Teresa Taylor, a drummer for the psych-punk band Butthole Surfers and an actor in Richard Linklater’s cult film Slacker, has died of lung disease at the age of 60. Her former bandmates announced the news on Twitter on Monday, writing: “Teresa Taylor passed away peacefully this weekend after a long battle with lung disease. She will live in our hearts forever. RIP, dear friend.”
Taylor, who also went by the stage name Teresa Nervosa, was born in Arlington, Texas, and played drums in her high school marching band with King Coffey, another future Butthole Surfer. She joined the band in 1983 and became known for her dual drumming with Coffey, creating a chaotic and hypnotic rhythm section for the band’s experimental and psychedelic sound. She drummed on some of the band’s most acclaimed albums, such as Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac and Locust Abortion Technician.
In 1989, Taylor suffered from a brain aneurysm and seizures that forced her to leave the band. She underwent brain surgery in 1993 and returned for some tour dates in 2009. In 2021, she revealed on Facebook that she had been diagnosed with “end stage” lung disease and had a “one-to-five [year] life expectancy.” She wrote: “I know I smoked like a chimney and this is to be expected. My spirits are up.”
Aside from her musical career, Taylor also had a memorable cameo in Linklater’s 1991 indie film Slacker, playing a woman who tries to sell a jar containing what she claims is Madonna’s pap smear on the street. She appeared on the poster and promotional items for the movie, wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt. Linklater said he cast her after reading an interview with her in Bitch magazine, where she expressed her obsession with Madonna and joked about wanting to kill her.
Taylor recalled feeling insecure about her performance in the film and considering asking for her reel back. “When I finished my scene, about a week later, I had a sort of breakdown where I decided that I had humiliated myself so publicly,” she told Salon in 2006. “But it’s always because I’m ranting and raving about something.”
Taylor’s death has sparked tributes from fans and fellow musicians who admired her talent and personality. She is survived by her family and friends who will miss her dearly.
Relevant articles:
– Teresa Taylor, Butthole Surfers Drummer and Slacker Star, Dies at 60, Pitchfork, June 19, 2023
– Teresa Taylor, Butthole Surfers Drummer and ‘Slacker’ Star, Dead at 60, Rolling Stone, June 19, 2023
– Teresa Taylor Dies: Butthole Surfers Drummer And Memorable ‘Slacker’ Actor Was 60, Deadline, June 19, 2023
– Butthole Surfers’ Teresa Taylor Dead At 60, Stereogum, June 19, 2023