1 Delicate Spirits, Wild Lives: Folk Singers Gone Too Soon For a genre steeped in emotion, it is no surprise that

some of the most intriguing folk singers in music history were wrought with feelings of apathy and depression, leading to a history of addiction and tragic death. From the 60s and onward, select folk singers captured the attention of their fans and drew them in with their personalities, which resonated heavily in their music and off-stage behavior. The lives of these folk singers influenced those who came after them and maintained a magnetizing aura; Tim Buckley, Phil Ochs, Nick Drake and Elliott Smith. Tim Buckley broke into the music scene around the mid-60s when he released his eponymous debut album. Buckley was notable for including many different styles of music in his studio and live recordings, including jazz, folk, funk and an experimental/improvisational musical styling. Like many musicians who have died young (especially in Nick Drakes case), Buckley reached a wider audience posthumously. Buckley sang with great fervor. Passionate lyrics lined his songs, however, he also tended to drift to states of melancholy, a dichotomy that would plague Buckley throughout his life. In an April 1968 interview with Melody Maker, Tony Wilson remarked that Tim Buckley was a quiet, rather serious, person but is quick to smile when something appeals to his sense of humor. With album titles like Goodbye and Hello and Happy Sad, its evident that Buckley was a multi-faceted person who unapologetically allowed himself to view life from multiple perspectives, rather than commit himself to one ideology. His enigmatic nature allowed him to be seen as visionary by his peers, but he himself had a very bland opinion of what he actually was to people. A higher-up at Elektra Records (one of Tims employers) said, in a 1968 interview with Eye magazine

2 that Buckley was not a prophet, teacher or spokesman like Dylan. He was a mirror of the times. Drug use has always been associated with musicians because of the accessibility to it and the temperament towards illicit drugs in the 60s/70s, Buckley himself indulged, according to Lee Underwood, a guitarist who played with Buckley for a good part of his career. Buckley battled drug use and alcoholism throughout the tail end of his career and life. After finishing a tour in Dallas, Buckley got into a spat with his longtime friend Richard Keeling after which Buckley overdosed on heroin (mixed with alcohol) and passed away (Sims, Tim Buckley Dead at 28). It was the end to a career that had lasted just around a decade and was in the midst of blossoming even more than it already had. Buckleys passing showed the downside to someone who was peaceful, but made himself so open and vulnerable to the dangers of the world due to his well-known reputation. Following in the traditional folk style, Phil Ochs wrote songs with topical content, which could be perceived as protest songs (a term that wasnt too endearing to Ochs). He was a figure in the political scene and the revolutionary uprising amongst the youth of the 1960s. Ochs is an example of how the devotion to his art and his morals, especially his political views, ended up having dire consequences. The folk scene was held in high regards due to its controversial (to conservatives), yet freeing (to liberals) lyrical content. A police riot ensued after the 1968 Democratic National Convention, which Ochs had made a point to be a part of because of his strong political convictions. The aftermath of what Ochs had encountered at the Convention caused him a great deal of distress (Sullivan, Phil OchsWrites Himself Off). He slipped into a delusional state that

3 included him losing his drive to perform and developing a bi-polar disorder. Ochs felt that he was being followed by government agencies. Ochs invented a second personality named John Butler Train, who he told people killed Ochs. He became more lost in his delusions and out of touch with his artistic vision; he became a shell of his former outspoken self. Ochs hung himself in April of 1976. Ochs belief that the FBI was on to him did not go unfounded. The FBI had a rather extensive file on Ochs, which was revealed by them after Ochs suicide (Life of a RebelThe Phil Ochs FBI File). Ochs death exemplified how folk singers became a target and a group of interest in the 60s and 70s because of how straightforward they were about their convictions and intentions with their art. The mind of a musician is really fragile because of the pedestal society puts on someone who sticks out and stands behind everything they believe in. Nick Drake remains one of the more mysterious figures in folk and music history. Drake was musically active for about 4-5 years, leaving behind an audience that beckoned for more material from someone with such a poetic manner of observation. The only video that can be found of Nick Drake (at least within the realms of YouTube) is roughly 20 seconds and it is of Drake walking away at what seems to be a festival. The best way for fans to get to know Drake was through the lyrics in his music, but his lyrics were so intimate and personal that it allowed his audience to understand, at least a little bit, as to whom he was. Drakes reluctance to be a public figure during his lifetime was a result of his battle with depression, and like so many people, was prescribed numerous medications to help subside these feelings (The Death of Nick Drake). Drake abused his medication, as well as other drugs. He died on November 25, 1974. Much like his previous 26 years, his death and the circumstances of what actually

4 happened is debated. It is unknown whether or not Drake deliberately overdosed on his pain medication, if it was accidental or if his rumored heroin use had a factor. Despite his mysterious history, Drakes sentimental and serene lyrics captured a very romantic side of the folk tradition and it wasnt until his passing that he gained the cult following he has today. His story is another in the list of bright and young musicians with a world of talent and credibility, who, one or another, became engrossed in the moment and never got out. Elliott Smith rose to indie relevance through his involvement with the band Heatmiser, but it was his work on his debut solo album, Roman Candle, that made him a noteworthy name. In the 90s, there was a resurgence in the independent scene (the beginnings of what would culminate in indie bands like Arcade Fire winning Grammys in years to come). Elliott Smith was at the forefront of the Portland scene and his rise culminated in an Oscar nomination for his contribution to the soundtrack of Good Will Hunting, Miss Misery. This was fame that Elliott never asked for. Elliott disliked the social pressures brought on by his fame. He was very much a kind-hearted and meek person, which was made evident by his timid mannerisms on stage. Much like the three artists previously discussed, Smith battled issues with depression and drug abuse, mostly with his prescribed medication. According to Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing, Smith got into an argument with his girlfriend, Jennifer Chiba, after which Elliott Smith stabbed himself twice in the chest and died upon arrival at a nearby hospital on October 21st, 2003. These four artists never crossed paths, but they encompass much of the folk spectrum. From Buckley and Drakes sweet and pleasant musical demeanor, to Ochs

5 songs of revolution and being a voice for a silent but resilient generation to Elliott Smiths modern take on folk, not to mention his emotionally observant nature. They were all extremely passionate musicians who let their soul pour out through chords and lyrics. Each artist encountered individual battles with depression and drug abuse, which were exasperated through personal anguish and the pressures of being such timid people beloved by many. The biggest crime is the fruitful lives and careers each artist could have had. Unlike many famous musicians who died young, like Janis Joplin or Jim Morrison, these deaths seemed to be more intriguing because of how human they all seemed to be. There was no separation between celebrity and person. Each musician put their true feelings and most significant emotions out for everyone to absorb and learn from. These people are shining examples of artists who lived and died because of their art.

Works Cited

6 1) Wilson, Tony. ""Don't Call Me a Poet...". Melody Maker. (1968): n. page. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://timbuckley.net/interviews/melody_maker-1968.shtml>. 2) Hopkins, Jerry. ""And God Bless Tim Buckley Too..."." Eye Magazine. (1968): n. page. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://timbuckley.net/articles/eye_mag-1968.shtml>. 3) Sims, Judith. "Tim Buckley Dead at 28, Murder Charged." Rolling Stone. n. page. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://timbuckley.net/tributes/aftermath/rs_obit.shtml>. 4) Sullivan, James. "Phil Ochs, the Folksinger's Folksinger, Writes Himself Off." Spinner Online. (2010): n. page. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. <http://www.spinner.com/2010/09/10/phil-ochs/>. 5) "Life of a Rebel: Folk Singer for the FBI: The Phil Ochs FBI File." Blogspot. (2008): n. page. Print. <http://phil-ochs.blogspot.com/2008/03/folk-singer-for-fbiphil-ochs-fbi-file.html>. 6) "The Death of Nick Drake." (2011): n. page. Print. <http://www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/drake4.htm>. 7) Nugent, Benjamin. Elliott Smith and the Big Nothing. Da Capo Press, 2005. Print.