Under the Influence...of Vic
By Jeff Morris
“Other people write about the bling and the booty. I write about the pus and the gnats”, Vic Chesnutt was quoted as saying. And Vic could write a dark song, but I guess he had his reasons.
James Victor Chesnutt was born on November 12, 1964 in Jacksonville, Florida, and was adopted by a couple from Zebulon, Georgia. Vic began writing songs at an early age and played guitar with local garage bands as he grew through his ‘teens.
At 18 years of age in 1983, Vic, while under the influence, was involved in an automobile crash which left him a quadriplegic. He was paralyzed from his neck down, although he had some movement in his body and arms and partial use of his hands. After his recovery, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee and began reading poetry and playing guitar. Although now with his disabilities, he was only capable of playing simpler chords. I have read that Vic rediscovered his musical abilities while under the influence of LSD. He developed a style of singing in a small crackly voice, almost moaning at times.
Vic Chestnut in true form
Sometime around late 1984 or early 1985, Vic moved to Athens, Georgia and soon got a gig with a local band, “The La-Di-Das” and begins his career as a musician on the Athens scene. Vic soon went solo and became a regular at the 40 Watt Club. While playing there, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. saw him and realized the talent that Vic possessed. He took Vic and recorded songs the next day, which contained Vic’s first release, “Little”. The first two of Vic’s seventeen career albums, “Little” in 1990 and “West of Rome” in 1991 were produced by Stipe. PBS made a documentary on Vic and his life in 1991 called “Speed Racer”, the title being the same as a song on “Little”. I have been in search of this film for years to no avail.
Vic joins your favorite band and mine, Widespread Panic, forming the band Brute in 1995. They gathered together in John Keane’s studio in Athens and record “Nine High a Pallet” the first of two Brute releases. “Nine High A Pallet” contains several songs that Panic fans know and love: “Blight”, “Protein Drink / Sewing Machine”, and “Let’s Get Down To Business”, all written, or co-written, By Vic. Who knows, maybe will bust out with “Good Morning Mr. Hard On”, another great song on “Nine High A Pallet”. Just go and buy the CD if you don’t already own it. Brute performed live as a band for a total of 5 times, the first on August 16, 1997 at The High Hat in Athens, GA and the last on April 9, 2002 at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, GA.
1996 was a big year for Vic. He gained popularity with the release of” Sweet Refief II: Gravity of the Situation”, a tribute album of mainstream artists covering songs written by Vic. Artists included R.E.M., The Smashing Pumpkins, Cracker, Garbage, Madonna, Live and Soul Asylum.
You could also find Vic on the big screen in 1996, being directed by Billy Bob Thornton. For you “Sling Blade” fans – and who isn’t a “Sling Blade“ fan – yes that’s Vic (Vernon) in Dwight Yoakam’s (Doyle’s) band “The Tittie Twisters”. Vic does his own stunts as he lets Dwight Yoakam slam him and his wheelchair into a door in a fit of rage in one scene. Vic told them they could do more takes if needed, but they got it on the first.
Besides the Brute release, my first exposure to Vic was his first appearance with Widespread Panic at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia on December 31, 1996. Vic wheeled out during the first set and joined the band for “Westport Ferry”, “Blight”, “Sleeping Man” and “Aunt Avis”. Before “Aunt Avis”, Vic says “Here’s a song to my dead ancestors! Happy New Years’!” This was Vic’s first time sitting in with Panic, his last being on April 25, 2007 at The Classic Center in Athens, GA. “Aunt Avis”, written by Vic, is included on Widespread Panic’s release “Bombs and Butterflies” in 1997. A video for “Aunt Avis”, again directed by Billy Bob Thornton, was made in 1997 and starred Vic Chesnutt, Lara Dern and members of Widespread Panic. You can find it on YouTube – check it out.
Vic recorded a total of seventeen albums during his career, one of my favorite being “About to Choke”, a dark and haunting album. I had the pleasure of seeing Vic twice during the tour of this release. On March 10, 1997, Vic played The Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC. Vic was quite the comedian on stage. He would crack jokes between songs and asked the audience for a joint. After asking a couple of times, he recorded the loop on a keyboard. With the press of his finger, “Would somebody give me a joint?” and Vic would add “Please?” with a big grin. He was a very funny person, but so in touch with the darker side of life. I was able to take home the set list from the stage that night, signed by Vic and the band, including his wife Tina Chesnutt who played bass guitar. Vic drew a heart by his signature, which is a masterpiece of art to me.
Setlist from arch 10, 1997, Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC. Image courtesy of Jeff Morris from his personal collection.
For our next Vic experience, on December 5, 1997, my wife Dana and I loaded up our 1985 Vanagon Westfalia and headed to Athens, GA, to see Vic at the 40 Watt Club. After the show, I saw Tina and asked if we could meet Vic. She led us to the back where Vic was hanging out with a couple of fans from Europe. Vic always had a good fan base in Europe and often toured there. We got to hang out and talk with Vic for a beer or two and get a couple of photos with him. He was very entertaining to talk to and seemed to be enjoying himself. The photos adorn my walls to this day.
The “About to Choke” release (Capital Records) contains “Degenerate”, which Widespread Panic has covered several times in late 2011 and 2012. I’ve wanted them to cover this song for years. It’s one of Vic’s most beautiful pieces. Widespread Panic has been under the influence of Vic for some time now.
In 2002 Vic and Widespread Panic reunited for their second release by “Brute”. The release is titled “Cobalt” and again is produced by Athens’ own John Keane. Vic wrote all of the songs on the release, with a little help from Dave Schools on “Puppy Sleeps”. “Expiration Day” is from “Cobalt”, which Widespread Panic plays often and usually with a tip of the hat to Vic.
Vic Chestnutt and John Bell Photo by Bryan Gay
Between 2003 and 2009, Vic recorded 8 releases and toured on most all of them. His appearances were usually held in small and intimate venues with the audience giving Vic their full attention, and he was amazing to watch play. He could be so delicate at times, and then he would play his “monster guitar” sounds with the effects hooked up to his vinyl stringed acoustic guitar. Vic was such an entertaining artist with lyrics that some say are akin to “the Keats of our day”, and I agree. I believe that’s Vic’s genius and talent will only be appreciated more as time goes on.
Vic Chesnutt passed away December 25, 2009 in Athens, GA. He had been in a coma after an overdose of muscle relaxants a few days earlier. We love you and miss you.
