We just got word that on Wednesday August 7th, filmmaker, musician, writer and former Broken Pencil film section editor, Zev Asher, passed away in Montreal. He was 50 years old.
Asher was the lead singer of one of the best noise rock bands in the country, Nimrod, while also composing noise soundscapes under the name Roughage. He was also the director of numerous experimental documentary films including What About Me on legendary noise progenitors, the Nihilist Spasm Band.
In addition to his work in film and music, Asher pushed forward the work of other experimental filmmakers, artists and musicians through his writing. He was film editor of Broken Pencil from 2004-2005 and in issue 28 he wrote this article about films that best represent his experience of Montreal.
There are loving remembrances of Asher online, including one from Scratch Record’s Keith Perry, and we will be running a more in-depth article on his legacy in the fall issue.
Asher’s family are encouraging donations in his honour be made to The William Brock Fund for Research and Education on Blood Cancers, care of the Université du Montreal.