Texas Musician Roky Erickson dies

NEW YORK (AP) – Frontman Roky Erickson of the 13th Floor Elevators has died. His brother, Mikel, announced his death on Friday, and Erickson’s agent, Dave Kaplan, confirmed it.

Details on his death were not given. Erickson was 71. The 13th Floor Elevators had an underground hit in 1966 with “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” While the band never had any big hits, their fans included ZZ Top, T-Bone Burnett, R.E.M. and Ghost.

The 13th Floor Elevators fell apart in the late 1960s due to instability and drug arrests.

Erickson spent time in an institution because he pleaded insanity to a marijuana possession charge. Erickson continued to make music and publish poetry.

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top says in statement, “It’s almost unfathomable to contemplate a world without Roky Erickson” and adds that Erickson “created his own musical galaxy.”