Teresa Taylor, drummer for rock band Butthole Surfers, died on Sunday (6/18) aged 60. The news was announced by his former bandmates, in which Taylor performed for six years. According to the statement, the cause of her death was lung disease.
“He will live in our hearts forever. Rest in peace dear friend,” the band wrote on Twitter. Taylor was known by her stage name Teresa Nervosa and also had a small role in the film “Slacker” (1990), where her character tried to sell an unusual souvenir of the singer Madonna.
Music career interrupted by health problems
Born in Arlington, Texas, she began her career as a drummer in her school marching band, alongside fellow percussionist King Coffey. Soon after, Coffey joined the Butthole Surfers, an indie rock band formed in the city of San Antonio. Soon after, she recruited Taylor to join the group known for incorporating elements of punk, heavy metal and electronica.
Among the most striking aspects related to the band, the one that most attracted attention was the use of psychedelic drugs by the members, which influenced the uncontrolled shows. Although they never performed well commercially, the group has amassed a sizable fan base over the eight albums released.
The drummer left the band in 1989 after suffering seizures caused by a brain aneurysm. Due to the problem, he underwent brain surgery in 1993. In 1996, again with Taylor absent, the band achieved success with the song “Pepper”, which features a more contemporary rock sound. Despite his long absence, Taylor returned for a few shows on the band’s 2009 tour.
Over the years, the group has changed other members. The band currently consists of Gibby Haynes, Paul Leary, King Coffey and Nathan Calhoun. Of these, only Haynes and Leary were part of the original lineup. Although still active, the group’s last unreleased album was “Weird Revolution”, released in 2001.
Taylor has made his mark on independent cinema
In addition to her musical career, the drummer has had a significant involvement in cinema. She appeared in the feature film “Slacker,” an indie comedy that also marked director Richard Linklater’s (“Boyhood”) debut on the motion picture circuit. In the storyline, she played a small role, a drug dealer who tried to sell a vial containing what she claimed was a Pap smear belonging to Madonna. The scene became so memorable that Taylor ended up shooting the movie poster, clad in a black T-shirt, sunglasses, and a beanie.
In 2006, during an interview with the American magazine Salon, she shared her insecurities about her participation in the film. “When I finished my scene about a week later, I sort of had a meltdown where I decided I had humiliated myself so publicly that I even considered going over to their house and getting the movie,” she revealed. “I didn’t want the film to come out and I hadn’t done my part well.”
“I’m not recognized,” he added. “Nobody recognizes my face, but when I’m out in public and I complain about something, people ask me, ‘Are you the ‘Slacker girl?’ But it’s always because I’m complaining and fervently talking about something.”
Check out the scene from the movie below.
Teresa Taylor passed away peacefully this weekend after a long battle with lung disease. She will live in our hearts forever. RIP, dear friend.
Pictured here with Mark Farner. Photo by @Pat Blashill #Teresa Taylor #TeresaNervosa pic.twitter.com/Mn74aqzeK1
— Butthole Surfers (@buttholesurfers) June 19, 2023
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
