Pitchfork and others report that the enigmatic guitarist Jack Rose has passed away after a heart attack aged 38. Can’t say anything meaningful that might take away the pain from my stomach on this godawful sunday. He was on the top tier of my artists both musically and as the impact their death would cause, and death hits the bullseye once again

38 year old Rose was the top guitarist on the bill for every serious music listener. He was the standardbearer of John Fahey and Robbie Basho’s legacy, which taps into an almost esoteric level of wisdom. His music was a safe haven in the commodity obsessed, spectacle society that we live in. I’m extremely sad to see a humble and warm heart pass away this early in life, really gutted to lose someone whom I call a friend just through his music although we have never met. R.I.P, the world is never going to be the same without you Jack Rose!.

Image by James H. Cadden