Drumming powerhouse Teresa Taylor, known widely as Teresa Nervosa from her time with the psychedelic rock revolutionaries Butthole Surfers, has left the stage for the final time. Taylor, who lent her signature percussive energies to the Surfers throughout the 80s, passed away over the weekend at the age of 60 from lung disease.
Taylor’s partner, Cheryl Curtice, announced her passing on Facebook.
“Dear friends and loved ones of Teresa Taylor. I want to let you know the sad news. Teresa passed away clean and sober, peacefully in her sleep, this weekend,” Curtice wrote. “She was so brave, even in the face of her horrible disease. We were all fortunate to have her beautiful, strong spirit in our lives. She will be forever missed. We will have a memorial service sometime in the future. I love you, beloved Teresa.”
Born in 1962 in Arlington, Texas, Teresa Taylor’s musical journey began during her high school days, where she discovered her affinity for the drums. Sharing the rhythm section in various marching bands in Austin and Fort Worth, she forged an enduring alliance with King Coffey, her future comrade in the Butthole Surfers.
Butthole Surfers got their start in the vibrant musical milieu of 1981’s San Antonio, Texas, nurtured by the creative brilliance of vocalist Gibby Haynes and guitarist Paul Leary. Two years later, in 1983, the band’s core composition took its final shape with the addition of drummer King Coffey, thereby securing the foundational line-up, resulting in their self-titled debut EP. A serendipitous encounter brought Taylor to the Butthole Surfers; she offered the band members a warehouse space she was renting, which they used for rehearsals. Entering this dynamic collective as the second drummer, Teresa Taylor stamped her unique rhythmic signature on the band’s canvas, intensifying their musical experimentation and boundary-pushing drive. Teamed once again with her old high school marching band accomplice, she fostered a rhythmic dialogue that redefined and enriched the band’s distinctive musical identity.
Teresa Nervosa’s impactful drumming reverberated through the Butthole Surfers’ influential discography, a series of game-changing albums that are presently being resurrected for a new audience by Matador Records.
Throughout the vibrant and tumultuous decade of the ’80s, Taylor provided a pulsating heartbeat to the band’s music, driving their groundbreaking performances. Her drumming prowess can be heard on numerous influential records, including “Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac,” “Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis,” “Rembrandt Pussyhorse,” “Locust Abortion Technician,” and “Hairway to Steven,” among others.
Taylor’s rhythmic partnership with the band was briefly disrupted in 1985-1986, but she returned to fuel the Surfers’ sound once again. Unfortunately, in 1989, she had to part ways with the band under the weight of health complications.
Following her departure from the Butthole Surfers, Taylor faced a daunting crisis involving an aneurysm and subsequent brain surgery. Despite these challenges, her indomitable spirit has been etched into the annals of music history.
Adding another feather to her cap, Taylor graced the silver screen in Richard Linklater’s influential 1991 film, “Slacker.” In an unforgettable role, she portrayed a hipster woman peddling a pap smear purportedly from pop icon Madonna. Her character’s undeniable charisma not only caught the audience’s attention but also earned her a spot on the movie’s poster, further underlining the expansive range of Taylor’s talent.
The news of Teresa Nervosa’s death was confirmed by the Butthole Surfers via their social media channels. They honored their companion stating, “She passed away peacefully this weekend after a long and grueling struggle with lung disease. Her spirit and legacy will echo in our hearts indefinitely. Rest in Power, dear friend.”
Taylor’s diagnosis had been known for some time. In November 2021, she announced on social media that she had “end-stage lung disease,” with one to five years’ life expectancy.
“I don’t have cancer or any harsh treatments,” she said. “I know I smoked like a chimney and this is to be expected. My spirits are up. I broke my arm when I fell and wish I had something for pain, but otherwise I’m pretty comfortable.” She wrote an update a year later, acknowledging her “imminent death,” but kept up with her former bandmates. “It’s all been a blast,” she said.
Her final social media update, shared a week ago, hinted at her challenging health journey and highlighted the support from her partner Cheryl Curtice. Her post read, “I’m leaving for a short stint at a care home, so Cheryl can have a week of caretaker respite. I hope everybody has a good week.” This poignant farewell resonates with the strength and courage Taylor embodied even in the face of adversity, a testament to her enduring spirit.
Rest in power, Teresa. You’ll be remembered fondly.
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