Accessibility links
Vic Chesnutt Vic Chesnutt artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Vic Chesnutt

Songs About Change

As the NPR Music team and others prepared to leave the network's old headquarters, mysterious messages began appearing on the windows and walls: "Everything will be better!" Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Mito Habe-Evans/NPR

All Songs Considered

Songs About Change

When it came time to pack up our things and head to the new NPR headquarters, we asked you to help us reflect on the move with your picks for the best songs about dealing with change. On this week's All Songs Considered we share some of our favorites.

Songs About Change

Listen · 51:09
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/177057133/177593973" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt

Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt, who died on Christmas Day 2009, had close friendships with many in the music industry and other creative fields — including Jem Cohen, a New York City filmmaker and well-known photographer. Cohen made this portrait of Chesnutt, and produced his album North Star Deserter. Jem Cohen hide caption

toggle caption
Jem Cohen

Obituaries

In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt

Fresh Air

Fresh Air remembers the life of Vic Chesnutt, a singer-songwriter discovered by R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe in the '90s. Chesnutt recently collaborated with Guy Picciotto of the band Fugazi on his latest album, At the Cut. Chesnutt died Dec. 25; we hear excerpts from his Dec. 1 conversation with Terry Gross, and reflect on his life with Stipe, Picciotto and filmmaker Jem Cohen.

In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt

Listen · 46:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122311162/122311161" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe Remembers Vic Chesnutt

Singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt died Friday at the age of 45. Chesnutt, based in Athens, Ga., lost the use of his legs after an auto accident in 1983. The aftermath and his ongoing bouts with depression helped transform Chesnutt into a dark, brooding writer. Michael Stipe, of the band R.E.M., produced Chesnutt's first two albums and remembers his friend.

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe Remembers Vic Chesnutt

Listen · 4:59
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/121933081/121933105" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Songs Of Survival And Reflection: 'At The Cut'

Fresh Air

Vic Chesnutt was paralyzed from the waist down at the age of 18, but he's still a massively productive songwriter. Chesnutt has fifteen albums under his belt and his songs have been covered by Madonna, Smashing Pumpkins, and R.E.M. His new album, At The Cut, is a collaboration with Guy Picciotto of the band Fugazi.

Songs Of Survival And Reflection: 'At The Cut'

Listen · 39:00
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/120978388/120986603" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Studio Sessions

Vic Chesnutt, Live in Studio 4A

Songwriter Vic Chesnutt has often been called gifted, but in the past, his introspective, idiosyncratic music has been deemed too gloomy for the masses. On his latest CD, Silver Lake, Chesnutt's songs take an upbeat turn, though his homey narrative style and gallows humor remain. Listen to songs from Silver Lake, and watch Chesnutt's performance in NPR's studio 4A.

Vic Chesnutt, Live in Studio 4A

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1398693/1399538" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org