• AOL
  • MAIL
    • You might also like: 
    • Music | 
    • Movies | 
    • TV | 
    • Celebrity News
    •  and More
    Sign In / Register
Spinner
  • Main
  • Spinner RPM
  • Features
    • The Hit List
    • Spinner Interview
    • Tributes & Essays
    • Music Appreciation
  • Songs
    • Free MP3 of the Day
    • Play Full Albums Free
  • Videos
    • The Interface
    • Sessions
    • Video of the Day
    • All Videos
  • Radio
    • AOL Radio
    • AOL Radio Toolbar
    • Shoutcast
  • AOL Music Sites
    • The Boot
    • The BoomBox
    • Noisecreep
    • AOL Music Blog
  • SXSW
  • Send Feedback
  • Katherine McPhee

    Watch Katharine McPhee Sessions
  • Sugarland

    Watch Sugarland's Sexy Duet With Matt Nathanson
  • Beyonce

    Get Beyonce News
  • Katy Perry

    Read Latest on Katy Perry
  • Ringo Starr

    Read Ringo Starr Interview
  • Jill Janus of Huntress

    Huntress Reveal Debut Album Art
  • Kellie Pickler

    Read Kellie Pickler Interview
  • Chris Brown

    Chris Brown 'Wins' Unwelcome Award

Spinner Exclusives

  • The Interface - Live Performances
  • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free
  • Spinner Radio
  • Listening Parties - New CDS for Free

Features

  • Best Songs 2011
  • Top Albums of 2011
  • Sad Songs
  • Music Geeks in Film
  • Best Opening Lyrics

All Categories

  • Monthly Mixtape(1)
  • A Day in the Life(5)
  • All About Jazz(96)
  • Awards(233)
  • Free MP3 Download of the Day(1674)
  • Around the World(205)
  • Between the Notes(36)
  • Book Club(94)
  • Celebrity Doppelganger(18)
  • Clash of the Cover Songs(49)
  • Coming Out Stories(23)
  • Concerts and Tours(6846)
  • Count Five(83)
  • Exclusive(5981)
  • Guest Blogger(133)
  • Holy Hell(1016)
  • I Fought the Law(111)
  • I Freakin' Love This Song(252)
  • In House(12)
  • Listen Up!(18)
  • Movies(424)
  • Music Appreciation(123)
  • New Music(862)
  • New Releases(615)
  • News(12277)
  • PhotoSynthesis(88)
  • Picture Book(31)
  • Politics as Usual(61)
  • Pop Culture(93)
  • Potent Quotables(776)
  • Q + A(494)
  • Quizzes & Trivia(6)
  • R.I.P.(454)
  • Road Report(61)
  • Rock Almanac(366)
  • Rock Hall(44)
  • RPM(263)
  • Spinner Says(16)
  • Spinner Interview(212)
  • Television(245)
  • The Chum Bucket(777)
  • The Hit List(1388)
  • Twisted Tales(194)
  • Video(1785)
  • Video of the Day(1226)
  • What's That Song?(134)

Jeff Tweedy Opens Up About Jay Bennett's Death

  • Posted on Jul 6th 2009 11:30AM by John D. Luerssen
  • Comments
Email This
Jeff Tweedy has spoken out about his relationship with Wilco's former multi-instrumentalist Jay Bennett, who unexpectedly died in May from an overdose of painkillers. In a new interview with WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, Tweedy speaks about Bennett's tumultuous exit from the band, the shock of his passing at age 45 and the lawsuit Bennett filed against the band for breach of contract earlier this spring.

"A lot has been made of the relationship that Jay and I had as if it was in a vacuum and not as a part of a band," says Tweedy. "The problem is that when Jay left the band everybody in the band was having a difficult time making that relationship work and be fruitful and having it thrive. And sadly that was just an untenable situation for all of us."

"I think a lot of people always have theories about a songwriter needing an artistic foil," Tweedy adds. "And certainly we've been happy to acknowledge all of the amazing contributions that Jay made to the band. I have trouble talking about it to be honest because it was such a long time ago and at the same time this shock of him passing is really new. The tragedy of it isn't lost on any of us."

"Jay was an extremely talented man and a brilliant man and a gifted musician," Wilco's frontman explains. "And we would have all been very, very happy to see him thrive and flourish, especially in the years after the band. I think it's very, very tragic that he isn't around anymore and that music isn't going to get made."

As for Bennett suing Wilco for unpaid royalties, Tweedy says, "There wasn't anything unresolved on our end, unfortunately. There was something unresolved for Jay. And that is very tragic. I don't have anything else to say about that. It's a really really unfortunate timing and turn of events but what are you gonna do?"

Watch Wilco Live at Sessions
  • Filed under: News, Holy Hell
  • Email This

All the AOL Music info you want to know

50 Cent, Street King: Rapper Visits…

The Boombox

AP Photo/World Food Programme, Rose Ogola NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Rapper 50 Cent…

Grammy Acceptance Speeches: Watch 30…

AOL Music Blog

FilmMagic, Getty, WireImage It's been a busy week for God. Besides helping…

Earl Sweatshirt Returns, Releases New…

The Boombox

YouTube.com Ironically, Earl Sweatshirt was one of the most visible members…

See all AOL Music »

Add a Comment

Sign in »
*0 / 3000 Character Maximum
12

15 Comments

Filter by:
Rick

Many patients see more they 1 doctor,go to multiple emergency rooms, and frequently do not tell the doctors what medicaions they are taking. Many states are beginning to monitor what controlled medications and the amount that patients are recieving, and relaying that information back to the doctors to help stop this but there are ways around this, going to doctors and pharmacy's in multiple states. If someone whats the drugs, they find ways.

July 07 2009 at 12:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
witchdoctor

Jeff has had the onus of leadership on him since the beginning of Wilco, and Jay was, painfully enough, NOT the guy who had to make a great record. Jeff's future was tied up in the success of the band more than anyone and Jay was not good to him for awhile, especially with Jeff's migraines. I suffer them too, and had I had to deal with some of that for one day, the relationship would have been over a lot sooner.
That being said, Jay was a magnificent textural arranger and musician. I enjoyed his solo work tremendously and still listen to certain songs when I go into a recording studio to get a reference.
As to Jeff thinking of the band as a solo project with a bunch of sidemen, don't say that to Nels Cline. He may not be the singer, but he is definitely no sideman.

July 07 2009 at 11:13 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Old fart

I too suffer from pain and cannot get any pain medication. I have three discs in my back that have leaked out their fluid and to make any type of movement is quite painful. My doctor only wants to operate. When I ask for some pain medication, she refuses and says that she can't do that. She can only operate. I think that I should have the choice as it is my body. I would just like to get one night of sleep without being wakened by the back pain over and over. I have lived with this for six years now and it is not getting any better. I can live with the pain but like I said, it would be nice just to get a full nights sleep.

July 07 2009 at 11:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
cinekaynon

I recognize that Jay Bennett was invasive to people's personal space. I don't think I would have liked it. But a mentor of mine at AFI once advised me that you don't have to like the people you work with. I stopped listening to WILCO after YHF because it was apparent that Tweedy thought WILCO = Tweedy plus some guys in the background who knew their place as subordinates. I still listen to the Bennett era records, and miss WILCO as I knew them. I think Tweedy's comments are genuine; maybe it's time we got to know each other again: I'm just a fan.

July 07 2009 at 10:36 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Peckerwood

DOXPET 5
at 7-06-2009Shouldn't pharmacies somehow hold some culpability in these prescription drug wars?

Good point DOX!
Pharmacies network with each other, and have been for years. You can't get a refill of a controlled substance if you try to fill it at any major drugstore (the Ma and Pa pharmacies hardly exist anymore, and no medical insurance will tolerate or cover anyone filling multiple perscriptions from different doctors.) These pill abusers should be red-flagged!

I think that Doctors should start networking with the pharamcies so they will know if a person is "doctor shopping." All these overdoses of famous people who doctor shop are making it hard for people who really need prescription pain killers. Like cancer patients, or people with severe ongoing agonizing pain from a spinal ingury etc... I have a strong feeling that the FDA and DEA are going to make it almost impossible for Doctors to prescribe these pills for people who really need pain killers because of these high profile abusers. The truly sick folks (who really need them) will turn to illegal measures to obtain what they need, and it will cost them hundreds of $$$, or even their lives. You can count on it.

July 06 2009 at 10:29 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Diana Molino

I am sorry to hear about your friend. I am sure you miss his presence. Death is such a morbid thing that no one wants to die. I am sorrier to hear that it again was drugs. These deaths by drugs, prescribed or not, could surely be prevented if the person would only give them up. Sure it hurts, I am 67 and I have pains, too. But I don't doctor shop, I learn to live with it. Yes, even the chronic pain in my feet, which I have to walk on. I was diagnosed with tunnel syndrome of the legs. The Podiatrist offered to slit the nerves but I refused because I could step on a piece of glass and never know it, I could bleed to death. I would rather hurt and know I was alive then unknowingly bleed to death. Too many of the up to date people refuse to hurt any at all. Pain is a reminder of what not to do again. I used to wear high heels all of my life as a working person. High heels are not good for your feet. They may make you look better, more slender legs, but they cause many foot problems. Especially later on. Your friend had hip problems, he felt the pain deep in his hips. Mine are stiffening up on me. I can feel that stiffness originating from deep down. It's difficult to explain where deep down is. It is in the center of my hip. For me it is the right hip. It is most noticeable when I first wake up in the morning and rise. I consider it an aging sign. One of those things of being alive. If it were pain I would go to my doctor. Love, Peace and Wisdom.

July 06 2009 at 8:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Itsdamamma

I am chronic. I have suffered for 25 years and have already got all the liver problems of a 65 year old alcoholic... They put me on drugs along time ago, screwed up my body with botched surgery and I will no longer let them cut me. Since I wont allow them to cut me they refuse help me deal with a life long pain issue. I am wayyyyy past all that. they have me on 11 different drugs and I have been taking 1000 MG of ibuprofen for 20 years. TO LATE! Now can ya send me some drugs? itsdamamma@aol.com

July 06 2009 at 8:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Itsdamamma

I suffer from pain 24-7 and can't get a doc to give me one small dose of pain meds at night before bed. How in the world do these guys get enough to OD??? OH YEAH THAT"S RIGHT>>> I am poor, I go to doctors that don't get paid. If you have money you can get anything. Can some one please send me some drugs?

July 06 2009 at 7:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Itsdamamma's comment
Billie

to Itsdamamma, you really don't want drugs, that only masks the problem, wouldn't it be better to be cured of the problem instead? Besides everything gets filtered through your liver, and after years of taking all those meds the doctors give you, you need to take medicine for your liver. I am going through that now. I use to want meds to take away my pain as well, and look where it has gotten me. It isn't just the rich that are given so much pain medication. I was on medical that I got with my SSI and all the doctors ever wanted to do was load me up on pain pills and it almost killed me.It's faster for the dr.'s to fill out prescriptions then it is to find out whats really wrong with you, and find a better way to treat you. I came off all that pain medication cold turkey and I thought I was gonna die. Now I am very careful and read up on what they want to prescribe to me.You know your body better then any one else does.It is safer to check out what is given to you before just taking the doctor's word for it.

July 06 2009 at 7:52 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
DOXPET 5

Shouldn't pharmacies somehow hold some culpability in these prescription drug wars?

July 06 2009 at 6:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to DOXPET 5's comment
bsublime5725

Pharmacists generally have no idea that the person is getting drugs at several places. The system that is in place to monitor controlled drugs don't update quickly enough and many pharmacies don't even have access to these programs. Also pharmacists are somewhat bound by the prescriptions they are presented. If we think there is a drug problem, we can call the physician and make them aware but if the physician doesn't want to cancel the prescription, there is nothing we can do except send the patient to another pharmacist. Also physicians can be sued if they don't provide adequate pain relief for patients.

July 06 2009 at 7:46 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Mason younG

Jay's death is unfortunate, so much to live for.
I'm not exactly sure why, but I can't stand jeff Tweedy. I think he's a creep. I saw them/him, and his stage presence and attitude turned my off rather badly. Even though I do like some of their music.
Not that my opinion matters, but this is a place to put it

July 06 2009 at 5:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Load more comments

Follow Us

  • Newsletter
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • RSS

Sign Up for Spinner's Newsletter! Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!




  • Contact Us
  • Send News Tips
  • Advertise with Us

SIGN UP FOR SPINNER'S NEWSLETTER

  • Get free MP3s, play a selection of each week's new albums free, read features, win sweet music swag and more!

  • Sign Up!

AOL Radio

Listen to Slacker AOL Radio Now
play arrow
Top Indie - Today's best indie rock and pop
play arrow
Indie Rock Mix - A mix of new and old indie rock
play arrow
New Indie First - The latest in indie music
Online Radio Guide

Listen to Full CDs

  • Paul McCartney, 'Kisses on the Bottom'
  • Sharon Van Etten, 'Tramp'
  • AIR, 'Le Voyage Dans La Lune'
  • Bahamas, 'Barchords'
  • Band of Skulls, 'Sweet Sour'
  • Play More Albums Free

Most Popular

  • Can You Guess This Famous Face?
    Like

    17

  • Katy Perry Divorce: With No Prenup How Much Will Russell Walk Away With?
    Like

    16

  • It's Pink!
    Like

    9

  • Randy Travis Apologizes for Public Intoxication
    Like

    247

  • M.I.A., Fiance Benjamin Bronfman Split, Singer Rarely Sees Son -- Report
    Like

    55

  • Josh Powell's Last Words: 'I Am Not Able To Go On Anymore': Report
    Like

    956

  • Alori Joh Dead: Singer and Kendrick Lamar Affiliate Dies at 25
    Like

    103

  • American Heart Month: 17 Celebrities Who Faced Heart Problems
    Like

    18

  • Can You Guess This Famous Face?
    Like

    7

  • Powell 911 Call Released: Cops Declare Investigation Of Missing Mom A Murder Case
    Like

    323

  • It's Madonna!
    Like

    2

  • PHOTOS: Anti-Gay Protesters Getting Pwned
    Like

    2K

  • Thudda Boy Dead: Rapper Brondon McDaniel Dies From Gunshot Wound
    Like

    40

  • PHOTO: Miley Cyrus Wears Racy Garter Tights
    Like

    88

  • Chi Cheng Improving: Deftones Bassist Raises Leg After Three Years in Coma
    Like

    218

  • Mia Farrow's Low-Key, Philanthropic Style
    Like

    7

  • The Best And Worst Burgers
    Like

    141

  • PHOTOS: Massive Whale Shark Reeled Into Harbor
    Like

    1K

  • Is Social Media Causing The Mystery Illness?
    Like

    1K

  • Lacrosse Player Accused Of Killing Ex-Girlfriend Emailed Her 'I Should Have Killed You'
    Like

    69

  • Powell Boys Suffered 'Chop Injuries' Before Explosion
    Like

    457

  • Prop 8, California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban, Declared Unconstitutional
    Like

    16K

  • Staten Island Mother Suing City For $900 Trillion
    Like

    2K

  • Freakish Fossil Upends Ideas About Origins Of Animal Life
    Like

    242

  • Woolly Mammoth Allegedly Caught On Video In Siberia
    Like

    456

  • WATCH: Rose McGowan, Christie Brinkley & Minka Kelly Stumble On Runway
    Like

    14

  • Werewolf Sisters Are Coated In Hair (PICTURES)
    Like

    1K

  • Obama's Favorite Day As President?
    Like

    681

  • The 10 Biggest Sources Of Salt In Our Diets
    Like

    612

  • Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino To Housemates: Stop Hinting I'm Gay
    Like

    100

  • Post 50 Celebrity Dream Homes on the Market (PHOTOS)
    Like

    17

  • 'Dancing With The Stars' Season 14 Dream Casting
    Like

    53

  • PHOTOS: She's Back!
    Like

    212

Also on AOL

Quick Links

  • Slipknot Masks
  • Saddest Songs
  • Funny Music Videos
  • SXSW 2011

Also on AOL Music

  • Concert Tickets
  • Grammys 2012
  • Music Videos
  • New Music Releases

Blogs on AOL

  • Country Music
  • Hip Hop Music
  • Metal Music
  • Pop Music News

More on AOL

  • Best Lyrics
  • Best Metal Songs
  • Break Up Songs
  • Online Radio

More on AOL

  • Christmas Music
  • Classic Rock Songs
  • Best Songs of 2010
  • SHOUTcast

Help Links

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Trademarks
  • About Our Ads
  • Follow Spinner on Twitter
  • The Interface
  • Free MP3
  • Full CDs
  • RSS

Spinner.com © 2011 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.