Chesnutt's

"After he passed away, there was some sort of a tribute or a benefit that happened in Athens Chesnutt's hometown and we all went down there, and it really left a strange taste in my mouth," he says.

Kurt Wagner on Lambchop, Nashville – and being seen as a redneck 2012

He's worried he'll be accused of exploiting Chesnutt's memory.

Kurt Wagner on Lambchop, Nashville – and being seen as a redneck 2012

He's perhaps more worried by the unjustified fear, lurking at the back of his mind, that he actually is exploiting Chesnutt's memory.

Kurt Wagner on Lambchop, Nashville – and being seen as a redneck 2012

The pair would talk through Chesnutt's despair, arguing about someone's right or otherwise to do whatever they wanted with their life, even if that meant taking it.

Kurt Wagner on Lambchop, Nashville – and being seen as a redneck 2012

It was all of these things, and then the news of Vic Chesnutt's suicide.

Vic Chesnutt (1964-2009), RIP greygirlbeast 2009

As well as Chesnutt's death, he had his own scare – his "cancer thing" he calls it – when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few years back.

Kurt Wagner on Lambchop, Nashville – and being seen as a redneck 2012

Today, we remember Chesnutt by listening back to excerpts of his interview and by talking to three of his close friends: Michael Stipe of REM; Guy Picciotto of Fugazi, who played on a couple of Chesnutt's albums; and Jem Cohen, who worked with Chesnutt on many film and music projects.

In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt 2010

Guy described this as maybe the most perfect of Chesnutt's nostalgic songs about growing up in Pike County, Georgia.

In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt 2010

Guitarist Guy Picciotto, cofounder of the band Fugazi, played on Chesnutt's album "North Star Deserter" and on his final album "At the Cut."

In Memoriam: Sweet, Sad Rocker Vic Chesnutt 2010

Still, it's hard to hear Chesnutt's goofy Grim Augury or writer-producer Linkous stepping into the vocal booth for the sublime Daddy's Gone without mourning the loss of two gigantic talents.

Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse: Present … Dark Night of the Soul 2010