This week saw the passing of Randy Bewley, guitarist for Pylon, early-’80s Athens, Ga., post-punk contemporaries of R.E.M. and the B-52’s.
Bewley, 53, suffered a heart attack Monday while driving in Athens, and was taken to Athens Regional Medical Center, where, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Pylon lead singer Vanessa Briscoe Hay coincidentally works as a nurse.
He died two days later.
“I’m in complete shock,” B-52’s frontman Fred Schneider told the Journal Constitution. “To me, Pylon was the best band to ever come out of Athens. It still is.”
R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe issued a statement saying he and his bandmates “are so very saddened to hear the news of Randy’s passing. Pylon have always been an inspired catalyst to R.E.M. and the Athens music and art scene, and beyond. Randy’s guitar playing and attitude was intensely unique, and his influence integral and profound. He will be greatly missed.”
