Jay Bennett Found Dead

Songwriter Jay Bennett, Dead At 45
May 26, 2009
Story by: Michael Tedder
from CMJ.com

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and former Wilco member Jay Bennett died in his sleep early Sunday morning. He was 45. Bennett is perhaps best known for his songwriting and lush, symphonic keyboard work on the Wilco albums Being There, Summerteeth and Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. As shown in the documentary I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, Bennett left Wilco during the recording of Hotel over creative disagreements with Jeff Tweedy, the group's lead songwriter, and a few weeks before his death, Bennett sued the group for unpaid royalties from his film appearance and his album work.

Before joining Wilco, Bennett had played in the early '90s alternative pop group Titanic Love Affair, and since leaving the group, he has recorded several solo albums, including last year's Whatever Happened I Apologized, which was released as a free download. He had also done session work and production for artists such as Allison Moorer, Tim Easton, Tommy Keene, Jeff Black, Blues Traveler and Sheryl Crow.

At the time of his death, Bennett was living in Urbana, Illinois, and was set to have hip replacement surgery in the near future. His cause of death is currently unknown.

Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Responds to Jay Bennett Lawsuit

Wilco's Jeff Tweedy Responds to Jay Bennett Lawsuit
By Austin L. Ray on May 5, 2009 3:15 PM via PasteMagazine.com

According to a story published at ChicagoBreakingNews.com, former Wilco member Jay Bennett filed a lawsuit yesterday against bandleader Jeff Tweedy. The suit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, claims Tweedy owes Bennett "damages of at least $50,000" for his time in the band, including his less-than-favorable depiction in the 2002 Wilco documentary, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.

Bennett's lawsuit (which can be viewed in full here) states that he "is entitled to compensation for his services rendered in the form of continuing and perpetual artist royalty payments." Furthermore, the suit states that Bennett was paid for his time in Wilco, but that the "infrequent partial payments" only amounted to 15% of the band's income. Finally, Bennett's suit argues that Tweedy didn't compensate him for, or obtain the proper release for, Bennett's appearance in I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.

In an e-mail exchange with Paste, Wilco's publicist provided the following statement from Tweedy:

"I know exactly as much as everyone else does. I've read the news and I honestly have no idea what these claims are based on. It was such a long time ago. Aside from everything else, I'm being sued for not paying someone for appearing in a movie I didn't produce. Go figure. I am truly sad it has come to this. I am equally convinced, however, that I have done nothing wrong and that this will be handled fairly and swiftly."

That's all we know for now, but if any pertinent details emerge, we'll be sure to keep you posted on Wilco (The Beef).