Athens, Georgia singer / songwriter Vic Chesnutt has died after a being in a coma for a number of days following a suicide attempt earlier this week.
At statement at the site of his record label Constellation Records reads “Surrounded by family and friends, Vic Chesnutt died in Athens Georgia this afternoon, Friday 25 December at 14:59”.“In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about. Our grief is inexpressible and Vic’s absence unfathomable”.
“We will make more information available according to the wishes of Vic’s family and friends”.
Chesnutt became a paraplegic when he was injured in a car accident in 1983. In 1985, he moved to Athens where he was discovered by R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe who then produced his first two albums ‘Little’ (1990) and ‘West of Rome’ (1991).
Chesnutt has a small role in the Billy Bob Thornton movie ‘Sling Blade’.
In 1996 the tribute album ‘Sweet Relief II: Gravity for the Situation’ featuring his songs sung by Garbage, Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M. and Live was released.
Vic made a few albums with Georgia’s Widespread Panic under the name brute and moved to Constellation Records in 2006.
Chesnutt died in an Athens hospital after overdosing on muscle relaxants.
Watch Vic Chesnutt ‘Cobbham Blues’
