Photo: Gary Miller/FilmMagic
Singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston has died.
The alternative musician’s former manager, Jeff Tartakov, confirmed the news toThe Austin Chronicle, which reported that Johnston died after “a presumed heart attack” on Tuesday night, at his home. He was 58.
“We’ve been struggling for several years with Daniel’s health, and his frequent and lengthy stays in hospitals dampened his creative efforts, but throughout he continued to draw and write songs,” Johnston’s brother, Dick Johnston, toldSpin.
“We had hoped to get back to a point where he was stableand could enjoy things like touring. He had just returned from a recent hospital stay and seemed (and looked) better than I’d seen him in a good while,” Dick added, calling his sibling’s death “something of a surprise” as a result.
According to theChronicle, Johnston moved to Austin in the early ’80s and, over the span of his life, recorded almost a dozen and a half albums. His most famous wasHi, How Are You, which gained even more recognition afterNirvanafrontmanKurt Cobainwore a shirt featuring the album’s cover art.
And it seems he had more up his sleeve. As the star revealed to theChroniclelast year, “I’ve been working on a new album with [Austin’s] Brian Beattie for years, and I hope it comes out real soon.”
Johnston struggled throughout his life with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and manic depression. A 2005 documentary about the musician — titledThe Devil and DanielJohnston, chronicling his life, career and health struggles — nabbed the award for documentary direction at the 2005Sundance Film Festival.
Daniel Johnston.Scott Dudelson/Getty
Many celebrities and fellow musicians expressed their grief over Johnston’s death on social media. A Wednesdaytweet from Foster the Peopleread, “Very sad to hear that daniel johnston passed away today. i saw him live a couple years ago and he cracked my heart open like nobody else. that guy carried such a pure truth with everything he did. sending love to his family ❤️”
“Sittinghere on set tearing up. I hope Daniel is up there with Kurt playing the most beautiful music together. RIP #DanielJohnston,” wroteEvan Rachel Wood, while Jenny Lewis tweeted, “Love youforever Daniel Johnston💙”
In his conversation withSpin, Johnston’s brother Dick said he “always wanted Danny to feel like his own person, and in control of his own life.”
“Since beginning to work and travel with him in about 2003, we gratefully were able to travel the entire globe for over a decade to get out before the fans,” Dick added. “He was always, everywhere, warmly received and he at least knew he was well loved.”
source: people.com
