Awful news out of Memphis this Easter morning that Omar Higgins, the bassist/lead singer of the Memphis punk rock band Negro Terror, died early this morning. He had had a stroke this month. He was only 37 years old. He was also a war veteran, having done two deployments in Iraq. Here’s the obit in the Commercial Appeal.
Just this past January, there was a nice meaty article about the band, plus an interview with the band members, in The Nashville Scene.
Negro Terror, a documentary about the band, directed by John Rash, was in competition at last year’s Indie Memphis, where I was a juror in the Hometowners category (meaning: made by and about locals). While we chose Brett Hanover’s Rukus as the best Hometowner Feature, Negro Terror won the special “Soul of Southern Film Award,” a well-deserved honor. I snapped this pic of director Rash, and Negro Terror guitarist Rico on awards night.
You can find out more about upcoming screenings (or even request a screening) at the Southern Documentary Project.
Here’s a trailer for this very excellent documentary. It’s no surprise that Memphis is a rich environment for music. But here’s a fresh look, a very NOW look, at guys who are the essence of punk rock, who cross genres and boundaries, opening up a wider space for expression. That’s what Omar Higgins was all about. He was an amazing advocate for the music he loved. (Negro Terror was only one of his bands. This is a catastrophic loss.)
Here’s Negro Terror in action, in the music video for their song “Voice of Memphis,” filmed entirely at the Altown Skate Park in Memphis.
My heart goes out to Higgins’ family, his friends, his band mates, and the Memphis music community.
