Dexter Romweber obit

Dexter Romweber 1966-2024

 

He was not on the list.

The Flat Duo Jets’ Dexter Romweber Has Died

​​With so many of the big time legends leaving us these days there is an overwhelming feeling of “see your heroes while you can, because it may be your last chance.” Both Wayne Kramer and Damo Suzuki passed last week. Tina left us last year. Bowie departed sooner than we expected. Joni, Keef, Macca are still here, but anything can happen.

So go to the show.

It won’t be like being there in the golden era, but you won’t regret it. I finally caught the Stones in 2022 and it was jaw-dropping good, even though Charlie was gone.

Also consider getting out to see the people who changed the landscape who, perhaps, weren’t as famous. Many of them have been slogging it out in the trenches, really living it, only without the benefit of being in the care of the best doctors and personal trainers.

This is on my mind right now, because 30 minutes ago I found out we lost Dexter Romweber.

If you dig back into your memory you may recall seeing his band, The Flat Duo Jets, when the industry was trying to find a place for them in the alt rock world. It’s hard to steal the show in a film like Athens, GA: Inside Out, when you’re sharing screen time with Pylon and R.E.M., but they did exactly that. Some light, late night plays on MTV, and appearance on Letterman, plus some other high profile appearances proved the band was fierce, even when only performing as a two piece.

This made a huge impression on a young Jack White.

The White Stripes had been hard at work for years, but when their breakthrough hit, “Fell In Love With A Girl” was suddenly everywhere, all the time, the world became aware of their aesthetic:

50’s guitars like Airlines, Danelectros, and Silvertones, caterwauling vocals, efficient “bap-bap…bap” drum beats, and no bullshit.

Hell, they didn’t even have a bass player (I’ll admit that’s always complicated for me).

But what struck me the most, when I saw the live performance of the song, is how remarkably similar this whole thing was to The Flat Duo Jets’ performance of “Crazy Hazy Kisses” from the Inside Out film.

This couldn’t be a coincidence… could it?

As their star continued to rise I’ll admit I even got a little salty about it. Did they basically lift Dexter’s image and ride it to stardom, while he was back to kicking around local bars, enjoying legendary status but no payday?

It’s a familiar enough story.

It Might Get Some Much-Deserved Attention

Jack White became so associated with six string worship, so fast, he was tapped to be one of the three subjects of that paean to the guitar, It Might Get Loud, along with Jimmy Page and The Edge. Strangely, it was the latter who felt like the outlier, not new kid Jack. Throughout the film they each shared their origin stories. White had grown up a poor kid, in Detroit, with rock, punk, and DIY culture keeping him inspired.

Romweber was a big part of his story:

“The Flat Duo Jets… a two piece band from North Carolina. I went to see them and was blown away. They were headed in what seemed like a backwards direction. But then I had to reassess what ‘backwards’ meant in my mind. That opened up a whole new inspiration for me.” As the three played influential records for each other, White cued up Dex’s music to play it for Jimmy Page.

Nobody is sure who first said “good artists borrow, great artists steal,” but it’s certainly been the case over the years. In fact, it’s an essential part of art history’s arc. However, many of the greats have been pretty cagey about the whole thing, so it was great to hear White sing Romweber’s praises so openly on the big screen, and on many other occasions. It felt a lot like David Bowie’s Vince Taylor moment in a lot of ways. White would go on to release Romweber’s music on his respected Third Man label. Word has it White would stop through the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area from time to time for a visit. Locals could have easily been annoyed, incorrectly thinking he’d lifted his schtick from Romweber, while completely ignoring White’s many other influences, and relentless hard work, but instead we mostly see him as a guy who has looked for ways to celebrate Dex, and even get him paid.

In his short life, Dex left an indelible mark on a town that has cranked out artists as diverse James Taylor, Libba Cotten, Floyd Council, Loudon Wainwright III, Chris Stamey, Mojo Nixon, and bands like Polvo, Archers of Loaf, Superchunk, and so many others. Plenty of people will tell you he brought the punk energy to what had been mostly a folk rock town.

In the late 80s, a lot of America was learning about what was happening in the provinces through IRS Records’ weekly The Cutting Edge.

The show’s host, Peter Zaremba, of Fleshtones fame, dropped by Carrboro to do a feature on The Flat Duo Jets. At the time Dex was living in a shed behind his family’s home he called “The Mausoleum” – a spider web streaked gothic lair, appointed with pictures on Gene Vincent and candle stubs.

Usually the eclectics are the black sheep of the family, but the entire Romweber clan were proper oddballs and artists. Their mother, a pianist, encouraged it.

Notably, Dex’s sister, Sara, played in the legendary jangle pop band Let’s Active, as well as with her brother. First, as children, then again later in life. Sara died of brain cancer five years ago, and their brother Joe, also a musician, is no longer with us. All of them were in their 50s.

Admittedly a lot of North Carolinians had their “yeah, but” moment when he was featured as an Athens GA artist in Inside Out, but the fact is the two towns have been intrinsically linked for so long of course he was an honorary, and Athens was definitely riding high at the time. As interest in The Flat Duo Jets increased, they went from being a the two piece of Dexter and Chris “Crow” Smith, to adding former bandmate Tony Mayer on bass. Records were released, TV appearances were booked, and the band brought down the house anywhere they played – particularly challenging when you are supporting The Cramps, and yet they did.

The All Too Familiar “Critics’ Darlings” Thing

Something failed to “stick,” though, and they remained a cult band. Over the years members of X, Cat Power, Neko Case, and other notable musicians have gushed about how meaningful the shows were, and how the songs were so well-crafted. Romweber was capable of belting it out like Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, but equally at home playing tender ballads, crooning as beautifully as his heroes. Fans were caught off-guard when Dexter released Piano, an album of stunning, Chopin-style pieces. He was so associated with his wild, pompadour-topped, guitar slinger persona people forgot he was also an accomplished pianist and artist.

The thing about Dexter is he couldn’t be anyone but Dexter. His rocker persona wasn’t an act, and it didn’t come with the pretentiousness. He was actually really pleasant to be around. It seems contradictory to say someone who so proudly wore their influences on their sleeve could be a true original, but he was. The same can be said for someone like Patti Smith, but unlike Smith, Romweber seemingly lacked the quality that built the cult following.

In recent years he’d stopped touring for the most part, but would still play shows in town. Dex’s friend, Mike Benson, a local photographer who also owns a bar called Lapin Bleu, would take to social media anytime Dex would come in to play songs. He’d set up his guitar and a 10 watt amp by the piano, then bang out songs on both. “Get over here now! Dex is playing until at least 7!”

Dexter Romweber 1966-2024

Over the years I’d seen Romweber play solo, and with his band The New Romans.

I’m so happy I got to experience The Flat Duo Jets, and the sets he did with his sister Sara on drums, returning to the White Stripes-inspiring two-piece configuration.

It’s been years, though, since I saw him play, and I was enthusiastic about catching another performance soon.

I looked forward to hopping on my bike some spring day, to make the short ride over to a bar to enjoy an afternoon beer in the presence of a luminary.

That won’t happen, and it will forever be a regret.