Pavement is having a moment. The band is the subject of a new biopic/concert film in which the real band members are swapped out with actors playing their younger selves. It's irreverent, clever, and perfectly on brand for the indie slacker icons.
Given this renewed interest in Pavement, we thought now would be the perfect time to delve into one of the band's unsung members: Gary Young. The drummer spent five years in Pavement, during which time they went from no-names to acclaimed Gen-X torchbearers. Young departed soon after, though, and we're here to unpack why.
Gary Young was a founding member of Pavement in 1989. He was blown away by lead singer and songwriter Stephen Malkmus upon hearing his lyrics, infamously remarking: "This Malkmus idiot is a complete songwriting genius." Young was replaced by Jason Turner for a brief spell, but Malkmus did not vibe with the newbie, so Young was brought back into the mix.
Gary Young was fired in 1993
Young developed a reputation as an eccentric during the band's early years. He reportedly greeted fans at the door before every concert, and even handed out vegetables from time to time. Sadly, the working dynamic between Young and the rest of the band soured by 1993. He was fired and replaced with drummer Steve West.
The main reason given at the time was creative differences, but Young's alcoholism, coupled with his dislike for Pavement's record label, were the two biggest culprits behind the scenes. Scott Kannberg, the band's guitarist, told Stocktonia that the drummer was simply too erratic to have stuck around for a long time.
"We could have never gone on with him unfortunately," Kannberg posited. "I think he would have died back then if he would have stayed in the band." That said, the guitarist reserved praise for Young as a musical talent.
Young briefly reunited with the band in 2010
Gary Young passed on today
— Stephen malkmus (@dronecoma) August 18, 2023
.. . Gary’s pavement drums were “one take and hit record”…. Nailed it so well
rip
"He had a knack of getting our songs," Kannberg noted. "He kind of came from the prog Yes thing and Zappa. I think he tried to kind of throw that in there a bit. So with our kind of new-wavy punkish songs, it added this tension to them." Young did not harbor ill will toward the band, and even reunited to play with them for a pair of shows in 2010.
Sadly, Gary Young died on August 17, 2023 at age 70. Malkmus, the songwriter he praised so many years prior, issued a sweet statement on the drummer's death via social media. "Gary Young passed on today," he wrote. "Gary’s pavement drums were 'one take and hit record.' Nailed it so well. rip."