re: Endless Sleep - The Obituary Thread

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George Reinecke, 59, a native and resident of New Orleans, died Sat., Dec. 26, 2020, after complications from surgery.

A self-taught and talented guitarist, Reinecke got his start in New Orleans nightclubs the early 1980s, playing with punk-influenced rockabilly groups. He played venues around the world with the Memphis, Tenn.-based Panther Burns and eventually led his Toronto-based group, Busted Flush. He collaborated and recorded with music notables Alex Chilton and Cordell Jackson.

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AMONG MY LITTLE CIRCLE OF LOCAL MUSICIANS AND MUSIC GEEKS, George Reinecke showed up in Toronto as something of a celebrity. A native of New Orleans, he had arrived in Toronto via London, like most people who turn up here unexpectedly chasing a girl. He quickly established himself among the city's network of independent bands, a small but intricately woven circle of groups that included the Cowboy Junkies, Change of Heart, the Rheostatics and other veterans of the Queen West scene of the '80s.

George's reputation preceded him - a former member of Tav Falco's Panther Burns and a friend of the legendary Alex Chilton (Box Tops, Big Star, producer of The Cramps,) he had bona fides to die for. The question we kept asking among ourselves was, of course, "Why is he staying here for so long?" Canada in general and Toronto in particular were still a tidal pool far down the shoreline of the music business, but it wasn't long before his band, Busted Flush, got signed to the Canadian arm of Polygram, a music multinational.

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George hung around Toronto for a few more years, but the last time I saw him was outside Dupont subway station near the end of the decade. After that I heard he'd returned to New Orleans, where I'm sure the weather probably suits him much better.

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