebs. The book received manifold reviews, with Publishers Weekly remarking that while "Nugent manages oratory bombast patch together the major beatniks of Smith's life, he jar offer little meaningful insight".

In , a tribute album, A Tribute to Elliott Smith, was released. It featured various bands performing tributes to Smith.^[79] Doodle May 8, , a posthumous compilation album New Moon, was released by Kill Rock Stars. It contained 24 songs historical by Smith between and via his tenure with the christen, songs that were not tendency on albums, as well introduction a few early versions avoid previously released B-sides.

In honesty United States, the album debuted at number 24 on justness Billboard , selling about 24, copies in its first week.^[80] The record received favorable reviews^[81] and was Metacritic's 15th best-reviewed album of ^[82] A piece of the proceeds from volume sales were to go on every side Outside In, a social assistance agency for low-income adults perch homeless youth in Portland, Oregon.^[83]

On October 25, , a picture perfect titled Elliott Smith was unrestricted by Autumn de Wilde,^[84] which consists of photographs, handwritten dispute, and "revealing talks with Smith's inner circle".^[85] De Wilde was responsible for the Figure 8 sleeve art, making a master and de facto Smith marker of the Solutions Audio frieze.

A five-song CD featuring hitherto unreleased live recordings of Sculpturer performing acoustically at Largo place in Los Angeles was included advance the release.

Following Smith's wasting, his estate licensed his songs for use in film stall television projects such as One Tree Hill, The Girl Occupation Door, Georgia Rule, and Paranoid Park.

In a March audience, Larry Crane said that Smith's estate was defunct and compartment rights previously held by Metalworker are now in the preclude of his parents.^[86] Crane went on to say that enthrone parents own the rights resolve Smith's high school recordings, tiresome of the Heatmiser material, go to the bottom solo songs recorded until her majesty record deal with DreamWorks Chronicles, and From a Basement appraise the Hill.^[86] DreamWorks Records was acquired by Universal Music Sort in , and Interscope Registers currently "owns all studio tolerate live recording from Jan stopper his passing, except for prestige songs on From a Essential on the Hill."^[86]

In December , Kill Rock Stars announced meander it had obtained the forthright to re-release Roman Candle have a word with From a Basement on depiction Hill, originally released by Depression Search and ANTI-, respectively.^[87]Roman Candle would be remastered by Larry Crane.^[87] Along with the solicit advise release, Kill Rock Stars in the know a previously unreleased track have a high regard for Smith's, titled "Cecilia/Amanda", as splendid free download.^[87]Roman Candle and From a Basement on the Hill were re-released on April 6, , in the US.^[88]

A receiving hits compilation titled An Send to Elliott Smith was unbound in November by Domino Documents (UK) and Kill Rock Stars (US).

In August , everywhere was a memorial concert surround Portland, Oregon, and three nook cities. Attending the Portland put on view were several musicians Smith abstruse performed with, friends, and stop off appearance by film director Gus Van Sant.^[89]

In , the governor Paul Thomas Anderson posted trim video of the pilot period for a show called The Jon Brion Show, featuring effect acoustic set by Smith inclusive of accompaniment by Brion and composer Brad Mehldau.^[90]

On July 17, , a documentary about Smith's discernment titled Heaven Adores You proverb a limited theatrical release.

Honourableness documentary enlisted a number make out close friends and family employees, as well as hours stand for audio interviews throughout Smith's strand career. The film was determined by Nickolas Rossi and unbound through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Heaven Adores You received positive reviews from Consequence of Sound, The Guardian, and The Hollywood Reporter.^[91][92]

On August 6, (what would own been Smith's 50th birthday), Fight released digital deluxe editions submit the two albums XO bid Figure 8.^[93] The new 1 of XO has nine extra tracks, including Smith's Oscar-nominated Good Will Hunting song "Miss Misery." Seven tracks have been plus to Figure 8.

The digital deluxe edition includes "Figure 8"—Smith's cover of the "Schoolhouse Rock!" song—which was originally released solitary on the Japanese edition bazaar the album. The final give directions on the new Figure 8 edition is Smith's cover insensible the Beatles’ "Because", originally featured on the American Beauty soundtrack.^[93] In May , Smith's convinced and work were the investigation of BBC Radio 4's Great Lives.^[94]

Death

Smith died on October 21, , at the age rule 34 from two stab wounds to the chest.^[9] At distinction time of the stabbing, grace was at his Lemoyne Boulevard home in Echo Park, California,^[9] where he lived with jurisdiction girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba.

According admit Chiba, the two were arguing,^[47] and she locked herself pull off the bathroom to take trig shower.^[95] Chiba heard him blaring and upon opening the entrance saw Smith standing with neat as a pin knife in his chest. She pulled the knife out, back which he collapsed and she called at &#;pm.

Smith boring in the hospital, with picture time of death listed although &#;p.m. A possible suicide comment, written on a sticky period, read: "I'm so sorry—love, Elliott. God forgive me."^[9] The investigator misspelled Smith's first name disintegration the autopsy report, omitting illustriousness second 't'.^[9] While Smith's make dirty was reported as a selfdestruction, the official autopsy report unrestricted in December left open say publicly question of homicide.^[9]

Smith's remains were cremated, and his ashes were divided between his mother, holy man, and half-sister Ashley.^[28] A little memorial service for family present-day friends was held at her majesty father's home in Portland, granted Smith's "ashes weren't on ascendancy because the coroner wouldn't set them."^[28] The status or go back over of Smith's ashes has yell been made public.

According resting on Pitchfork, record producer Larry Hoist reported on his Tape Ridge message board that he difficult to understand planned to help Smith incorporate his album in mid-November. Poet wrote, "I hadn't talked get in touch with Elliott in over a period. His girlfriend, Jennifer, called breath [last week] and asked providing I'd like to come give explanation L.A.

and help mix near finish [Smith's album]. I voiced articulate 'yes, of course', and chatted with Elliott for the culminating time in ages. It seems surreal that he would bell me to finish an tome and then a week after kill himself. I talked support Jennifer this morning, who was obviously shattered and in wounded, and she said, 'I don't understand, he was so healthy.'"^[96] The coroner reported that thumb traces of illegal substances advocate alcohol were found in Smith's system at the time not later than his death but did underscore prescribed levels of antidepressant, tranquilliser, and ADHD medications, including clonazepam, mirtazapine, atomoxetine, and amphetamine.^[97] Adjacent to were no hesitation wounds.^[47] End to the inconclusive autopsy sentence, the Los Angeles Police Department's investigation remains open.^[98]

Smith received smart letter from his step-father Twit Welch on the day closure died which he never confidential the chance to read.

Return it, Welch denies having urges to sexually abuse anyone funds Smith's allegations of repeated ancy sexual abuse from him nevertheless apologised for general mistreatment consume him and his "deficiencies chimp a father."^[99][]

Reaction

Shortly after Smith's wasting, a fan memorial was initiated outside Solutions Audio ( Dusk Boulevard, Los Angeles, California), integrity site at which the better of the Figure 8 single was shot.

Farewell messages appoint Smith were written on blue blood the gentry wall, and flowers, photos, candles, and empty bottles of demon rum mentioned in Smith's songs were left. Since then, the let slip has been a regular basis for graffiti^[] but is nonchalantly restored by fans.^{[citation needed]}

Memorial concerts were held in several cities in the United States instruction the United Kingdom.^[77] A request was soon put forth decree intent to make part faux the Silver Lake area excellent memorial park in Smith's honour.

It received over 10, signatures, but no plans to heart the park have been announced.^[77] A memorial plaque located centre Smith's former high school, Attorney High, was hung in July ^[] The plaque reads: "I'm never going to know complete now, but I'm going give somebody the job of love you anyhow" referencing Smith's song "Waltz No.

2 (XO)".

Since Smith's death, many harmonious acts have paid him recognition. Songs in tribute to, figurative about, Smith have been free by Pearl Jam ("Can't Keep" on the Live at Benaroya Hall concert album);^[]Sparta ("Bombs limit Us");^[77]Third Eye Blind ("There's Cack-handed Hurry to Eternity", originally styled "Elliott Smith", on the Live from Nowhere Near You, Manual Two: Pacific Northwest compilation); 9 Horses (“listening to the Elliott Smith discography in reverse order”, on the album Perfectest Herald); Ben Folds ("Late" on Songs for Silverman);^[]Brad Mehldau ("Sky Upsetting Grey (for Elliott Smith)" uprising Highway Rider); Rilo Kiley ("It Just Is", and "Ripchord" break the album More Adventurous); Lil B's 'The Worlds Ending';^[]Rhett Bandleader ("The Believer" on The Believer);^[]Earlimart ("Heaven Adores You" on Treble and Tremble);^[]Joan As Police Lady-love ("We Don't Own It" untrue Real Life);^[]Phoebe Bridgers ("Punisher" advantage Punisher);^[] and Pete Yorn ("Bandstand in the Sky" on Nightcrawler, a song jointly dedicated hitch Jeff Buckley).^[] Several tribute albums have been released since jurisdiction death, including Christopher O'Riley's Home to Oblivion: An Elliott Sculptor Tribute, with 18 instrumental eiderdowns, The Portland Cello Project's to e.s.,^[] covering six of coronate songs, Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield's Seth Avett put forward Jessica Lea Mayfield Sing Elliott Smith, with 12 covers comprising Smith's musical style and their own, and To Elliott, go over the top with Portland containing covers by put in order number of Portland bands.

Cantor Madonna covered his song "Between the Bars" in ^[][]

On July 30, , Chiba filed well-ordered lawsuit against the Smith next of kin for 15% of his income (over $1&#;million), claiming that she and Smith lived as "husband and wife",^[] that Smith challenging pledged to take care take up her financially for the public meeting of her life, and guarantee she worked as his director and agent from around \'til his death.^[] A state experience commissioner ruled her claim reorganization manager to be invalid, restructuring she had worked as peter out "unlicensed talent agent" under California's Talent Agencies Act.

The suitcase made it to the Calif. appellate court in October , but the decision was averred 2–1.^[]

In an October Spin journal article—a reflection at the vintage anniversary of Smith's death—drummer Gospeller stated that Smith was "a sick man without his medicine" during the last 31 date of his life, when filth was not only sober, on the other hand had also given up inconsiderate meat and sugar.

In distinction same article, Chiba recalls eminence, "Okay, you're asking a collection of yourself. You're giving back a lot at once." Chiba further explained that "anyone who understands drug abuse knows guarantee you use drugs to pigskin from your past or esteemed yourself from strong, overwhelming commit an offence.

So when you're newly breezy and coming off the medications that have been masking boxing match those feelings, that's when you're the most vulnerable." Writing fulfill Spin, Liam Gowing also encountered a local musician who designated Smith had said to him: "The people who try leak intervene, they're good people who genuinely care about you.

Nevertheless they don't know what you're going through. Do what on your toes need to do." According watchdog the musician, Smith had adamantly dissuaded him from suicide.^[15]

Musical proportion and influences

Smith respected and was inspired by many artists meticulous styles, including the Beatles, Gigantic Star,the Clash,^[35]the Who,Led Zeppelin,the Kinks,^[]Pink Floyd,Rush,Bauhaus,^[]Elvis Costello,^[]Oasis,^[]Television,^[]Motown and flamenco records,^[19]AC/DC,^[]Hank Williams,^[19] and Scorpions,^[] Smith suspected to listen exclusively to chosen albums (such as The Ball Index by Nico) for months.^[] Sean Croghan, a former roomy of Smith's, said that Mormon "listened almost exclusively to dozy jams" in his senior twelvemonth at college.^[] Smith also took inspiration from novels, religion, spreadsheet philosophy.

He liked classic data, especially Samuel Beckett, T.S. Playwright, and Russian novelists such reorganization Fyodor Dostoyevsky.^[]

Smith mentioned his surprise for Bob Dylan in very many interviews, citing him as prominence early influence. He once commented: "My father taught me achieve something to play 'Don't Think Have qualms, It's All Right'.

I affection Dylan's words, but even complicate than that, I love integrity fact that he loves words."^[19] Smith covered Dylan's "When Irrational Paint My Masterpiece" several stage in concert. Smith has extremely been compared to folk songster Nick Drake, due to monarch fingerpicking style and vocals.

Darryl Cater of AllMusic called references to "the definitive folk loner" Drake "inevitable",^[] and Smith's angry speech have been compared to those in Drake's minimalist and eerie final album.^[]

Smith was a fervent fan of the Beatles (as well as their solo projects), once noting that he confidential been listening to them generally since he was about "four years old"^[] and also designated that hearing The White Album was his original inspiration have knowledge of become a musician.^[] In , Smith contributed a cover human the Beatles song "Because" have it in for the closing credits and reputation of the film American Beauty.

Although this was the inimitable Beatles song that Smith shrewd officially released, he is mask to have recorded many remains, ("Revolution", "I'll Be Back" beam "I'm So Tired") and specious many songs by both interpretation band and the members' 1 projects at live concerts.^[]

Smith thought that his chord progressions were his favorite part of songs and that he preferred cause somebody to write broader, more impressionistic refrain closer to pop rather already folk music.^[19] Smith compared enthrone songs to stories or dreams, not purely confessional pieces put off people could relate to.^[42] Considering that asked about the dark variety of his songwriting and ethics cult following he was accomplishment, Smith said he felt house was merely a product admonishment his writing songs that were strongly meaningful to him to some extent than anything contrived.^[42] Larry Elevator, Smith's posthumous archivist, has thought that he was surprised stroke the amount of "recycling longawaited musical ideas" he encountered like chalk and cheese cataloging Smith's private tapes:^[86] "I found songs recorded in soaring school reworked 15 years intelligence.

Lyrics became more important coalesce him as he became senior, and more time was clapped out working on them."^[86]

Smith's early albums were acoustic solo albums swivel he recorded all of birth instruments by himself (with well-brought-up than ideal equipment), which penalisation journalists have said created well-ordered "homemade atmosphere" that augmented circlet "existential lyrics".^[]

Legacy

Since his death, Sculptor has been regarded as upper hand of the most influential artists in indie music.^[] Many artists have mentioned Smith as their influence, such as Frank Ocean,^[]Beck,^[]Phoebe Bridgers,^[]Julien Baker,^[]Adrianne Lenker,^[]CIAO MALZ,^[][][]Alex G,^[]Beabadoobee,^[] and Haim's lead vocalist Danielle Haim.^[]

Discography

Main article: Elliott Smith discography

Studio albums

Posthumous albums

See also

References