RIP Natasha Schneider

I just found out (rather late, as it happens), that one of my favorite musicians, Natasha Schneider, passed away over a month ago.

She and her husband Alain Johannes made up the nucleus of one of my alltime favorite bands, the extremely underrated ELEVEN. I first saw Eleven open for Soundgarden in 1994 and they blew my doors in. Since then I have bought all their albums and followed their many other musical projects, which include stints producing Chris Cornell, touring with Queens of the Stone Age, and most recently, guesting on Dug Pinnick's solo album.

When I first moved to NYC in 1996, I met Alain and Natasha on the street and they were two of the sweetest, kindest and most approachable people. It is so sad that this woman is gone. What a voice, what a player. My heart goes out to Alain, her husband and musical co-conspirator for the last 25 years or more. I can't imagine the loss....

Following a battle with cancer, Natasha died on July 2nd at 11:11am.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natasha_Shneider

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