Jim MacLean, from the old Sacto band Sewer Trout, hanged himself on or about American Thanksgiving. Sewer Trout, at least through my understanding of things at the time, were one of those bands who were part of the original Gilman St scene in the late 1980s. A scene that included bands such as Crimpshrine, Operation Ivy, and yes, Green Day.
Not to sound melodarmatic or anything, but I hate stories about dead punks. It’s like they’ve just given up. Sometimes when you hear their stories, you can be amazed at their strength, so when you hear a story like this you wonder what made them decide to take their life.
I’ve always thought that the punk scene has, in many ways, mirrored the jazz scene of the ’50s and ’60s, if not by the substance abuse, then by the body count. I guess that’s what happens when a scene is built on pain, anger and alienation. One of these days I’m going to make a more formal parallel to show you all what I mean. It’ll be my own version of Jim Carroll’s People Who Died
Related:
- RIP Jim McLean
- Who Willl Bang Ole Lulu? (Scroll down)