Daniel Johnston died on Tuesday night, reportedly following a heart attack. The Austin-based singer-songwriter was 58. He counted Kurt Cobain, Tom Waits, and many more fellow musicians as fans of his emotionally intense and sometimes whimsical lo-fi recordings and visual art, and the 2005 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston, about Johnston’s mental health struggles, brought his work to an even wider audience. Below, we’ve collected tributes from musicians and other notable figures to the late great songwriter. This post may be updated as more react to the news.
Beck
RIP Daniel Johnston https://t.co/y7ECMuX6Lr
— Beck (@beck) September 11, 2019
The Mountain Goats
Those early DJ tunes meant a lot to so many of us. “Walking the Cow” was also a favorite of mine, along with “Keep Punching Joe,” whose lyrics reference “Walking the Cow.” Rest well Daniel Johnston, you sure earned it. https://t.co/KVGvW210yB
— The Mountain Goats (@mountain_goats) September 11, 2019
Death Cab for Cutie
Today our hearts are heavy with yesterday's passing of Daniel Johnston. His unique songwriting voice, so pure and so direct, spoke to us deeply. It is quite safe to say there will never be another like him and thankfully, his music will play on.
— Death Cab for Cutie (@dcfc) September 12, 2019
Zola Jesus
https://twitter.com/ZOLAJESUS/status/1171883463584178176
Har Mar Superstar
Oh, man.
RIP Daniel Johnston. This one is very sad for me. Such an equally gifted and troubled soul that has greatly inspired me as a songwriter. I used to religiously stop at Sound Exchange to get his tapes on my first tours in the 90s. https://t.co/ry4mAatTOY— Har Mar Superstar (@HarMarSuperstar) September 11, 2019
Bob Nastanovich
To me, Daniel Johnston's music was either very heavy or very light. There wasn't a whole lot of in between. His songs either made me laugh or they made me cry. He was brilliant.https://t.co/3alo4w9eBw
— Bob Nastanovich (@BNastanovich) September 11, 2019
Clairo
nobody got the right to make an angel cry
— claire cottrill (@clairo) September 11, 2019
Judd Apatow
So sad to hear of the death of the great Daniel Johnston. Here is a beautiful performance of his which makes me cry every time. Swell season + Daniel Johnston – Life in vain – HD-ACL – with lyrics https://t.co/ELElWjpZ3P via @YouTube @Glen_Hansard @TheSwellSeason
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) September 11, 2019
Mark Duplass
love u forever daniel johnston #rip
— Mark Duplass (@MarkDuplass) September 11, 2019
Thundercat
Rest In Peace Daniel Johnston.
— ashy daddy (@Thundercat) September 11, 2019
Tom Scharpling
Daniel Johnston was and will always be a heavyweight. He took us all on an artistic journey through light and darkness, his pain was our gift.
An all-time great, the songs stand as a perfect summation of an imperfect life.
Rest in power and keep punching, Joe.— scharpling (@scharpling) September 11, 2019
Open Mike Eagle
damn. daniel johnston made very very special music. I hope he rests peacefully. im going to listen to go listen to walking the cow a lot of time.
— Open Mike Eagle (@Mike_Eagle) September 11, 2019
Glen Hansard
https://twitter.com/Glen_Hansard/status/1171884767391956993
Jack Antonoff
daniel johnston will be missed. a brilliant story teller and songwriter who carried my friends and i through many over night drives in the van. so much to learn from daniel in the way he shared fearlessly.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) September 11, 2019
Kevin Morby
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2SMitClCrE/
