Sa mort

[ Récit des évènements : 2 juin 1997 ] [ Récit des évènements : 5 juin 1997 ] [ Une mort prématurée ]

      Jeff Buckley a disparu alors qu'il nageait dans le Mississippi le 29 mai 1997. Son corps a été retrouvé quelques jours plus tard, le 4 juin. Voici quelques articles de presse recueillis à partir de différents sites internet, en anglais, qui retracent le déroulement de sa mort tragique.

Récit des événements

June 2, 1997

      JEFF BUCKLEY STILL MISSING AS SEARCH CONTINUES. FAMILY AND FRIENDS BELIEVE HE HAS DROWNED.

      Jeff Buckley is still missing after swimming in a Memphis, Tennessee marina at approximately 9 p.m. last Thursday. An extensive search of the area began at 10 that night and has continued, with Memphis authorities utilizing boats, horse and foot patrols, helicopters and scuba divers in an attempt to locate Jeff. While Jeff is still officially listed as missing, his family, close friends and advisors believe that he has drowned. He was 30 years old.

      Jeff's disappearance appears to be the result of swimming in a dangerous section of water that joins Memphis with the Mississippi River. Jeff and a friend, Keith Foti, were on their way to a local rehearsal studio where Jeff and his band were preparing to record a new album. After getting something to eat at a Memphis restaurant, Jeff and Keith stopped at the marina, where he had gone swimming on previous occasions. In a playful mood, Jeff entered the water fully clothed while laughing and singing, wading and swimming for approximately 15 minutes. Keith remained on the shore and in visual and vocal contact with Jeff.

      When passing boats created waves, Keith momentarily turned away from Jeff to adjust the location of their portable radio/cassette player to prevent it from getting wet. At this point, Keith lost contact with Jeff and called out for him for 10 minutes before calling the police. Memphis authorities believe that an undertow caused by the passing boats swept Jeff away from his original location and, ultimately, underwater.

      Memphis authorities have stated that there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol playing any part in this tragedy. Jeff's mother, Mary Guibert, and his managers, Dave Lory and George Stein, are urging everyone not to speculate beyond the facts of this incident or believe any rumors that might circulate. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

      According to Mary Guibert, "It has become apparent to me that my son will not be walking out of the river. It is now time to make plans to celebrate a life that was golden. I ask people who cared about Jeff to please be honorable and faithful to his memory, to send their best wishes to Jeff and to all of us who are mourning his passing."

      A memorial service is being planned, and appropriate details will be released in the next few weeks.

June 5, 1997

      JEFF BUCKLEY'S BODY FOUND IN MEMPHIS HARBOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, JUNE 4 SINGER WAS MISSING SINCE THURSDAY NIGHT, MAY 29.

      Memphis authorities have reported that the body of musician Jeff Buckley was found in the Memphis Harbor on Wednesday afternoon, June 4. The 30-year-old singer had been missing since Thursday, May 29, but had been presumed drowned by his family, friends, and close advisors.

      Memphis police reported that passengers aboard the American Queen riverboat first saw the body near the southern tip of Mud Island at approximately 4:30pm; American Queen crew members rode a rubber dinghy to the location of the body and brought it ashore at the foot of Beale Street in Memphis.

      Memphis Police Lieutenant Willie Lemons said that while there were no identification papers found on the body, a positive identification had been made by Gene Bowen, a close friend of Buckley's who had acted as the artist's tour manager for the last three years. Bowen had gone to the Shelby County Medical Examiner's Office Wednesday night to identify the body.

      While the official cause of death will be determined pending an autopsy, Lt. Lemons has stated that there were no obvious indications of any cause other than accidental drowning.

      Buckley's disappearance last Thursday night occurred after the musician and a friend, Keith Foti, 23, went to the Memphis Harbor shore, where Buckley had swum on previous occasions, to sing and play music. Buckley had gone swimming, fully-clothed, in the harbor, while Foti remained on the shore. According to Foti, a passing towboat created a wash on the shore and Foti lost sight of Buckley when he turned away from the water to move a portable stereo away from the waves. After calling out and searching for the singer, Foti reported Buckley's disappearance to the Memphis police at 9:22pm.

      An extensive search of the area began at 10pm that evening and continued throughout the weekend with Memphis authorities utilizing boats, horse and foot patrols, helicopters, and scuba divers in an attempt to locate Buckley.

      Jeff Buckley had gone to Memphis with his band in late February of this year to begin rehearsals in preparation for the recording, scheduled for June 30, of a new album. As of March 31, Buckley had performed in a series of regular Monday night solo performances at Barrister's nightclub in Memphis. His last show was on Monday, May 26, 1997.

      Memorial services for Jeff Buckley are being planned and appropriate details will be released when available.

Une mort prématurée

      Cette fin tragique contient une part d'ironie : Jeff Buckley est mort à l'âge de 30 ans, son père à 28 ans. Bien entendu, cela ne l'aurait pas fait sourire, lui qui condamnait le désir de mourir jeune de nombreux artistes. Pour lui, la vie valait la peine d'être vécue entièrement, en acquérant une expérience permettant d'éviter les erreurs du passé.

      Cependant, de nombreux éléments font que, rétrospectivement, cette mort n'est pas surprenante. En effet, Jeff aimait les situations extrêmes, elles le stimulaient. C'était comme s'il avait constamment un pied sur terre, un autre ailleurs. Dans un sens, il ne connaissait pas de limites, et c'est dans cet abandon qu'il puisait l'essence de ses chansons. C'est également cet absence de frontières qui lui a coûté la vie. Son insouciance l'a ainsi poussée à se baigner un soir dans le Mississippi, fleuve dangereux et redouté, simplement parce qu'il faisait chaud. Habillé de vêtements amples et de grandes bottes, il a ignoré le danger, se laissant guidé par son instinct…

      Le parallèle avec la mort de son père est troublant, et la coïncidence semble impossible, même si les circonstances sont différentes (Tim Buckley est mort d'une overdose). Peut-être que les étoiles les plus brillantes sont toujours vouées à s'éteindre les premières…