Lynn Strait
Encyclopedia
James Lynn Strait was the lead singer and lyricist
for the rock
band Snot
. He died in a car accident
on December 11, 1998 at the age of 30.
, but moved to Santa Barbara
as a teen and immediately embraced the SoCal punk scene. Prior to his work with Snot
, Strait had never sung in a band. "I always wanted to because it seemed like a lot of fun. But I wasn't into what most bands were playing" . Starting from scratch was an advantage for Strait: "There's nobody to emulate. I won't say what I do is groundbreaking, but some of it is original; there are weird patterns in my vocals, because I got to make up my style as I went along" .
Strait also served as the band's lyricist and appeared as a guest on Tura Satana
's song 'Down', a duet with friend Tairrie B
on Manhole/Tura Satana
's first album.
Landing a record contract was a dream come true for some of his mates, but Strait was underwhelmed by the development. His response: "Yeah, now I can order cheese on my Whopper" . While his bandmates were signing the contracts, Strait was completing a month long sentence in County Jail, where he had spent a year in the early 1990s.
and became involved in a six-car crash. The crash occurred on a highway off-ramp. Only one other driver, David Redderson, was injured in the crash and he was quickly released from Saint Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. Also killed in the accident was Strait's dog, Dobbs, who graced the cover of the band's 1997 debut album, Get Some, and served as the group's mascot
.
The band Sevendust
paid tribute to Strait with the song "Angel's Son". As a tribute to the rocker, an album entitled Strait Up
was released on November 7, 2000 on Virgin records. Compiled with the help of members of Limp Bizkit
, Korn
, Slipknot
, Sevendust
, Hed PE, Coal Chamber
, Sugar Ray
, System of a Down
, Soulfly
, Incubus
, Ozzy Ozbourne and others. The album contains tributes to Lynn Strait with backing from the remaining band. Also on the record was a remixed version of Lynn Strait's last recording with the band Snot, a song entitled "Absent," the original version of which was included on the Strangeland
soundtrack.
On August 7, 1999, on a move begun by Loudside.com and discovered and hyped by Soulfly.com and then MTV.com, fans were encouraged to buy copies of Snot's debut CD Get Some in an attempt to cause a jump in the charts on what would have been Lynn's 31st birthday.
The band My Ruin
fronted by Tairrie B
paid tribute to him with a song called "Rockstar". The Band NOFX
mentions both Lynn and Dobbs in their song 'Doornails' in which they pay tribute to deceased punk band members.
British band Reuben
paid tribute to him and Kurt Cobain
in their song Push
, from the Deadly Lethal Ninja Assassin single.
Lyricist
A lyricist is a songwriter who specializes in lyrics. A singer who writes the lyrics to songs is a singer-lyricist. This differentiates from a singer-composer, who composes the song's melody.-Collaboration:...
for the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Snot
Snot (band)
Snot was an American rock band from Santa Barbara, California. Formed in 1995, the band released their debut studio album Get Some with founding vocalist Lynn Strait in 1997 and disbanded after his death in 1998. In 2008, the lineup of guitarists Mike Doling and Sonny Mayo, bassist John Fahnestock...
. He died in a car accident
Car accident
A traffic collision, also known as a traffic accident, motor vehicle collision, motor vehicle accident, car accident, automobile accident, Road Traffic Collision or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction,...
on December 11, 1998 at the age of 30.
Biography
Strait was born in Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, but moved to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
as a teen and immediately embraced the SoCal punk scene. Prior to his work with Snot
Snot (band)
Snot was an American rock band from Santa Barbara, California. Formed in 1995, the band released their debut studio album Get Some with founding vocalist Lynn Strait in 1997 and disbanded after his death in 1998. In 2008, the lineup of guitarists Mike Doling and Sonny Mayo, bassist John Fahnestock...
, Strait had never sung in a band. "I always wanted to because it seemed like a lot of fun. But I wasn't into what most bands were playing" . Starting from scratch was an advantage for Strait: "There's nobody to emulate. I won't say what I do is groundbreaking, but some of it is original; there are weird patterns in my vocals, because I got to make up my style as I went along" .
Strait also served as the band's lyricist and appeared as a guest on Tura Satana
Tura Satana (band)
Tura Satana was an alternative metal band named after cult actress Tura Satana. The band started in the early 90s under the name Manhole. Due to legal reasons they changed it after the release of their first album 'All Is Not Well'...
's song 'Down', a duet with friend Tairrie B
Tairrie B
Tairrie B is an American singer. She was originally a rapper, but later became an alternative metal singer....
on Manhole/Tura Satana
Tura Satana (band)
Tura Satana was an alternative metal band named after cult actress Tura Satana. The band started in the early 90s under the name Manhole. Due to legal reasons they changed it after the release of their first album 'All Is Not Well'...
's first album.
Landing a record contract was a dream come true for some of his mates, but Strait was underwhelmed by the development. His response: "Yeah, now I can order cheese on my Whopper" . While his bandmates were signing the contracts, Strait was completing a month long sentence in County Jail, where he had spent a year in the early 1990s.
Death and legacy
According to California Highway Patrol reports, Lynn Strait was traveling from Santa Barbara, CA to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and became involved in a six-car crash. The crash occurred on a highway off-ramp. Only one other driver, David Redderson, was injured in the crash and he was quickly released from Saint Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara. Also killed in the accident was Strait's dog, Dobbs, who graced the cover of the band's 1997 debut album, Get Some, and served as the group's mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
.
The band Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
paid tribute to Strait with the song "Angel's Son". As a tribute to the rocker, an album entitled Strait Up
Strait Up
Strait Up is the second studio album by Snot. Released on November 7, 2000, the album features appearances by the lead vocalists of a number of major rock groups...
was released on November 7, 2000 on Virgin records. Compiled with the help of members of Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit
Limp Bizkit is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1995, the group's lineup consists of Fred Durst , Wes Borland , Sam Rivers , John Otto and DJ Lethal . The band achieved mainstream success with their second studio album Significant Other, released in 1999...
, Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, Slipknot
Slipknot (band)
Slipknot is an American heavy metal band from Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995, the group was founded by percussionist Shawn Crahan and bassist Paul Gray...
, Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
, Hed PE, Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber
Coal Chamber is an American alternative metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1993. Prior to Coal Chamber, Dez Fafara and Meegs Rascón formed the band She's In Pain in 1992. The two decided to create Coal Chamber. They disbanded in 2003 after ten years together, but announced a reunion in...
, Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
, System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
, Soulfly
Soulfly
Soulfly is a heavy metal band formed in 1997 based in Phoenix, Arizona. The original lyrical content revolved around spirituality and religious themes, with later albums encompassing other themes including war, violence, aggression, hatred and anger. Soulfly is led by former Sepultura frontman Max...
, Incubus
Incubus (band)
Incubus is an American rock band from Calabasas, California. The band was formed in 1991 by vocalist Brandon Boyd, lead guitarist Mike Einziger, and drummer Jose Pasillas while enrolled in high school and later expanded to include bassist Alex "Dirk Lance" Katunich, and Gavin "DJ Lyfe" Koppell;...
, Ozzy Ozbourne and others. The album contains tributes to Lynn Strait with backing from the remaining band. Also on the record was a remixed version of Lynn Strait's last recording with the band Snot, a song entitled "Absent," the original version of which was included on the Strangeland
Strangeland
Strangeland is an American horror film released in 1998. The movie was directed by John Pieplow and written by Dee Snider. The film focuses on the body modification underground culture's rituals.-Plot:...
soundtrack.
On August 7, 1999, on a move begun by Loudside.com and discovered and hyped by Soulfly.com and then MTV.com, fans were encouraged to buy copies of Snot's debut CD Get Some in an attempt to cause a jump in the charts on what would have been Lynn's 31st birthday.
The band My Ruin
My Ruin
My Ruin are a Los Angeles-based hard rock/stoner metal band fronted by Tairrie B , they have been going through various line-up changes since 1999. They have a dedicated fanbase, most notably in the UK...
fronted by Tairrie B
Tairrie B
Tairrie B is an American singer. She was originally a rapper, but later became an alternative metal singer....
paid tribute to him with a song called "Rockstar". The Band NOFX
NOFX
NOFX is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California .The band was formed in 1983 by vocalist/bassist Fat Mike and guitarist Eric Melvin. Drummer Erik Sandin joined NOFX shortly after. In 1991 El Hefe joined to play lead guitar and trumpet, rounding out the current line-up...
mentions both Lynn and Dobbs in their song 'Doornails' in which they pay tribute to deceased punk band members.
British band Reuben
Reuben (band)
Reuben were an English three-piece musical group from Camberley, Surrey. Their music was a fusion of alternative rock and heavy metal, as their songs cover a variety of styles, ranging from heavy and upbeat, such as their 2005 single "Blamethrower" to slower, more melodic songs such as their 2004...
paid tribute to him and Kurt Cobain
Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain was an American singer-songwriter, musician and artist, best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana...
in their song Push
Push
-Music:* Push , an album by Bros* Push , a Belgian disc jockey born Mike Dierickx* Push , an album by Gruntruck* "Push" , a song by Enrique Iglesias...
, from the Deadly Lethal Ninja Assassin single.