Elliott Smith

Description

Elliott Smith's intensely intimate music and open-hearted, Beatlesque pop songs have left a deepmark on a generation of fans and musicians. His devoted following was expanded greatly by the use of his music in the film "Good Will Hunting", as well as his performance at the Academy Awards - alone on stage with a guitar, amid the glitz (his song "Miss Misery" was nominated for best song), and he has been a key influence on popular bands like Death Cab for Cutie. After his tragic death in 2003, his fan following has only grown and his absence is keenly felt (he's been the subject of four tribute albums). In intimate photographs and conversations with close friends, family, and musicians he inspired, this is the first and only portrait of the beloved and troubled singer/songwriter by those that knew him well.

Autumn de Wilde directed Elliott's video for "Son of Sam" and created the packaging for his album Figure 8; the cover image of him in front of a wall in L.A. led to the site becoming a spontaneous memorial for the singer after his death. She has also worked with Spoon, Death Cab for Cutie, the Raconteurs, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jenny Lewis, Fiona Apple, and others. She lives in Los Angeles. Beck Hansen has collaborated with de Wilde for many years, most recently on photographs and videos for his album The Information. Chris Walla is a guitarist for the band Death Cab for Cutie and has worked as a producer with numerous bands.