Was Jay Reatard's Death a Homicide?

By Sam Brand Posted Jan 15th 2010 12:20AM

The prolific 29-year-old rocker was found dead early Wednesday in his Memphis home. His former label, Goner Records, was the first to confirm the news. "It is with great sadness that we report the passing of our good friend Jay Reatard. Jay died in his sleep last night," Goner announced Wednesday afternoon.

But Reatard had enemies. He feuded with New Jersey punk band Liquor Store just days before his death. And on Thursday a report hit the web that Reatard's death was being investigated as a homicide.

Fox News' Memphis affiliate was the first, and only news source to report that the Memphis Police Dept. is seeking a suspect connected to Reatard's death. According to the report, posted Thursday afternoon, police are offering a reward of up to $1,000 for any information that leads to an arrest. The report has since been removed from the site, but the rumors persist.

Jay Reatard (real name Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr.) made as many enemies as he did singles during his brief but productive career - too many to count, according to The New York Times. His garage-punk sensibility and infamously violent stage act were a major part of who he was.

In a popular Self-Titled magazine article, J. Bennett writes,"Type Reatard's name into a YouTube search, and the first clip that comes up is... 'Jay Reatard punching a kid at the Silver Dollar.' The second clip that comes up is entitled 'Jay Reatard – Kicks a dude in the face in Vegas!'"

In October, Reatard tweeted: "Band quit ! F*ck them ! They are boring rich kids who can't play for ahit [sic] anyways .. Say hello to your ugly and boring wifes [sic]."

The rocker tells J. Bennett, "At some point, you get used to people not liking you, and then it just becomes part of life."

Just days before his death, Reatard got into an altercation with New Jersey punk band Liquor Store. According to a post on the Terminal Boredom message board, Jay threatened the band with a chainsaw and hit a band member in the face with a disco ball. In retaliation, the band reportedly slashed Reatard's tires.

In his last tweet, less than 36 hours before he was found dead, Reatard wrote: "I will give anyone a hundred bucks per tire that they pop on the band liquor stores [sic] van ! Yes I'm serious."

But was the animosity between the musicians serious? Was there enough bad blood for Jay's enemies take part in his death?

Goner Records message board posters think not. Fox News Memphis "went on a fishing expedition for some news without checking their facts," indiepop writes. "More likely it was sloppy reporting/editing," chicago kevin writes. "The cops open a homicide investigation and they likely assumed they were 'looking for a suspect.'"

The Homicide Bureau is handling Reatard's death, as is the case for all Memphis deaths that occur under mysterious circumstances. Autopsy results are pending.