Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt is dead

Wheelchair-bound singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt has died, according to reports. The Athens, Georgia-based musician was 45 years old.

Earlier today, Chesnutt was in a coma, allegedly due to an overdose of muscle relaxers. Don Wilkie, co-owner of Chesnutt’s label, Constellation Records, said Thursday afternoon, “Vic is in the middle of a serious medical condition. He is in a coma, but we have no statement about the specifics of the situation. His family and friends are with him. His doctors are continuing to assess his condition.”

Sadly, the gifted musician, paralyzed since the age of 18, never regained consciousness and passed away several hours later.

Michael Stipe of R.E.M. produced Chesnutt's first two albums in the early '90s, which were followed by over a dozen more, with two, At the Cut and Skitter On Take-Off, in the past year alone. Not only was Chesnutt a quadriplegic, all of his immediate family died by the time he was 25, he had a longtime struggle with substance abuse, and owed over $50,000 in medical bills. In an interview with NPR's Terry Gross, he claimed to have attempted suicide four times in the past.

Fellow musician Kristen Hersh had reported that Chesnutt had attempted suicide, but this remains unconfirmed. At 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, she tweeted, "can't see through the tears."

Source: www.examiner.com