A Rock and Roll Suicide?
The Elliott Smith Death Spectrum
Stabbed himself through the heart, or did he?
Accepting narrative indeterminacy is part of life
On October 21, 2003, Elliott Smith, who was known for writing depressing songs, allegedly killed himself. This would seem completely plausible, especially considering the fact that Smith was a heroin addict. Except, the case is still open 20 years later, and has yet to be solved. The first real friend I ever made was because of Elliott Smith. I spent the beginning of my music listening career completely in the dark. I didn't know anybody else who knew about him, other than me and my dad. Middle school was tough, so finding somebody with similar sensibilities was a huge revelation for me. My friend was in the grade above me, and graduated before me. Going to an Elliott Smith tribute show together helped secure our friendship. It is rare to meet a genuine Elliott fan, but when you do, it's a deep connection. I stumbled upon the controversy surrounding Smith’s death only about a year ago. I immediately dove in and adopted the theory that his girlfriend had murdered him. I became an …
