Canadian experimental music visionary Nash the Slash (a.k.a. Jeff Plewman) has died at the age of 66. It's currently unclear how the musician passed away, but collaborator Robert Vanderhorst confirmed earlier today (May 12) through his Facebook page that Plewman had died sometime over the weekend.
"My dear friend and artistic partner, Nash the Slash (Jeff Plewman) died this past weekend. March 1948 - May 2014," Vandehorst wrote, adding that more details on the passing are on their way.
The Toronto-based avant-garde violinist, whose iconic image consisted of a bandage-wrapped face and top hat, had retired from performing back in 2012, but he had been involved in the music scene since the early '70s. Before "rolling up the bandages," he performed with prog-ensemble FM. Following the release of the group's debut album Black Noise, Plewman left to focus on a solo career as Nash the Slash, though he rejoined the band to perform and issue albums between 1983 and 1996.
As Nash the Slash, he issued a number of albums and EPs through his own Cut-Throat Records imprint, starting with 1978's Dreams and Nightmares LP. In his retirement message, Plewman noted that the record had been the first by a Toronto musician to utilize a drum machine, which had then been verboten due to a bylaw from the Toronto Musicians' Association.
Over the years, Plewman amassed a deep and critically praised back catalogue that bounced between new wave, punk and more experimental territories, with his last full-length being 2008's In-A-Gadda-Da-Nash. In addition to studio albums, Plewman also produced a series of film scores, toured with Iggy Pop in 1982, opened for the likes of Elvis Costello and the Who, and collaborated on multimedia projects with painter friend Vanderhorst.
Plewman had also sued "corporate giant Pepsi Cola of Canada" for one million dollars in 1982 for "misappropriation of personality" due, but according to the man himself, "I won but received no money, just bragging rights."
Of course, Plewman's musical innovations also earned him bragging rights, and you can enjoy some samples of the late performer's catalogue down below.
"My dear friend and artistic partner, Nash the Slash (Jeff Plewman) died this past weekend. March 1948 - May 2014," Vandehorst wrote, adding that more details on the passing are on their way.
The Toronto-based avant-garde violinist, whose iconic image consisted of a bandage-wrapped face and top hat, had retired from performing back in 2012, but he had been involved in the music scene since the early '70s. Before "rolling up the bandages," he performed with prog-ensemble FM. Following the release of the group's debut album Black Noise, Plewman left to focus on a solo career as Nash the Slash, though he rejoined the band to perform and issue albums between 1983 and 1996.
As Nash the Slash, he issued a number of albums and EPs through his own Cut-Throat Records imprint, starting with 1978's Dreams and Nightmares LP. In his retirement message, Plewman noted that the record had been the first by a Toronto musician to utilize a drum machine, which had then been verboten due to a bylaw from the Toronto Musicians' Association.
Over the years, Plewman amassed a deep and critically praised back catalogue that bounced between new wave, punk and more experimental territories, with his last full-length being 2008's In-A-Gadda-Da-Nash. In addition to studio albums, Plewman also produced a series of film scores, toured with Iggy Pop in 1982, opened for the likes of Elvis Costello and the Who, and collaborated on multimedia projects with painter friend Vanderhorst.
Plewman had also sued "corporate giant Pepsi Cola of Canada" for one million dollars in 1982 for "misappropriation of personality" due, but according to the man himself, "I won but received no money, just bragging rights."
Of course, Plewman's musical innovations also earned him bragging rights, and you can enjoy some samples of the late performer's catalogue down below.