James Victor "Vic" Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009)

Although born in Jacksonville, FL, Vic Chesnutt was adopted and raised in Zebulon, GA. He began writing songs at 5 and at 13 declared himself an atheist. His grandfather was probably his first real musical influence; he gave him guitar lessons and had him transpose “Sweet Georgia Brown” into every key in the musical scale.

While driving drunk at 18, Chesnutt had an accident that left him partially paralyzed from the neck down in addition to losing partial function of his arms and hands. There has been speculation that this accident was a suicide attempt. He spent a month in the ICU with his head and neck in traction, with his breath being controlled by a ventilator. OT and PT helped him regain function and strength in his hands again so he could resume playing the guitar, despite having lingering paralysis in his left arm and right hand. Despite the fact that sensation returned to his legs a year later, he chose to continue using a wheelchair rather than a walker. He stated once in an interview that his disability is a part of who he is, but just “about as important as my height or hair color.”

Chesnutt got his break in the music industry when he met Michael Stipe at the 40 Watt Club in Athens GA, who wound up producing his first two albums. After his third album was recorded his career took off and began to travel and perform internationally. Over the course of his life he released 17 albums. He has recorded, collaborated, and had his songs covered with many artists, most notably REM, Elf Power, and Neutral Milk Hotel, Fugazi, Bob Mould, Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Sparklehorse, Smashing Pumpkins, and Madonna.

His drinking and depression worsened after this, yet the trauma which ensued after the accident had an influence on his ability to focus as a songwriter. In an interview he recalled being so intoxicated at one point in his life he couldn’t write songs for two months. “I think it was my nature - I enjoyed these altered mental states…It was a really self-destructive time because it affected my music and life.” He became sober for about 3 years with the help of his wife, Tina. Chesnutt struggled immensely with his depression after his accident and commented once that “sometimes the injury was a distraction from my depression. The new day-to-day challenges helped me forget about my other problems.”

Chesnutt was vocal about his support of NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) and commented that pot use was effective in managing pain sustained from his injuries.  He was openly critical of the health care system, stating on an NPR “Fresh Air” interview with Terri Gross that his multiple operations left him with $50,000 in medical debt and that he was now “uninsurable” due to his quadriplegia. Additionally, he had been delaying another surgery again due to financial reasons. “And I mean, I could die only because I cannot afford to go in there again. I don’t want to die, especially just because of I don’t have enough money to go to the hospital.”  He admitting in this same interview that he attempted suicide both before and after his accident. On December 25, 2009 at the age of 45, Chesnutt died from an overdose of muscle relaxants after being in a coma for several days.   

This video was recorded less than one month prior to his death.