ATLANTIS BLACK
1976 - 2008
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend,
Atlantis Black, who committed suicide on June 24, 2008. This page will
now serve as a place to honor her memory and celebrate her music.
Atlantis Black was born and raised in Pennsylvania. After living
briefly in New Orleans and Los Angeles, she moved to New York City in
2000. She started out playing solo acoustic sets at small clubs around
the city, and was asked to perform at several festivals, including
CMJ's 2001 Music Marathon. She organized a backing band, which slowly
evolved into a 6-piece, featuring drummer Joe Rizzo and members of The
Teenage Prayers. They began playing regularly at local venues such as
The Mercury Lounge, The Knitting Factory, Sin-e, Arlene Grocery,
CBGB's, and The Continental.
In 2002, Atlantis recorded her debut album, In My Bed, which received
favorable press and made the Top 30 charts for many college stations,
including Stanford University's KZSU, University of Pennsylvania's
WQHS, and University of California at San Diego's KSDT. The following
year, she began work on what was to be her second album, titled More
Than Opium. Sadly, the record was never completed, but rough mixes can
be heard from the music player on this page.
Atlantis relocated to San Francisco in 2005. She performed at local
venues such as Bourbon Street and Cafe Du Nord, where she opened for
Johnette Napolitano. She started a side project, Drugstore Cowgirl,
which debuted in 2007 at The Hotel Utah Saloon. In early 2008,
Atlantis moved to San Diego, CA.
She died in Tijuana, Mexico. Her fans meant the world to her.
