Jay Reatard Found Dead

Details are sketchy, but artist Jay Reatard was found dead in Memphis today. He was 29.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal, citing Memphis Police, reports Reatard’s body was discovered by his roommate around 3:30 a.m. this morning and that the punk musician had been complaining of flu-like symptoms.

The newspaper also reports homicide investigators are looking into Reatard’s death. However, the paper adds that the investigators’ involvement is pretty much standard procedure for unexpected deaths and there are no indications the artist met with foul play.

Memphis-based indie label Goner Records posted the following:

“R.I.P. JAY REATARD
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night. We will pass along information about funeral arrangements
when they are made public.”

Reatard, whose real name was Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr., made headlines when his band quit on him six dates into a tour in October, and in December when two fans jumped up on a stage in Austin and attacked him, forcing the punk rocker to defend himself with a mic stand.

His album Watch For Me was released on Matador Records last August.