Wilco's Jeff Tweedy enters rehab - tour in doubt

[GOPisEvil]

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/04-04/05.shtml

The Chicago Tribune reports this afternoon that Wilco's Jeff Tweedy has cancelled the band's upcoming European tour dates in order to check himself into a Chicago-based rehab facility. The paper reports that Tweedy has been struggling with recurring migranes for years, which he has been battling with prescription painkillers.

Tweedy's migranes, which have been an ongoing problem for him since he was a child, are well-documented: In one scene from the 2001 documentary I Am Trying to Break Your Heart, Tweedy is shown throwing up in a bathroom after escalating tensions between he and now-ex-Wilco member Jay Bennett, a result of these headaches.

As previously reported, Wilco's forthcoming album, A Ghost Is Born, has been pushed back to June 22nd, though it was revealed today that this is due to Tweedy's stay in rehab, and not to changes in the album's tracklist. The band had planned a handful of Southern U.S. dates to warm up for a full-fledged tour in support of the album, but those shows are now in question. The Tribune cites a Wilco spokesman as saying that a decision as to whether the band will fulfill those dates won't be made until later this week. In the meantime, the remaining stops on Wilco's European tour have been called off.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Shit, that's nasty. Migraines can be a real bitch.

Saw them back in '99 on the Summerteeth tour. Great live act.

[GOPisEvil]

2. Yeah, it's really sad. I hope he can kick the habit and

get some relief for those migraines.

I would have bought tickets to Wilco's show here on April 24th, but I'll be in Philly.

[XNASA]

Stubb's on the 25th.

Guess that ain't gonna happen now.

[GOPisEvil]

4. They had two shows, I think.

24th and 25th. I guess they'll be rescheduled.

[northernsoul]

3. very talented guy, I wish him well

We're rooting for you, Jeff!

[chenGOD]

5. That's too bad.

Wilco is a great band, and they have a great attitude as well.

Have you guys seen this?

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/04-04/05.shtml#story2

Good file-sharing story about Wilco (disclaimer: I don't read pitchfrok, but this link was posted on another board I frequent.)

[Fenris]

6. I am glad I had the foresight to purchase tickets last month

That being said, best wishes to Jeff on a speedy recovery.

[bloodyjack]

7. i admire your avatar

[Fenris]

8. I'm certain he would admire you as well

[bloodyjack]

9. do you think his new record will be good or like his others

you know, on-again off-again? a few gems caught amid the crapola? i guess he really needs to find a new band to work with

[Fenris]

10. I'm not impartial as I have yet to dislike anything he has done

Even that which others have found positively dreadful.

[bloodyjack]

11. even Southpaw Grammar?

come on. that record was a harried abomination.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

13. I thought 'Kill Uncle' was the universally despised one?

[Fenris]

14. I like both of those.

See. I'm not impartial.

[bloodyjack]

18. no, i rather like 'kill uncle'

really, there's no Moz record that's absolutely completely 100% unlistenable. even southpaw has its shining moments.

[fudge stripe cookays]

12. Funny related story...

Back in around 1990, I'd never heard of Uncle Tupelo, but my friend worked at Waterloo Records and I was her plus 1 to all the shows she went to at Liberty Lunch.

She had mentioned going to see this band, so I said okay. Showed up at her place, and she opened the door wearing the logo shirt for the tour. (I think it was a Jaegermeister logo. Anyone? Anyone?) And it said "bottled in Bellville, Illinois."

I said, "These guys are from Belleville?" She said yeah.

I said, "My mom's from Belleville! We just got back from a trip there!"

She thought that was really cool. So as soon as the show was over and everyone was socializing, she grabbed the guys, introduced them, and said "Her mom's from Belleville!"

"I'm sorry," they said. I told them I'd just gotten back from my great aunt and uncle's 50th wedding anniversary (in the basement of the Satellite Bowl) and that my well-meaning but middle class aunt had gotten us accommodations at the less-than-plush "Cinderella Motel."

We all had a big laugh talking about the town, and they told me about driving through the midwest buying bags upon bags of White Castle burgers and waking up with that gnarly sort of "cabbage mouth" from them.

That was a fun night.

[GOPisEvil]

15. *pangs of intense jealousy*

A couple of my cousins went to school with them, but didn't hang out or anything. I only heard of UT because I read they were from Belleville. I always thought nothing good would ever come from Belleville.

[tigereye]

16. I love Wilco and their previous incarnations

I was so bummed when I missed them at our summer festival here. Decided to go to Jersey instead. Oh well.

[GOPisEvil]

17. I saw Jay Farrar a couple months back.

He was excellent. I always preferred him to Tweedy, although I'm generally a fan of Wilco.

[mitchum]

19. Well, Her Highness Ryan Adams is probably happy about this

since Adams seems to be extremely jealous of Tweedy's critical AND commercial success