American folk rock singer songwriter Vic Chesnut died on Christmas Day at the age of 45. The death is suspected to have been suicide, caused by an overdose, but this has yet to be confirmed.
Chesnut has released 16 albums over the last twenty years, two of which were produced by R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe. His music was brought to the attention of the masses with the release of a tribute album called 'Sweet Relief II: Gravity Of The Situation', in 1996, which featured covers of his songs from the likes of Madonna, the Smashing Pumpkins and Sparklehorse.
Chesnutt slipped into a coma on Christmas Eve after taking an excess of muscle relaxers. Having been left in a wheelchair after a car accident at the age of 18, he had a history of suicide attempts and recently told NPR radio that he had "attempted suicide three or four times".
Chesnutt's label, Constellation Records issued the following statement: "In the few short years that we knew him personally, Vic transformed our sense of what true character, grace and determination are all about. Our grief is inexpressible and Vic's absence unfathomable,"
