Multi-instrumentalist Joel Burrows, most famous for his work done with The Minders and The Thermals passed away yesterday. Burrows drummed on The Minders’ 2003 and 2006 releases The Future’s Always Perfect and It’s a Bright Guilty World and he played guitar and toured with The Thermals circa 2007. The official cause of death is still unknown.
Tragically, Burrows was hit by a van while crossing the street in 2011 and sustained a serious head injury. After months in an Intensive Care Unit he made some strides and was placed in an assisted living facility for those persons who have sustained head trauma. His loving Portland music scene, spearheaded by Sleater-Kinney/Wild Flag’s Janet Weiss, stepped in and created a benefit concert for him, “Songs for Joel” in February of this year for a piece of wheelchair equipment which would not have been covered otherwise by his health insurance. The concert, which was a success, is a testament to the close family of artists that Joel had.
A longtime fan of both bands, I heard about Joel’s loss today; Tuesday, the same day that the East Coast mourned the loss of loved ones, destroyed homes or electrical power lines at the hands of Hurricane Sandy. In the Pacific Northwest, particularly Portland, fans and friends offered their condolences to Joel’s family. At the same time, the Self-Hating Hipster (Evan) offers his sincerest condolences to the Burrows family and Joel’s friends.
the self-hating hipster 
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