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Obituary

Chet 'JR' White, Bassist & Producer for Girls, Dies at 40

By Rania Aniftos
10/21/2020
By Rania Aniftos
10/21/2020
John Shearer/WireImage

Chet "JR" White of the band Girls performs during Day 1 of the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival held at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2012, in Indio, Calif.

Chet "JR" White, former bassist and producer for rock band Girls, died on Sunday (Oct. 18) at his family's Santa Cruz, California, home. He was 40 years old.

True Panther Sounds, which released Girls’ music, confirmed the new via Facebook. "His heart stopped. No further details at this time," the post reads.

"The songs make the albums, but the production allows people to receive it and how you made that music sing!!! The gauzy buzz, the ocean of reverb, the restraint and then explosion, a sound that wrapped you in its arms but wasn't shy about its wounds. Your heart stopped, a big big sensitive but conflicted heart. Will miss you JR, I'll miss you. Thank you for everything. -Dean" the post concludes alongside two photos of White.

White met Christopher Owens while attending the California Recording Institute in San Francisco. The two formed the band Girls in 2007, and went on to release 2009’s Album 2010’s Broken Dreams Club EP and 2011’s Father, Son, Holy Ghost, before disbanding in 2012.

“Getting the initial word from Chris through an email and seeing the words—there was a shock, but I didn’t feel too strong of emotions,” White told Paste of the band's breakup in 2013. “I wasn’t sad…. I hadn’t realized until then, but I expected it. Of course I expected it. I knew Chris better than anyone and we spent nearly every day together for two years. I knew what his ambitions were. And, when we stopped really talking during the recording of Father, Son, Holy Ghost, I knew it could be coming soon.”

Following the news of his death, Owens took to Twitter to share his grief. "I hope you feel nothing but peace now my brother," he wrote. "I love you, and thank you for believing in me, and for what you brought to the table. Always and Forever, and I’ll always be proud of you... I’ll always remember you protecting Liza, Patrick, myself and Beta from the jerks."

See below.

By Rania Aniftos
10/21/2020

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