John Berry, co-founder of California slowcore band Idaho, passed away last night (January 9). The group's Jeff Martin confirmed the death, noting over Facebook that his friend and collaborator "passed away peacefully in his sleep." A cause of death has not been revealed.
"He had a uniquely bright spirit that I know is still shining brilliantly in some other plane," Martin said in the post. "So much love headed towards you right now. We had quite a wild ride...thanks for showing me how to make music from the core."
While high school friends Berry and Martin had played music together since the early '80s, they began performing as Idaho a decade later, first issuing a 7-inch in 1992. After signing to Caroline Records, they delivered their full-length debut, Year After Year, in 1993.
Idaho would go on to record a handful of albums and tour with like-minded slowcore-style acts like the Red House Painters and Low. Martin was the band's principal songwriter, with Berry having exited the project in 1994 following the recording of This Way Out.
Last year, Martin and Berry issued a collection of early Idaho recordings as The Broadcast of Disease. Berry had written liner notes for the set, which had been released digitally and as a limited edition CD. You'll find it streaming down below.
"He had a uniquely bright spirit that I know is still shining brilliantly in some other plane," Martin said in the post. "So much love headed towards you right now. We had quite a wild ride...thanks for showing me how to make music from the core."
While high school friends Berry and Martin had played music together since the early '80s, they began performing as Idaho a decade later, first issuing a 7-inch in 1992. After signing to Caroline Records, they delivered their full-length debut, Year After Year, in 1993.
Idaho would go on to record a handful of albums and tour with like-minded slowcore-style acts like the Red House Painters and Low. Martin was the band's principal songwriter, with Berry having exited the project in 1994 following the recording of This Way Out.
Last year, Martin and Berry issued a collection of early Idaho recordings as The Broadcast of Disease. Berry had written liner notes for the set, which had been released digitally and as a limited edition CD. You'll find it streaming down below.
