In Memoriam: Kim Shattuck

Sad news to report today: Muffs singer and former Pixies bassist Kim Shattuck has passed away. She was 56 years old. The news was shared by her Muffs bandmates on Facebook.

“We are very sorry to announce the passing of our bandmate and dear friend Kim Shattuck,” they wrote. “Besides being a brilliant songwriter, rocking guitarist and singer/screamer extraordinaire, Kim was a true force of nature. While battling ALS, Kim produced our last album, overseeing every part of the record from tracking to artwork. She was our best friend and playing her songs was an honor. Goodbye Kimba. We love you more than we could ever say.”

Shattuck was a multi-instrumentalist but started as a bassist for The Pandoras, an all-female rock band from Los Angeles. She was in the band from 1985 to 1990, eventually quitting and forming The Muffs with Melanie Vammen. The band broke up and reformed twice and is preparing to release their first new album in five years.

The Pixies called on Shattuck to replace founding bassist Kim Deal in 2013 only to release her later that year. The band didn’t give an explanation for her firing, but she told Rolling Stone it may have been a difference of personalities. She was more extroverted than the rest of the group and was reprimanded for taking a stage dive. “I know they weren’t thrilled about that,” she said. “When I got offstage, the manager told me not to do that again. I said, ‘Really, for my own safety?’ And he said, ‘No, because the Pixies don’t do that.’”

Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Kim Shattuck.