Jay Reatard, 1980-2010

Memphis garage rocker Jay Reatard passed away yesterday. He was 29 years old.

According to Memphis' Commercial Appeal, Reatard was found in his home at 3:30 a.m., where he reportedly died in his sleep.

Born Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. in 1980, Reatard became interested in music after seeing Nirvana on MTV. He started writing his own songs and released his first album, Teenage Hate, in 1998. His sound was crude and abrasive, with jagged guitar riffs, distortion, and noise. The distortion belied the pop melodies within.

He was a prolific artist, releasing 22 full length albums and over 100 singles. He signed to Matador in 2008 and broke through with last year's Watch Me Fall.

Reatard is survived by his parents and two sisters.

Credit: Rolling Stone, allmusic.com, jayreatard.com