R.I.P. Jay Bennett

Seems like yesterday Janine and I were following Wilco around. Seeing 'I Am Trying To Break Your Heart' at a tiny theatre in the Village the week it came out. Listening to records like 'Being There', 'Summerteeth', 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' and the collaborations with Billy Bragg over and over again.

Jay Bennett was a huge part of Wilco then. Jeff Tweedy threw him out after recording 'Yankee Hotel Foxtrot' and, for me, the band quickly lost its appeal.

Bennett died in his sleep over the weekend. He was only 45.

NPR's Bob Boilen posted a remarkable MySpace entry Bennett made last month that described his struggle to scrape up the cash and fortitude to have hip replacement surgery. Inconceivable that a man who brought such joy to so many people could die alone after years of pain -- pain that could have been remedied if health care was a universal commodity in the US. But ... it's not, and never will be.

Here's Bennett playing with Wilco back in the '90s: