We are saddened to learn that Roky Erickson, singer-songwriter of the 13th Floor Elevators, has left the land of the living. He passed away today at the age of 71 in his hometown of Austin, Texas.
Years ago, I shared a memory of Roky Erickson on these pages on my LOUIE comic blog post “E.P. and the Art of Music Documentaries.”
“You’re Gonna Miss Me” by the 13th Street Elevators, like LOUIE LOUIE, is one of those songs that often appears on those “best garage rock songs” type lists.
Washington Post wrote about Roky and that song in a 1991 article, which featured these quotes….
It was a prototypical punk record — one that would later become a garage-rock standard influencing alternative bands like Television in America, Radio Birdman in Australia and the Jesus & Mary Chain in England. (“It was like ‘Louie, Louie’ sideways,” says R.E.M‘s Peter Buck. Says Texas music historian Casey Monahan: “‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’ is just as important as {Buddy Holly‘s} ‘Peggy Sue.’ “)
We’re definitely going miss you, Roky….
Reference Links:
Variety- Roky Erickson obituary
Washington Post – The Elevator Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore (1991 article)
Paste – The 50 Best Garage Rock Songs of All Time
E.P. and the Art of Music Documentaries
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