Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength. It is a form of luminescence. In most cases, emitted light has a longer wavelength, and therefore lower energy, than the absorbed radiation. However, when the absorbed electromagnetic radiation is intense, it is possible for one electron to absorb two photons; this two-photon absorption can lead to emission of radiation having a shorter wavelength than the absorbed radiation.

The most striking examples of fluorescence occur when the absorbed radiation is in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum, and thus invisible, and the emitted light is in the visible region.

Fluorescence has many practical applications, including mineralogy, gemology, chemical sensors (fluorescence spectroscopy), fluorescent labelling, dyes, biological detectors, and, most commonly, fluorescent lamps.

History

An early observation of fluorescence was described by Nicolás Monardes in 1565 in the infusion of a certain type of wood (''Lignum nephriticum''). The chemical compound responsible for this fluorescence is ''matlanine'' which is the oxidation product of one of the flavonoids found in this wood. In 1819 Edward D. Clarke and in 1822 René Just Haüy described fluorescence in florites, Sir David Brewster described the phenomenon for chlorophyll in 1833 and Sir John Herschel did the same for quinine in 1845.

George Gabriel Stokes named the phenomenon ''fluorescence'' in 1852. He chose the name "to denote the general appearance of a solution of sulphate of quinine and similar media". The name was derived from the mineral fluorite (calcium difluoride), some examples of which contain traces of divalent europium, which serves as the fluorescent activator to emit blue light. In a key experiment he used a prism to isolate ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and observed blue light emitted by a ethanol solution of quinine exposed by it.

Equations

Photochemistry

Fluorescence occurs when an orbital electron of a molecule, atom or nanostructure relaxes to its ground state by emitting a photon of light after being excited to a higher quantum state by some type of energy:

Excitation: $S\_0\; +\; h\; \backslash nu\_\{ex\}\; \backslash to\; S\_1$

Fluorescence (emission): $S\_1\; \backslash to\; S\_0\; +\; h\; \backslash nu\_\{em\}\; +\; heat$

here $h\backslash nu$ is a generic term for photon energy with h = Planck's constant and $\backslash nu$ = frequency of light. (The specific frequencies of exciting and emitted light are dependent on the particular system.)

State S₀ is called the ground state of the fluorophore (fluorescent molecule) and S₁ is its first (electronically) excited state.

A molecule in its excited state, S₁, can relax by various competing pathways. It can undergo 'non-radiative relaxation' in which the excitation energy is dissipated as heat (vibrations) to the solvent. Excited organic molecules can also relax via conversion to a triplet state which may subsequently relax via phosphorescence or by a secondary non-radiative relaxation step.

Relaxation of an S₁ state can also occur through interaction with a second molecule through fluorescence quenching. Molecular oxygen (O₂) is an extremely efficient quencher of fluorescence just because of its unusual triplet ground state.

Molecules that are excited through light absorption or via a different process (e.g. as the product of a reaction) can transfer energy to a second 'sensitized' molecule, which is converted to its excited state and can then fluoresce. This process is used in lightsticks to produce different colors.

Quantum yield

The fluorescence quantum yield gives the efficiency of the fluorescence process. It is defined as the ratio of the number of photons emitted to the number of photons absorbed.

: $\backslash Phi\; =\; \backslash frac\; \{\backslash textrm\{Number\backslash \; of\backslash \; photons\backslash \; emitted\}\}\; \{\backslash textrm\{Number\backslash \; of\backslash \; photons\backslash \; absorbed\}\}$

The maximum fluorescence quantum yield is 1.0 (100%); every photon absorbed results in a photon emitted. Compounds with quantum yields of 0.10 are still considered quite fluorescent. Another way to define the quantum yield of fluorescence, is by the rate of excited state decay:

: $\backslash Phi\; =\; \backslash frac\{\; \{\; k\}\_\{\; f\}\; \}\{\; \backslash sum\_\{i\}\{\; k\}\_\{i\; \}\; \}$

where $\{\; k\}\_\{\; f\}$ is the rate of spontaneous emission of radiation and

:$\backslash sum\_\{i\}\{\; k\}\_\{i\; \}$

is the sum of all rates of excited state decay. Other rates of excited state decay are caused by mechanisms other than photon emission and are therefore often called "non-radiative rates", which can include: dynamic collisional quenching, near-field dipole-dipole interaction (or resonance energy transfer), internal conversion and intersystem crossing. Thus, if the rate of any pathway changes, this will affect both the excited state lifetime and the fluorescence quantum yield.

Fluorescence quantum yields are measured by comparison to a standard. The quinine salt ''quinine sulfate'' in a sulfuric acid solution is a common fluorescence standard.

Lifetime

The fluorescence lifetime refers to the average time the molecule stays in its excited state before emitting a photon. Fluorescence typically follows first-order kinetics:

:$\backslash left[S\; 1\; \backslash right]\; =\; \backslash left[S\; 1\; \backslash right]\_0\; e^\{-\backslash Gamma\; t\}$

where $\backslash left[S\; 1\; \backslash right]$ is the concentration of excited state molecules at time $t$, $\backslash left[S\; 1\; \backslash right]\_0$ is the initial concentration and $\backslash Gamma$ is the decay rate or the inverse of the fluorescence lifetime. This is an instance of exponential decay. Various radiative and non-radiative processes can de-populate the excited state. In such case the total decay rate is the sum over all rates:

:$\backslash Gamma\_\{tot\}=\backslash Gamma\_\{rad\}\; +\; \backslash Gamma\_\{nrad\}$

where $\backslash Gamma\_\{tot\}$ is the total decay rate, $\backslash Gamma\_\{rad\}$ the radiative decay rate and $\backslash Gamma\_\{nrad\}$ the non-radiative decay rate. It is similar to a first-order chemical reaction in which the first-order rate constant is the sum of all of the rates (a parallel kinetic model). If the rate of spontaneous emission, or any of the other rates are fast, the lifetime is short. For commonly used fluorescent compounds, typical excited state decay times for photon emissions with energies from the UV to near infrared are within the range of 0.5 to 20 nanoseconds. The fluorescence lifetime is an important parameter for practical applications of fluorescence such as fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Rules

There are several rules that deal with fluorescence. The Kasha–Vavilov rule dictates that the quantum yield of luminescence is independent of the wavelength of exciting radiation. This is not always true and is violated severely in many simple molecules. A somewhat more reliable statement, although still with exceptions, would be that the fluorescence spectrum shows very little dependence on the wavelength of exciting radiation.

The Jablonski diagram describes most of the relaxation mechanisms for excited state molecules.

Applications

There are many natural and synthetic compounds that exhibit fluorescence, and they have a number of applications. Some deep-sea animals, such as the greeneye, use fluorescence.

Lighting

The common fluorescent lamp relies on fluorescence. Inside the glass tube is a partial vacuum and a small amount of mercury. An electric discharge in the tube causes the mercury atoms to emit ultraviolet light. The tube is lined with a coating of a fluorescent material, called the ''phosphor'', which absorbs the ultraviolet and re-emits visible light. Fluorescent lighting is more energy-efficient than incandescent lighting elements. However, the uneven spectrum of traditional fluorescent lamps may cause certain colors to appear different than when illuminated by incandescent light or daylight. The mercury vapor emission spectrum is dominated by a short-wave UV line at 254 nm (which provides most of the energy to the phosphors), accompanied by visible light emission at 436 nm (blue), 546 nm (green) and 579 nm (yellow-orange). These three lines can be observed superimposed on the white continuum using a hand spectroscope, for light emitted by the usual white fluorescent tubes. These same visible lines, accompanied by the emission lines of trivalent europium and trivalent terbium, and further accompanied by the emission continuum of divalent europium in the blue region, comprise the more discontinuous light emission of the modern trichromatic phosphor systems used in many compact fluorescent lamp and traditional lamps where better color rendition is a goal.

Fluorescent lights were first available to the public at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Improvements since then have largely been better phosphors, longer life, and more consistent internal discharge, and easier-to-use shapes (such as compact fluorescent lamps). Some high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps couple their even greater electrical efficiency with phosphor enhancement for better color rendition.

White light-emitting diodes (LEDs) became available in the mid 1990s as LED lamps, in which blue light emitted from the semiconductor strikes phosphors deposited on the tiny chip. The combination of the blue light that continues through the phosphor and the green to red fluorescence from the phosphors produces a net emission of white light.

Glow sticks sometimes utilize fluorescent materials to absorb light from the chemiluminescent reaction and emit light of a different color.

Analytical chemistry

Many analytical procedures involve the use of a fluorometer, usually with a single exciting wavelength and single detection wavelength. Because of the sensitivity that the method affords, fluorescent molecule concentrations as low as 1 part per trillion can be measured.

Fluorescence in several wavelengths can be detected by an array detector, to detect compounds from HPLC flow. Also, TLC plates can be visualized if the compounds or a coloring reagent is fluorescent. Fluorescence is most effective when there is a larger ratio of atoms at lower energy levels in a Boltzmann distribution. There is then a higher probability of lower energy atoms being excited and releasing photons, making analysis more efficient.

Equipment

Usually the setup of a Fluorescence assay involves a Light source, which may emit an array different wavelengths of light. Generally, a single wavelength is required for proper analysis, so in order to selectively filter the light, it is passed through an excitation monochromator, and then that chosen wavelength is passed through the sample cell. After absorption and re-emission of the energy, many wavelengths may emerge due to Stokes shift and various electron transitions. To separate and analyze them, the fluorescent radiation is passed through an Emission monochromator, and observed selectively by a detector.

Biochemistry and medicine

Fluorescence in the life sciences is used generally as a non-destructive way of tracking or analysis of biological molecules by means of the fluorescent emission at a specific frequency where there is no background from the excitation light, as relatively few cellular components are naturally fluorescent (called intrinsic or autofluorescence). In fact, a protein or other component can be "labelled" with a extrinsic fluorophore, a fluorescent dye which can be a small molecule, protein or quantum dot, finding a large use in many biological applications.

The quantification of a dye is done with a spectrofluorometer and finds additional applications in:

when scanning the fluorescent intensity across a plane one has fluorescence microscopy of tissues, cells or subcellular structures which is accomplished by labelling an antibody with a fluorophore and allowing the antibody to find its target antigen within the sample. Labelling multiple antibodies with different fluorophores allows visualization of multiple targets within a single image (multiple channels). DNA microarrays are a variant of this.

Automated sequencing of DNA by the chain termination method; each of four different chain terminating bases has its own specific fluorescent tag. As the labelled DNA molecules are separated, the fluorescent label is excited by a UV source, and the identity of the base terminating the molecule is identified by the wavelength of the emitted light.

. Ethidium bromide fluoresces orange when intercalating DNA and when exposed to UV light.

FACS (fluorescence-activated cell sorting). One of several important cell sorting techniques used in the separation of different cell lines (especially those isolated from animal tissues).

DNA detection: the compound ethidium bromide, when free to change its conformation in solution, has very little fluorescence. Ethidium bromide's fluorescence is greatly enhanced after it binds to DNA, so this compound is very useful in visualising the location of DNA fragments in agarose gel electrophoresis. Ethidium bromide may be carcinogenic – an arguably safer alternative is the dye SYBR Green.

Immunology: An antibody is first prepared by having a fluorescent chemical group attached, and the sites (e.g., on a microscopic specimen) where the antibody has bound can be seen, and even quantified, by the fluorescence.

FLIM (Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy) can be used to detect certain bio-molecular interactions which manifest themselves by influencing fluorescence lifetimes.

FRET Fluorescence resonance energy transfer is used to study protein interactions, detect specific nucleic acid sequences and used as biosensors, while fluorescence lifetime (FLIM) can give an additional layer of information.

Biotechnology: biosensors using fluorescence are being studied as possible Fluorescent glucose biosensors.

Cell and molecular biology: detection of colocalization using fluorescence-labeled antibodies for selective detection of the antigens of interest using specialized software, such as CoLocalizer Pro.

Gemology, mineralogy, geology and forensics

Fingerprints can be visualized with fluorescent compounds such as ninhydrin. Blood and other substances are sometimes detected by fluorescent reagents, particularly where their location was not previously known.

Gemstones, minerals, fibers, and many other materials which may be encountered in forensics or with a relationship to various collectibles may have a distinctive fluorescence or may fluoresce differently under short-wave ultraviolet, long-wave ultra violet, or X-rays.

Many types of calcite and amber will fluoresce under shortwave UV. Rubies, emeralds, and the Hope Diamond exhibit red fluorescence under short-wave UV light; diamonds also emit light under X ray radiation.

Fluorescence in minerals is caused by a wide range of activators. In some cases, the concentration of the activator must be restricted to below a certain level, to prevent quenching of the fluorescent emission. Furthermore, certain impurities such as iron or copper need to be absent, to prevent quenching of possible fluorescence. Divalent manganese, in concentrations of up to several percent, is responsible for the red or orange fluorescence of calcite, the green fluorescence of willemite, the yellow fluorescence of esperite, and the orange fluorescence of wollastonite and clinohedrite. Hexavalent uranium, in the form of the uranyl cation, fluoresces at all concentrations in a yellow green, and is the cause of fluorescence of minerals such as autunite or andersonite, and, at low concentration, is the cause of the fluorescence of such materials as some samples of hyalite opal. Trivalent chromium at low concentration is the source of the red fluorescence of ruby. Divalent europium is the source of the blue fluorescence, when seen in the mineral fluorite. Trivalent lanthanides such as terbium and dysprosium are the principal activators of the creamy yellow fluorescence exhibited by the yttrofluorite variety of the mineral fluorite, and contribute to the orange fluorescence of zircon. Powellite (calcium molybdate) and scheelite (calcium tungstate) fluoresce intrinsically in yellow and blue, respectively. When present together in solid solution, energy is transferred from the higher energy tungsten to the lower energy molybdenum, such that fairly low levels of molybdenum are sufficient to cause a yellow emission for scheelite, instead of blue. Low-iron sphalerite (zinc sulfide), fluoresces and phosphoresces in a range of colors, influenced by the presence of various trace impurities.

Crude oil (petroleum) fluoresces in a range of colors, from dull brown for heavy oils and tars through to bright yellowish and bluish white for very light oils and condensates. This phenomenon is used in oil exploration drilling to identify very small amounts of oil in drill cuttings and core samples.

Organic liquids

Organic liquids such anthracene in benzene, toluene, or stilbene in the same solvents, fluoresce with ultraviolet or gamma ray irradiation. The decay times of this fluorescence are of the order of nanoseconds since the duration of the light depends on the lifetime of the excited states of the fluorescent material, in this case anthracene or stilbene.

See also

Absorption-re-emission atomic line filters use the phenomenon of fluorescence to filter light extremely effectively.

Black light

Blacklight paint

Evos microscope

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Fluorescence in plants

Fluorescence spectroscopy

Fluorescent lamp

Fluorescent multilayer card

Fluorescent Multilayer Disc

Fluorometer

High-visibility clothing

Laser-induced fluorescence

List of light sources

Mössbauer effect, resonant fluorescence of gamma rays

Organic light-emitting diodes can be fluorescent

Phosphorescence

Phosphor thermometry, the use of phosphorescence to measure temperature.

Spectroscopy

Two-photon absorption

X-ray fluorescence

References

External links

Zeiss.com, Interactive Fluorescence Dye and Filter Database Carl Zeiss Interactive Fluorescence Dye and Filter Database.

ISS.com, Fluorescence Lifetime Standards Tables

ISS.com, Fluorescence Probes Data Tables

Fluorescence-Foundation.org

Fluorophores.org, the database of fluorescent dyes

SHSU.edu, Jablonski diagram

Wolfram.com, Fluorescence on Scienceworld

FSU.edu, Basic Concepts in Fluorescence

Confocal-microscopy.org, Immunofluorescence Protocol

BBham.ac.uk, An example of use of fluorescence in generating cellular images

More examples how the fluorescence can be used

Fluorescence control by Photonic Crystals – ICMM

The Fluorescent Mineral Society

Fluorescence in Practice

"A nano-history of fluorescence" lecture by David Jameson

Excitation and emission spectra of various fluorescent dyes

Manawatu Microscopy – first known collaboration environment for Microscopy and Image Analysis featuring Open DataBase of Fluorescent Dyes and Stains and their applications.

Fluorescence Tutorials

The Molecular Probes Handbook – a comprehensive resource for fluorescence technology and its applications.

Category:Dyes Category:Molecular biology Category:Luminescence Category:Spectroscopy Category:Fluorescence Category:Radiochemistry

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Coordinates	8°3′″N34°54′″N
name	Kate Nash
landscape	yes
background	solo_singer
birth name	Kate Marie Nash
born	July 06, 1987London, England
instrument	Vocals, guitar, synth, keyboard, bass, drums
genre	Indie pop, indie rock
influences	Kate Bush, Devendra Banhart, Regina Spektor Ashlee Simpson and John Cooper Clarke
occupation	Singer-songwriter
years active	2006–present
label	FictionIsland Def Jam IrelandMoshi MoshiUniversal-Island
associated acts	The ReceedersRyan JarmanSupercute!Trachtenburg Family Slideshow PlayersJason Trachtenburg
website	www.katenash.co.uk
notable instruments	}}

Kate Marie Nash (born 6 July 1987) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album ''Made of Bricks''. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards.

Her second studio album, entitled ''My Best Friend Is You'' was released in the United Kingdom on 19 April 2010 and in the U.S. on 11 May 2010, and spawned her second biggest chart hit to date "Do-Wah-Doo".

Currently, she is signed to Island Def Jam Ireland Recordings.

Early life

Kate Nash was born on 6 July 1987 in , Dublin Ireland, though her family soon moved to Harrow. She has an English father, Steven Nash, and an Irish mother, Marie (née Walsh), who is a nurse in a hospice. Nash became interested in music as a child and learned how to play the piano at Sandbach School. She was raised Roman Catholic attended St. John Fisher School (in Pinner) and moved onto the St Joan of Arc Catholic School, Rickmansworth. Additionally, she was taught guitar by teacher Saskia van Berkel and studied Theatre at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in South London. Furthermore, she auditioned at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School but was rejected. In the following days, she fell down a flight of stairs, breaking her foot. During her recovery she was housebound and unable to move, so her mother bought her an electric guitar. Nash used this time to focus on her songwriting: she began to write some new songs, finish old ones and decided that she would book a gig at a local bar in Harrow called Trinity on Gayton Road for herself, to showcase her songs.

Music career

"Caroline's a Victim" (2005-2007)

Nash started her career in 2005. After several gigs, she uploaded her music to MySpace. She found a manager for herself before seeking producers for her music. Nash's debut was a single, "Caroline's a Victim" / "Birds", produced and recorded in Iceland by Valgeir Sigurðsson and released through Moshi Moshi Records in February 2007. The release was limited to 1,000 copies, and was available on only 7" vinyl. Due to demand another 1,000 copies were made and sold out. CD-promo copies were produced for distribution to the press and DJs etc., and are occasionally available for sale. It is featured on the CD ''Moshi Moshi Singles Compilation''. A video for the song was released, directed by Kinga Burza, and received airplay on MTV2. The B-side, "Birds", later featured on her début album, ''Made of Bricks''. Both tracks have also been released as MP3 downloads.

''Made of Bricks'' (2007-2009)

In April 2007, Nash was signed to the Polydor offshoot Fiction Records. Nash's second single and first through Fiction Records, "Foundations", which she co-wrote with producer Paul Epworth, was released on 18 June 2007 and reached number two in the official UK Singles Chart. Following "Foundations", Fiction announced plans to bring forward the release of Nash's debut album to 6 August 2007. The album, ''Made of Bricks'', produced by Paul Epworth, included many of the tracks she had been performing on her two nationwide tours.

The album was leaked to filesharing networks days before its commercial release, and received mixed reviews, with ''The Independent'' describing it as being in "pole position for worst album of the year." The album, however, was commercially successful and reached number 1 in the UK album charts.

During mid-2007, Nash performed at numerous festivals including Wireless Festival, Bestival, Electric Gardens, Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Leeds, Oxegen and T in the Park. She made her official TV performance début on ''Later with Jools Holland''.

Throughout late 2007 and early 2008, she released three more singles from the album. "Mouthwash" and "Pumpkin Soup" both made the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, and although fifth single "Merry Happy" didn't chart well in the United Kingdom, the song received limited success in other countries including the US and Canada. The album topped out at the number 36 position on the United States Billboard 200 chart on 26 January 2008.

In 2010 ''Made of Bricks'' was certified Gold in Germany.

''My Best Friend Is You'' (2009-2011)

In late March 2009, Nash revealed that she was in the early stages of recording her second album. She was introduced by her boyfriend Ryan Jarman to Bernard Butler, the producer for Duffy's debut album ''Rockferry'' and a former guitarist for Suede. He began been working with Nash, working in the studio with her over a period of months and producing her second album. In August 2009, the pair worked on eight songs at RAK Studios for the album.

On 14 January 2010, Nash revealed that the second album was complete. On 11 February, a song from the album, "I Just Love You More", was available to download free from her official website.

On 11 March 2010, Nash announced her nine-date North American tour that began on 26 April with the all-female travelling festival Lilith Fair to promote her new album ''My Best Friend Is You''. Her opening act was Supercute!, a psychedelic pop teen girl trio from New York City. She is also scheduled to take part in the 2010 V Festival.

The first single from the album was called "Do-Wah-Doo", and was released on 12 April 2010. The album was released on 20 April. The sound was described as completely different from her debut album and having a "Girl Group" sound, taking influence from Motown stars such as Diana Ross and The Supremes. Nash explained that maturity is the reason for the change in musical style. The album has been described as having a wide variety of sounds from wall of sound, Motown to No Wave and Riot Grrrl. As of 11 May, the album was number 6 in Germany and number 16 in Europe. As of 27 May, the album was at number 62 in the United States.

Third studio album (2011-present)

Nash has been working with William Orbit, Mark Ronson and Cameron McVey on her third studio album. Nash said in Jan 2011 that she was in the early stages of writing the album.

Other music career activities

Nash co-wrote a song titled "Almost Isn’t (Good Enough) Is It?" with Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players member Jason Trachtenburg for his 2009 album ''File Under Pop Male Vocal''.

As a side project in late 2009, she joined a punk band called The Receeders where she plays bass. On 17 December 2009, the band played a live gig on the stage of 93 Feet East. Nash likes to refer to the band as her "side project" as she says for 2010 she will be mainly focusing on her solo material. Her music was used as part of an exhibition at the British Library tracing the history of Cockney English. The exhibition, which runs from 12 November 2010 through 11 April 2011, uses Nash's music to demonstrate today's younger urban mode of Cockney English.

On 23 March 2010 Nash, a founding director of the Featured Artists Coalition, a musicians' lobbying group, launched the Rock and Roll After-School Music Club an attempt to get secondary school girls involved in songwriting battle what Nash feels is a perception that female singers have their material written for them.

Nash is going to be working with the teen indie pop band, Supercute!, producing their first album.

Personal life

In 2008, following intensive touring Nash had what she described as a "proper breakdown". Nash experienced a relapse of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she had a mild case of as a child.

On 2 September 2009, Nash began using her MySpace and Facebook pages to help spread the word of a young girl called Tilly who lost her hands due to meningococcal disease. She used an auction on eBay to help donate money to the five-year-old girl's parents so that she can afford to have her own pair of hands.

During the 2011 England riots, Nash volunteered to collect donations for those made homeless by riots in Tottenham, setting up her own public donation stand and delivering donation to Tottenham Leisure Center in her car.

Discography

''Made of Bricks'' (2007)

''My Best Friend Is You'' (2010)

Awards and nominations

On February 20, 2008, she received a BRIT Award for Best Female artist.

References

External links

Official Kate Nash website

Photos of her concert in Paris in 2010

Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Anti-folk musicians Category:BRIT Award winners Category:English female guitarists Category:English female singers Category:English keyboardists Category:English people of Irish descent Category:English pop singers Category:English Roman Catholics Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English vegetarians Category:Female rock singers Category:People educated at the BRIT School Category:Musicians from London Category:People from Harrow, London Category:Singers from London

ca:Kate Nash cs:Kate Nash da:Kate Nash de:Kate Nash et:Kate Nash es:Kate Nash fa:کیت نش fr:Kate Nash ga:Kate Nash it:Kate Nash he:קייט נאש hu:Kate Nash nl:Kate Nash pl:Kate Nash pt:Kate Nash ru:Нэш, Кейт simple:Kate Nash sr:Кејт Неш fi:Kate Nash sv:Kate Nash

Coordinates	8°3′″N34°54′″N
name	Jay Reatard
alt	Jay Reatard performing at the Bowery Ballroom in 2008.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr.
born	May 1, 1980Lilbourn, Missouri, U.S.
died	January 13, 2010Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
instrument	vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion, keyboards
genre	Garage punk, Punk rock, Indie Rock
occupation	Musician, songwriter
years active	1998–2010
label	Matador, Shattered, In the Red Records, Goner, Arts & Crafts México
associated acts	The Reatards, Lost Sounds, Nervous Patterns, The Final Solutions, Digital Leather, Angry Angles, Terror Visions, Bad Times, Evil Army
website	www.jayreatard.com
notable instruments	Gibson Flying V }}

Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr. (May 1, 1980 – January 13, 2010), better known by the stage name Jay Reatard, was an American musician from Memphis, Tennessee. Lindsey was signed to Matador Records. He released recordings as a solo artist and as a member of The Reatards and Lost Sounds.

Biography

1990s

Lindsey's recording career began at the age of 15, when a home-made demo tape he had sent in to Goner Records caught the ear of former-Oblivian and Goner Records’ owner, Eric Friedl. Lindsey's introduction to Friedl and his Oblivians bandmates had come that same year when the Oblivians had returned home to Memphis as an opening act for Rocket from the Crypt. Upon seeing the act live, Lindsey became enamored with their sloppy, lo-fi music and set forth creating his own brand of heavily distorted garage rock music. Friedl was impressed by Lindsey's demos and signed him to his label, later commenting, “I loved the racket so we did the record, and I've been a fan of everything he's done since. He's a pretty amazing kid.”

Lindsey named his first project the Reatards, which at the time included only himself as a member, and adopted an Oblivians-influenced surname, calling himself Jay Reatard. The Reatards’ first release on Goner was a 7” EP called ''Get Real Stupid'', which featured Lindsey as a solo performer alternating between playing guitar, singing, and beating on a bucket to provide a percussive rhythm. Around this time Greg Cartwright, a member of The Oblivians, briefly played drums for Lindsey. Cartwright played shows and recorded with Lindsey on his first (self-released) cassette, ''Fuck Elvis, Here's The Reatards'' (No-Fi Records) - which featured recording assistance from Jack Yarber, another Oblivian. - For Lindsey’s second vinyl release he recruited a backing band, hiring bassist Steve Albundy and drummer Elvis Wong to accompany him. The Reatards’ first LP as a trio was 1998’s ''Teenage Hate''. This was followed by a second LP, ''Grown Up Fucked Up'', and a number of singles. The Reatards' first European tour came in 1998, when Lindsey was just 18.

2000s

In 2001 Lindsey began recording music with Alicja Trout and Rich Crook as the Lost Sounds, a side project which would ultimately usurp the Reatards as Lindsey’s primary musical venture. With alternating male and female vocals, as well as prominently-employed synthesizers, the Lost Sounds were a departure from the guitar-driven garage rock of the Reatards, and had a sound more akin to the early punk rock of The Screamers, a synthesizer-heavy punk band that Lindsey had been exposed to by Elvis Wong shortly after the recording of the Reatards’ first LP. Lindsey once claimed that his time in the Lost Sounds “was and is more fun than anything else I have ever done.” Yet despite Lindsey’s enthusiasm for the band, the Lost Sounds bitterly broke up in 2005.

Lindsey was a prolific songwriter, often acting as a member and contributing compositions to two or more bands concurrently. One of Lindsey’s first side projects was the Bad Times, a one-off band which included Eric Friedl and King Louie Bankston. The band recorded an album’s worth of material after only one practice session in 1998, releasing a self-titled LP in 2001. After one live performance the band disbanded, the members returning to their respective solo commitments.

While Lindsey was still a member of both the Retards and the Lost Sounds he joined a side project called the Final Solutions. Lindsey’s association with the future members of the Final Solutions began while he was still a teenager. Fighting problems at home, Lindsey opted to take up residence with members of a local band called the Jackmonkeys. While he was rooming with the band he was conscripted to play drums for them at a battle of the bands which was being held at the school's cafeteria. With Lindsey on drums, the band, under the moniker "the High and Mightys," performed a set of Oblivians covers, earning instant hate in the competition (FS bassist Tommy Trouble's band, the Squirrels earned third place). After separating for a number of years the group reformed under the name the Final Solutions and began touring and releasing albums.

In 2004, Lindsey, together with his ex-girlfriend, Alix Brown of Atlanta rock band the Lids, formed Shattered Records, an independent record label that released mainly limited edition vinyl. Shattered Records released records for a number of lo-fi punk and rock bands, including: Kajun SS, Jack Oblivian, Tokyo Electron, Retards, Final Solutions, Terror Visions, Angry Angles, Carbonas, Rat Traps, Digital Leather and the Knaughty Knights.

In 2007 Lindsey put Shattered Records on hold while he promoted his solo records. Then in 2009 Lindsey revived the label with the "Shattered Record Club" and the announcement of his final solo album, ''Watch Me Fall''.

Out of this partnership came another musical endeavor for Lindsey, the Angry Angles. Together with Brown, and alternating between drummers Paul Artigues from Die Rotzz and Ryan Rousseau ('Elvis Wong') from Tokyo Electron, the band began touring the U.S. in the Fall of 2006. Before the band had even released its second single, Lindsey and Brown began a short European tour. The Angry Angles disbanded after releasing a number of vinyl singles.

By 2005 both the Reatards and the Lost Sounds had broken up, and Lindsey focused his attention on a handful of side projects, working with and releasing material as Terror Visions and Destruction Unit. Though after he began focusing on his solo career in 2006, Lindsey said he has no desire to reform his previous bands. "I'd just feel like I was going backwards if I worked on anything else," Lindsey said.

2006 saw the release of ''Blood Visions'' (In the Red), Lindsey's first solo album under the moniker Jay Reatard. After a lengthy tour supporting his solo album, in 2008 he signed a multi-album, exclusive deal with the New York-based indie label Matador Records. Reatard chose Matador because he felt they were "the only ones keeping any of the promises they'd made along the way." A number of major labels like Universal Records, Columbia Records, and Vice Records along with independent Fat Possum wanted to meet with him in the hopes of signing him. He released six limited, 7" singles throughout 2008 with Matador. Soon after the release of the first single and write-ups in ''NME'', ''Spin Magazine'' and ''Rolling Stone'', Lindsey began playing larger shows and various music festivals all over the world.

"My Shadow" was featured in MLB 2K8.

In October 2008 Reatard's ''Matador Singles '08'' LP compiled all six of the 2008 singles on one LP/CD. Lindsey again hit the road to support the album with a second, extensive 2008 tour. Lindsey's later records sound drastically different from his early punk records. He said writers often misinterpret his newer sound. "I just think it's noisy pop music," Lindsey said.

Lindsey's final album, ''Watch Me Fall'' (his first proper studio album with Matador), was released in August 2009. He described this collection of songs as more melodic and twee-inspired. In a 2009 interview, Lindsey said "these new batch of songs feature organ, some mandolins, a cello, a lot more back-ups and harmonies." He noted that he's "become a little bit more about the melodies... I think I stripped away a layer of the fuzz; I might have been challenging people before to find them and this time I might be making them a little bit more obvious."

While he claimed ''Watch Me Fall'' was more mellow than his previous works, Lindsey said his live show would remain energetic. "I just want it to be like an assault live, and softer on records," he said. In a August 2009 interview with Turn it Down Interviews, Lindsey said the album's lyrics are centered around his growing fear of death and the betrayal of close friends.

After the release of ''Watch Me Fall'', Lindsey contributed to a tribute album for New Zealand rock and roll musician Chris Knox, with whom he was to collaborate until Knox suffered a stroke in June 2009. All proceeds from the album will go towards Knox's recovery.

Lindsey's band (that consisted of members of another Memphis band, The Barbaras) quit playing with Lindsey around October 5, 2009, although specific details were not released. He finished the dates he had previously booked with replacement players, the bassist and drummer of the Danish band Cola Freaks, with whom he had previously toured.

Death

Lindsey was found dead in his home in the Cooper-Young neighborhood of Midtown, Memphis, around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 13, 2010. He was found in his bed by a roommate. Lindsey was 29 years old. A statement was posted on the website of Goner Records, that Reatard had died in his sleep. Friends of Lindsey stated that he had recently complained of flu-like symptoms. An autopsy was performed by the Shelby County medical examiner. Memphis's ''Commercial Appeal'' reported on February 3 that Lindsey had died of "cocaine toxicity, and that alcohol was a contributing factor in his death."

An investigation was opened by the Memphis police homicide bureau. MyFox Memphis reported that police had begun a homicide investigation and were actively looking for a possible suspect. The report was later removed from the TV station's website.

A memorial was held for Lindsey on Saturday, January 16 in Memphis at Memorial Park Funeral Home, attended by family and friends. Musician and friend Eric Friedl, founder of Goner Records, and bandmate Stephen Pope were those that eulogized Lindsey. One of Lindsey's trademark white Gibson Flying V guitars hung behind his coffin at the funeral home; he was buried with the guitar the next day. His grave is near that of Memphis soul musician Isaac Hayes.

Re-issues and posthumous releases of Lindsey's recordings are in the works, including those with The Reatards and The Lost Sounds. At the time of his death, Lindsey had been working on at least six songs for a new solo album for Matador Records.

A feature length documentary film entitled ''Better Than Something: Jay Reatard'' has been completed and will be released in 2011. The film, made by New York City filmmakers Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz, is an elaboration of their short film ''Waiting For Something''. The film predominantly features footage shot with Lindsey in April 2009, along with never before seen concert and home video footage, and cameos from many of Lindsey’s family members and colleagues. ''Better Than Something: Jay Reatard'' will premiere at the Nashville Film Festival in Nashville, Tennessee in April 2011.

Discography

With The Reatards

Albums

''Teenage Hate LP/CD'' (1998; Goner)

''Grown Up, Fucked Up LP/CD'' (1999; Empty)

''Live LP'' (2004; Goner)

''Bedroom Disasters LP/CD'' (2004; Empty)

''Not Fucked Enough LP/CD/CD-R'' (2005; Empty/Shattered)

45s/EPs

''Get Real Stupid 7"'' (1998; Goner)

''Get Out Of Our Way 7"'' (1999; Blahll!)

''Your So Lewd 7"'' (1999; Empty)

''Untitled 7"'' (2002; SSLD)

''Monster Child 7"'' (2004; Zaxxon)

''Plastic Surgery 7"'' (2005; Shattered)

''Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7"'' (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)

''I Lie Too 7"'' (2006; Zaxxon Virile Action)

With The Lost Sounds

Albums

''Memphis Is Dead LP/CD'' (2001; Big Neck!)

''Black-Wave 2xLP/CD'' (2001; Empty)

''Rats Brains & Microchips LP/CD'' (2002; Empty)

''Lost Sounds LP/CD'' (2004; In the Red)

45s/EPs

''Plastic Skin 7"'' (2000; Solid Sex Lovie Doll)

''1 + 1 = Nothing 7"'' (2001; Empty)

''Split 7" with The Vanishing'' (2003; Cochon)

''Ice Age 7"'' (2004; Holy Cobra Society)

''Future Touch 12"EP/CDEP'' (2004; In the Red)

Compilations

''Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 CD-R'' (2001; Contaminated)

''Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 LP'' (2002; Hate)

''Recent Transmissions: Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 CD'' (2002; Contaminated)

''Demos II CD'' (2003; On/On Switch)

''Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 3x7"'' (2004; Rockin' Bones)

With Bad Times

''Bad Times LP'' (2001; Goner/Therapeutic)

''Bad Times (Re-Release) CD'' (2002; Sympathy For The Record Industry)

With The Final Solutions

Albums

''Disco Eraser LP/CD'' (2003; Misprint)

''Songs by Solutions LP/CD'' (2007; Goner)

45s/EPs

''Eat Shit 7"'' (2002; Therapeutic)

''Eye Don't Like You 7"'' (2005; Shit Sandwich)

''My Love Is Disappointing 7"'' (2005; Shattered)

''Return To The Motherland 7" '' (2006; Frick & Frack)

''FS/DF 7" '' (2007; Jethrow)

With Nervous Patterns

Albums

''Nervous Patterns CD-R/CD/LP'' (2003/2004; Contaminated/Cochon)

45s/EPs

''You Can't Change 7"'' (2005; Zaxxon)

With Angry Angles

''Things Are Moving 7"'' (2005; Shattered)

''Crowds 7"'' (2005; P. Trash)

''Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7"'' (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)

''Split 7"'' (2006; Split with Digital Leather; Shattered)

''Apparent-Transparent 7"'' (2006; Plastic Idol)

As Terror Visions

''World of Shit LP/CD'' (2007; Fdh Records)

''Endless Tunnel EP''

''Blood in America 7"'' (Disordered)

With Destruction Unit

''Self-Destruction of a Man LP/CD'' (2004; Empty)

''Death to the Old Flesh LP/CD'' (2006; Empty)

As Jay Reatard

Albums

''Blood Visions LP/CD'' (2006; In the Red)

''Watch Me Fall LP/CD'' (2009; Matador)

45s/EPs

''Hammer I Miss You 7"'' (2006; Goner)

''Night of Broken Glass 12"'' (2007; In the Red)

''Split with the Boston Chinks 7"'' (2007; P. Trash)

''In the Dark 7"/6"'' (2007; Squoodge)

''I Know a Place 7"'' (2007; Goner)

''Blood Demo 7"'' (2008; Stained Circles)

''See/Saw 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''Painted Shut 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''Always Wanting More 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''Fluorescent Grey 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''Trapped Here 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''No Time 7"'' (2008; Matador)

''Hang Them All 7"'' (2009; Split with Sonic Youth; Matador)

''Telephone Network Voltage 7"'' (2009; Split with Thee Oh Sees; Shattered)

''It Ain't Gonna Save Me 7"'' (2009; Matador)

Compilations

''Singles 06-07 LP/CD/DVD'' (2008; In the Red)

''Matador Singles '08'' LP/CD (2008; Matador)

''Greatest Messes'' [Digital Release] (2009; Shattered)

Compilation appearances

''We Heart The Blowtops – Tribute 7"'' [Track: ''Venom Victims Wine''] (2006; Big Neck)

References

External links

Jay Retard Official Site

Matador Records

In the Red Records

Tupica, Rich. August 2009 Turn it Down Jay Retard Interview"turnit-down.blogspot.com". August 9, 2009. Accessed January 26, 2010.

Tupica, Rich. October 2008 Turn it Down Jay Retard Interview "turnit-down.blogspot.com". October 15, 2007. Accessed October 21, 2008.

Tupica, Rich. October 2007 Turn it Down Jay Retard Interview "turnit-down.blogspot.com". October 15, 2007. Accessed October 20, 2007.

Christmass, Shane Jesse. An Interview with Eric Oblivian "www.furious.com," August 2000. Accessed May 18, 2007.

Kroneiss, Rich. Grown Up, Fucked Up: An interview with Jay Reatard "www.terminal-boredom.com". Accessed June 23, 2007.

Pythagoras. Angry Angles Bleed Positive Negativity "www.victimoftime.com". June 21, 2006. Accessed June 28, 2007.

Live Photos of Jay performing with TV Smith of the Adverts

Review of 'Watch Me Fall' at Culturedeluxe

Ankeny, Jason. [ The Retards] "www.allmusic.com". Accessed June 23, 2007.

Category:1980 births Category:2010 deaths Category:American indie rock musicians Category:American male singers Category:American punk rock musicians Category:Alcohol-related deaths in Tennessee Category:Cocaine-related deaths in the United States Category:Garage punk Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:People from Memphis, Tennessee Category:Arts & Crafts (record label) artists

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