Jay Bennett, Ex-Wilco Member, Died Of Pain Killer Overdose: Coroner

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died of an overdose of a pain killer, a coroner said Tuesday, and authorities are viewing his death as accidental.

Toxicology tests showed the 45-year-old musician died from an overdose of fentanyl, Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said in a brief news release that noted the drug is found in patches commonly prescribed to treat chronic pain.

The release did not indicate whether Bennett had used such a patch but Northrup told The (Champaign) News-Gazette that Bennett had a patch containing fentanyl on his back when he died May 24 after being found unresponsive in his home in Urbana, 110 miles south of Chicago.

Northrup did not return a call from The Associated Press and his office declined to immediately provide a copy of Bennett's autopsy, saying the investigation remains open.

Several companies recalled fentanyl patches last year after discovering that some leaked, causing labored breathing and possible overdose. There was no indication Bennett had used a recalled patch.

In a recent posting on his MySpace page, Bennett wrote that he was getting ready for hip replacement surgery after years of pain.

"As time has passed my mobility has continued to erode, to the extent that, for quite some time now, it has even been difficult to sit at the computer for more than just a few minutes," Bennett wrote in a posting dated April 25.

Members of Bennett's family could not immediately be located for comment. There was no immediate response to an e-mail sent to his record company.

Bennett worked as a sound engineer and played instruments for Wilco from 1994 to 2001.

He sued Wilco lead singer Jeff Tweedy in early May. Bennett claimed he was owed royalties for songs during his seven years with the group.

After learning of Bennett's death Tweedy said Bennett made significant contributions to Wilco and said he would be remembered "as a truly unique and gifted human being."

Bennett was born in the Chicago suburb of Rolling Meadows and graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

Comments

[MrJM]

Public Health Care For All!
http://www.pnhp.org/

This man should not have been left on his own to treat his hip pain.

-- MrJM

[Palemoon]

BEST POST EVER! And you are right, he shouldn't have been made to wait, wait, wait and have to sit at home treating himself when our medical system should have taken care of the problem to begin with. Thousands of people die every single day in this country for absolutely no other reason than being denied prompt healthcare. And people have the gall to even think for 5 seconds we have the best healthcare in the world?

[hidenout]

People tend to put off hip replacement surgery for as long as they can, it's quite invasive and painful. Recovery is a couple months, minimum. At some point, the chronic pain becomes too much, and you line up the surgery. Also, people put off this surgery because of the occasional complications, which can be protracted, like infections.

You don't "self medicate" with fentanyl, as it's much, much more potent that morphine. I would do the same, put surgery off as long as possible.

I'm not disagreeing with you, darn right something needs to give on health care. I just don't think is a particularly good argument for health care reform.

Meantime, helluva musician, I'll miss him.