Cold War Kids Frontman Nathan Willett Pays Tribute to J.D. Salinger


It's really no surprise that Cold War Kids frontman Nathan Willett is a J.D. Salinger fan–just take a listen to “Sermon vs. Gospel”: “Lord, have mercy on me/I believe the words can change the heart.”

LA Record–which is edited by former Weekly-er Chris Ziegler–asked Willett for his reaction to the death of Salinger, who passed away on Jan. 27 of natural causes:

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Salinger epitomized our American fascination with the celebrated
artist gone recluse. I imagine his name will become a metaphor for the
recluse in the future. No one deliberately kept fame at a greater
distance, save an occasional flirtation with the media, and every new
generation of writers wanted him back because of it. But based on his
books and the little there is to know about his personal life, I can
safely assume that all the way to his death, he was a man who cared
most about the style of his soul and the integrity of his art. These
are no longer traits that we value in artists. Today, spirituality and
integrity are the characteristics of monks and irrelevant artists.”

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