He’s pretty much unknown in the mainstream but indie-rock fans are mourning the death of mutton-chopped singer/guitarist Bill Doss, best known for his work with arty collective Olivia Tremor Control and as co-founder of Athens, Georgia's Elephant 6 Recording Company (see The Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Of Montreal).
Doss was 43 and his death comes just two weeks after Olivia Tremor Control performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago. The band’s website confirmed the news, writing, "We are devastated by the loss of our brother Bill Doss. We are at a loss for words.” The cause of death has not been announced.
Doss formed Olivia Tremor Control with bandmates Jeff Mangum and Will Cullen Hart in 1988 in Louisiana. The band released two critically acclaimed albums in the 90s, Music From the Unrealized Film Script, Dusk at Cubist Castle in 1996 and Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One in 1999 both of which are actually much better than those verbose and vaguely pretentious titles might lead you to believe.
Mangum later left the band to work with underground dandies Neutral Milk Hotel. Doss also performed under the name The Sunshine Fix and as guitarist with the Apples in Stereo.
The Hollywood Reporter reports that news of his sudden death came as a shock to many in the music industry, quoting SpinArt Records former owner Joel Morowitz as saying, “Bill was a really amazing guy and a wonderful musician.”
As a steadfast fan of the Elephant Six collective for many years, Bill Doss' passing has come as some very shocking and tragic news. He, along with Jeff Mangum, were always at the heart of Elephant Six, if not for them, we would've missed out on a wealth of music, both in the past and the present. Considering that OTC was in the midst of touring and putting together a new album, this is doubly tragic. Bill Doss contributed so much to modern music, he is going to be deeply missed. Time to go put on "Black Foilage" again.
Mangum later left the band to work with underground dandies Neutral Milk Hotel. Doss also performed under the name The Sunshine Fix and as guitarist with the Apples in Stereo.
As a steadfast fan of the Elephant Six collective for many years, Bill Doss' passing has come as some very shocking and tragic news. He, along with Jeff Mangum, were always at the heart of Elephant Six, if not for them, we would've missed out on a wealth of music, both in the past and the present. Considering that OTC was in the midst of touring and putting together a new album, this is doubly tragic. Bill Doss contributed so much to modern music, he is going to be deeply missed. Time to go put on "Black Foilage" again.
Posted by: gob | 08/03/2012 at 01:53 AM
Mangum later left the band to work with underground dandies Neutral Milk Hotel. Doss also performed under the name The Sunshine Fix and as guitarist with the Apples in Stereo.
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