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This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
One of the nicest things on Sunset Blvd. is the Elliott Smith tribute wall. In October 21, 2003, dreary and brilliant singer songwriter Elliott Smith killed himself by stabbing himself in the heart.
Best known for the moody acoustic songs heard in Good Will Hunting, Smith had an Oscar nom in his back pocket in '97 and a contract with Dreamworks in '98.
Immediately after the reports of his death began to spread, fans in LA began writing little messages on the wall at Solutions electronics and repair on Sunset near Fountain where he once posed for an album cover. Those messages were later replaced by others and for nearly four years now it's always nice to see an ever-changing and solemn tribute to a talented musician.
Sponsored message
Today, however, we spotted some very ugly graffiti that only made us wonder, why?
With all the things to rebel against in 2007, to pick on a memorial wall to a guy who killed himself is below low.
Every now and then we see someone tag this wall and later it's removed, but it really makes us wonder what idiot would waste his energy trying to ruin something so sweet.
photo by Sonny I. LaVista for LAist
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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