Four years ago today, one of the most interesting chapters in Memphis music ended. It was on January 13th, 2010 that Jay Reatard passed away in his midtown home, leaving a giant crater in the local music scene and a scar across the heart of modern garage rock.
While most of his peers were learning to drive, Jay Reatard (born Jimmy Lee Lindsey) was tinkering with a four track recorder, cooking up garage rock anthems that would later be released by labels like Goner Records and heard around the world. And while the local garage rock scene will never fully recover from the loss of their leader, it’s a safe bet that Jay Reatard’s brand of blistering garage punk will live on for generations to come. Here’s a few of my personal favorites from Jay’s immense collection.