New Wave Icon Tommy Keene Dies

New Wave iconic artist Tommy Keene, 59, died Nov. 21. 

Tommy Keene
– Tommy Keene

Keene, hailing from Washington D.C., originally gained fame for his indie music with a cult following through his first band, The Razz.

His 1984 EP Places That Are Gone was not only a commercial success but garnered a four-star review from Rolling Stone 

Keene released his ninth album in 2011and has worked with Bob Pollard from Guided By Voices, T-Bone Burnett, and Don Dixon.

He most recently opened for Matthew Sweet, performing at Brighton Music Hall in Boston Sept. 16.

Keene was a very recognized artist among the audiophiles and indie reviewers of the world, yet held a blue-collar touring history throughout, with numbers in the mere hundreds.