Cocaine, Alcohol Cited as Factors in Jay Reatard's Death

Autopsy results for Jay Reatard reveal that the musician died of "cocaine toxicity" and that alcohol was also a "contributing factor in his death," Memphis' Commercial Appeal reports based on the Shelby County, Tennessee medical examiner's findings. As Rolling Stone previously reported, Reatard was found dead in his Memphis home on January 13th. He was 29.

Remember more artists lost before their time.

"He was devoted to the Flying V and punk rock," Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis told Rolling Stone. "I'll miss Jay." Added Matador Records founder Chris Lombardi, who released Reatard's Watch Me Fall in 2009, "Jay was a juggernaut of amazing musical ideas. He was a genius — a nihilistic genius but a genius nonetheless."

Related Stories:
• Jay Reatard Remembered by J Mascis, Bandmates in Days After Untimely Death
• Memphis Garage Rocker Jay Reatard Dead at 29
• Album Review: Jay Reatard's Watch Me Fall

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Song Stories

“Oh Sherrie”

Steve Perry | 1984

Steve Perry's girlfriend Sherrie Swafford was actually in the studio when Perry began writing this song--his lone Top Ten hit as a solo act--with two co-writers. The trio began at midnight one night with just "Oh, Sherrie!" and "hold on, hold on." Three hours later, they had a complete song. Swafford, however, had to wait until the next day to hear it. "Sherrie actually got tired and went to bed," Perry said. She also appeared in the video, but their relationship did not hold on for long.

More Song Stories entries »

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