Joel Burrows, a Portland-based musician who had performed with the Thermals and the Minders, has passed away. A post from the Portland Mercury [via Pitchfork] confirmed the musician's death, though it didn't specify the cause.
Early in 2011, however, Burrows had been struck by a van as he was crossing a street in Portland and suffered a serious head injury. Following some months spent in an ICU ward, Burrows's condition progressed and he was moved to an assisted living facility.
In February, a benefit concert put together by Wild Flag drummer Janet Weiss raised money to pay for a wheelchair insert for Burrows, since it otherwise wouldn't have been covered through Burrows's health insurance. "Songs for Joel" featured performances from Britt Daniel, Isaac Brock, Corin Tucker, Rebecca Gates, Sam Coomes, Laura Veirs and other assorted Portland musicians.
Some notable highlights from the multi-instrumentalist's career include performing drums for the Minders on their 2006 album It's a Bright Guilty World and playing guitar with the Thermals in 2007. You can catch a live clip of the latter down below.
Early in 2011, however, Burrows had been struck by a van as he was crossing a street in Portland and suffered a serious head injury. Following some months spent in an ICU ward, Burrows's condition progressed and he was moved to an assisted living facility.
In February, a benefit concert put together by Wild Flag drummer Janet Weiss raised money to pay for a wheelchair insert for Burrows, since it otherwise wouldn't have been covered through Burrows's health insurance. "Songs for Joel" featured performances from Britt Daniel, Isaac Brock, Corin Tucker, Rebecca Gates, Sam Coomes, Laura Veirs and other assorted Portland musicians.
Some notable highlights from the multi-instrumentalist's career include performing drums for the Minders on their 2006 album It's a Bright Guilty World and playing guitar with the Thermals in 2007. You can catch a live clip of the latter down below.