David Berman (musician)

David Cloud Berman (born David Craig Berman; January 4, 1967 – August 7, 2019) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and poet who founded – and was the only constant member of – the indie rock band Silver Jews with Pavement's Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich.

Initially lo-fi and increasingly country-inspired, Berman helped develop the sound of the band and provided the lyrical material, whose themes overlapped with his poetry, of which he published one volume; his lyrics concerned many subjects, including his depression, a matter which culminated in Berman attempting suicide in 2003. Afterward, he underwent rehabilitation, engaged with Judaism and toured for the first time, but soon dissolved the band and largely withdrew from public life.

In his reclusion, further turmoil arose which prompted a return to music; he adopted a new stage name and released an eponymous album in July 2019, a month before he died by suicide. Purple Mountains was acclaimed by his dedicated following. He is regarded as a significant and influential indie rock cult figure.