The terrible news that David Berman, the man behind Silver Jews and Purple Mountains, has died has has been a real shock, and there have been an outpouring of tributes from fellow artists. Among them, former Silver Jews member Stephen Malkmus who wrote, “His death is fucking dark ..depression is crippling.. he was a one of a kinder the songs he wrote were his main passion esp at the end. Hope death equals peace cuz he could sure use it.” Bob Nastanovich, who was also in Silver Jews (and Pavement), told Pitchfork:
I was saddened to hear that David died. Stephen called me to tell me this afternoon.
For most of my life, I was amazed by David as a person, a humorist and a writer. It was enlightening to have such a talented friend at a young age and realize that the talent wasn’t always a blessing.
David battled mental illness for nearly all of his life. He had professional help and the unyielding support of hundreds of good friends. He had many loving and devoted fans.
Please try to cherish your memories of him and his words and music including his last album Purple Mountains.
I know I will and I’m grateful that the list of good memories and stories is long.
There have been many, many more tributes, including ones from The Mountain Goats, Kurt Vile, Superchunk, Stevie Jackson of Belle & Sebastian, Aaron Dessner of The National, Matthew Caws of Nada Surf, Carl Newman of New Pornographers, Josh Ritter, Titus Andronicus, Japanese Breakfast, Marc Maron, Geoff Rickly, Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis, Lower Dens, Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak, Rob Taylor of Los Campesinos!, Dressy Bessy, Ryley Walker, Craig Finn, Ted Leo, The Avalanches, El-P, and more. Read those tributes below.
Of, loosely, my generation of songwriters, the best of us. This loss is devastating. Rest easy, fellow traveler. https://t.co/6EqPLrDpXM
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) August 7, 2019
I could sit here all day and quote memorable David Berman couplets and never grow tired. He had no competition. He was the competition.
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) August 7, 2019
I didn’t know about my friend DCB when I wrote this must have been in the air .His death is fucking dark ..depression is crippling.. he was a one of a kinder the songs he wrote were his main passion esp at the end. Hope death equals peace cuz he could sure use it
— Stephen malkmus (@dronecoma) August 8, 2019
Heartbroken pic.twitter.com/DuEmHrd1l4
— 3 Songs Podcast (@3songspod) August 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/marcmaron/status/1159268115693203458
You’re just listening to someone’s music one day assuming there will be more and then they’re gone. Huge loss. Thankful for the records we have & thinking about everyone who knew David Berman, played & worked with him. #RIP
— superchunk (@superchunk) August 8, 2019
https://www.instagram.com/p/B05QP8-F3dI/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B04Y4Z6FIWe/?igshid=h4uze5evjiv
https://www.instagram.com/p/B04ZHbAFsiC/?igshid=1sq56e89bnztp
Fucking Shit, come on man this is BullShit pic.twitter.com/ErbQeIqyOd
— J Mascis (@jmascis) August 8, 2019
Very very sad to hear David Berman has passed away. A massive talent and a huge influence on us. RIP
— Aaron Dessner (@aaron_dessner) August 7, 2019
This world is just too hard sometimes. RIP David Berman.
— scharpling (@scharpling) August 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/ACNewman/status/1159245636178522112
https://twitter.com/ACNewman/status/1159437289178763265
‘I passed out on the fourteenth floor. The CPR was so erotic’ (Dallas). Berman was the best of his generation. RIP.
— Lloyd Cole (@Lloyd_Cole) August 8, 2019
i am shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of david berman, a towering literary voice who made music and wrote poetry. my deep condolences to his family and friends.
— matthew caws (@nadasurf) August 8, 2019
I'm assembling people to read from David Berman's work outside of the Met Breuer (former location of the Whitney) as an informal memorial gesture. 7pm Thurs Aug 7th. Please spread the word, let me know if you would like to read anything, and check on your friends. #DavidBerman pic.twitter.com/3QiAz2yzqB
— Lance Bangs (@lancebangs) August 8, 2019
“I'm gonna shine out in the wild silence.” David Berman, you shocked me with the beauty of your language and vision. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
— Josh Ritter (@joshritter) August 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/thebrianfallon/status/1159333566091812865
Can't stop thinking about David Berman. Made a very quick Silver Jews/Purple Mountains playlist. If you never got in, check these songs out they're good. A singular balance of funny/sad/poignant. If you're familiar, share yr faves.
Rest in peace.https://t.co/qwpNxQsRzk
— Jeff Rosenstock (@jeffrosenstock) August 8, 2019
if i were asked to name a poetry book with a perfect opening, david berman's 'actual air' would be the first one that comes to mind. i'm always thinking about this poem pic.twitter.com/MS0nOxbU2X
— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13) August 7, 2019
songwriting is NOT poetry, it's crazy one person was so good at both
— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13) August 7, 2019
David Berman RIP
Genius never dies.
— Stevie Jackson (@bobby__peru) August 7, 2019
So saddened by the loss of David Berman. A truly special songwriter and inspiration to us, but also a kind soul.
Last year — as a gift to our bandmate Neil — he recorded a version of ‘We Are Real’: ‘We Love Neil’. Won’t ever forget Neil’s reaction to watching it, thank you DB. pic.twitter.com/6JZOBdXYMX
— Los Campesinos! (@LosCampesinos) August 8, 2019
REST IN PEACE TO THE GOAT DAVID C. BERMAN @PRPLMTNS FOREVER THE KING {+@}
— Titus Andronicus (@TitusAndronicus) August 7, 2019
Jesus Christ David Berman you fucking legend my heart is sinking
— Japanese Breakfast (@Jbrekkie) August 7, 2019
Honestly just chilled to the bone.
— Japanese Breakfast (@Jbrekkie) August 7, 2019
I just downloaded his whole discography for the boat. Was ready to just log off and zone in on a master. We don’t know what happened but it makes me fucking terrified of myself of this job of this sorrow. Of this thing we get asked about as cathartic but never really is.
— Japanese Breakfast (@Jbrekkie) August 7, 2019
Time Will Break the World. RIP David Berman.
— COLD CAVE (@ColdCave23) August 7, 2019
From “The Charm of 5:30” by David Berman pic.twitter.com/4Yzrazrrsm
— JAGJAGUWAR (@jagjaguwar) August 7, 2019
I cannot believe this. This is such terrible news. https://t.co/9jWYF56xzr
— Marc Riley ⚽️🍺🐳 (@marcrileydj) August 7, 2019
Very sad to hear about David Berman. He is a massive inspiration to me and will be a legend forever
— Yuck (@Yuckband) August 7, 2019
Today, one of my favorite songwriters passed on.
David Berman, songwriter of The Silver Jews and Purple Mountains.
Do yourself a favor, go check out his immense catalogue of lyrical genius.— Jackson Rathbone (@JacksonRathbone) August 7, 2019
David Berman wrote this on the spot in 5 minutes in our dumpy practice space and it’s still one of the coolest things that ever happened to me :: https://t.co/TrONDTglEB
— Small Black (@SmallBlk) August 7, 2019
rest in peace david berman, i have so much love for you
— Told Slant (@Felixixix666) August 7, 2019
it’s incredibly hard to lose artists that have affected people in ways that feel permanent and long lasting. artists who are so engrained in people that they’ve planted and made new creative ecosystems. Toni was definitely that for many, David Berman as well. loss is weird
— stevie (@adultmomband) August 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/TheUniverse/status/1159252209621618689
https://twitter.com/lowerdens/status/1159253468940505088
heavy heart. thank you david berman. we were so lucky to have had you here for a while.
— Jenn Wasner (@flockofdimes) August 8, 2019
Such desperately sad news about David Berman. Such a horrible loss. One of the few genuine geniuses.
— Sparky Deathcap (@sparkydeathcap) August 8, 2019
Our old pal David Berman from Silver Jews passed away today. We hadn't seen him in quite awhile but he will be missed. Rest in peace friend. ❤️ https://t.co/O4TwfEPwx3
— Dressy Bessy (@DressyBessyBand) August 8, 2019
Thanks David pic.twitter.com/iVM8sjnVMe
— eros of the technocrat (@icecreamtravis) August 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/ryleywalker/status/1159256205228797954
Crushed. So much beauty. RIP DB. This one:
Well the water looks like jewelry
When it's coming out the spout
And nothing could make me feel better
Than a wet kiss on the mouth
Fake ID's and honey bees
The jagged skyline of car keys
I never knew a bird could fly so low— Craig Finn (@steadycraig) August 8, 2019
I’m so sad to hear that David Berman is gone. He was a great great talent and a nice guy that I only knew from random passings at random festivals, but I’ll miss him, and my heart goes out to everyone he loved and everyone who loved him and loves him still. https://t.co/1SG80C7DOS
— Continuity Ted Leo Account 🍉 (@tedleo) August 8, 2019
We have no words to describe how we feel this morning to learn of the loss of David Berman. All our love goes out to his family, loved ones, the drag city family and the musicians who journeyed with him
— The Avalanches (@TheAvalanches) August 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/1159258638655139842
This is a serious shock and heartbreaking. Was just talking to @TitusAndronicus about the wisdom contained between the covers of the Silver Jews records. https://t.co/BMtnpot2lx
— Geoffrey Rickly (@GeoffRickly) August 8, 2019
All the Silver Jews albums are incredible, but Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea holds a special place in my heart. We listened to that so much during our European tour of 2011 and when we recorded the album Europe.
— Allo Darlin' (@allodarlinuk) August 8, 2019
A drawing David Berman sent me entitled “At The End of the World” after I interviewed him for my fanzine in 1994 pic.twitter.com/JZqLycyRNQ
— Johnny Metro (@johnnymetro) August 8, 2019