Died On This Date (August 24, 1978) Stacy Sutherland / 13th Floor Elevators
themusicsover Stacy Sutherland
May 28, 1946 – August 24, 1978
Stacy Sutherland was the original guitarist in Roky Erickson’s 13th Floor Elevators, a psychedelic garage band that burst out of Austin, Texas in 1965. Sutherland also had a hand in writing some of the band’s material. And it was Sutherland’s use of reverb and echo that inspired a generation of garage bands. When Erickson was committed to a mental institution in 1969, the band members went their separate ways with Sutherland formed his own band. Later that year, he went to prison on drug charges. Upon his release during the mid ’70s, Sutherland attempted to make another go with it, but was losing his battle with alcohol addiction. On August 24, 1978, Stacy Sutherland, age 32, was shot and killed by his wife during a domestic dispute. His death was ruled an accident.
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