Beloved, eccentric singer/songwriter Daniel Johnston has passed away at the age of 58, following a heart attack.
Since the announcement of his death by Johnston’s manager, numerous significant figures in music have poured in their tributes. Johnston was an influential figure, to say the least.
Daniel Johnston, the songwriter responsible for some of indie rock’s most name-checked albums, has passed away at 58.
After moving to Austin in the ’80s Johnston would quickly garner a following in the local scene. His compositions soon resulted in a major label bidding war, and eventually Johnston would briefly sign to Atlantic in 1994.
Beautiful albums like Hi How Are You and 1990 would cement the songwriter as a hugely influential figure in the indie and alternative scenes, and his fans past and present include Kurt Cobain, Lana Del Rey, Matt Groening, and countless others. Fellow artists the likes of Kevin Morby, Beck and more have offered a few words since Johnston’s passing.
Johnston was also loved for his original artwork – mostly cartoons – and his humble characters often adorned the covers of his albums. Cobain famously wore a shirt featuring Johnston’s Hi How Are You character, compounding his cult status in the ’90s.
Rest easy, DJ, you will be missed.
