David Berman

David Berman was an American-born Singer, Musician, and poet. He was born in Williamsburg, Virginia on January 4th,1967 and he died suddenly at the age of 52 on August 7, 2019. He founded the Indie Rock band Silver Jews with Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich. The band dissolved in 2009 and he was the only constant member throughout. The career of Berman has been a very shaky one and full of discontent. Berman has a master’s degree in poetry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 1994, Silver Jews debut their album, Starlite Walker. It gained established respect in the indie rock scene. There was a major complicated history between his band members Malkmus and Nastanovich. They were the members of another prominent band at that time called the Pavement.

So, there was a very well-known tension between the two bands as Berman felt that Silver Jews was a Side project of the Pavement. Berman’s personal story is also felt with tragedy and substance abuse. Berman suffered from sleep deprivation. Another well-known album, The Natural Bridge was released in 1996. The album was very well acclaimed because of their exquisite lyrical work Berman. The critically acclaimed American Water,1998 was included in The Guardian’s 1000 Albums to hear before you Die series followed by the Bright Flight,2001. Berman released his first collection of poetry ‘Actual Air’ in 1999 by open city books. The book was well-received with remarks from Carl Wilson who said,” even better than Berman’s albums”. His poetry got featured in journals such as The Baffler, Open City, and The Believer.

Berman suffered from depression and he tried to overdose himself in 2003 with substances. He went to rehabilitation when he started embracing Judaism. This led to the release of another album Tanglewood Numbers in 2005. Berman also published a 2009 book of Surreal, minimalist cartoons called The Portable February and he later worked with German artist Friedrich Kunath on the book You Owe Me a Feeling,2012. Berman was developing financial difficulties with a $100000 loan and credit debt, and with the breakdown of his marriage, he turned towards substances once again. On August 7, 2017, Berman died after taking his own life in an apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York Click to look into! >> Read More... .