Farry was also a tour manager with, among others, Elliott Smith. Now she died of lung disease.
Jackie Farry is dead. She died on January 12, 2025 at the age of 58. The cause of death was given as lung disease. She had also been struggling with cancer for more than 20 years, according to the official report from her long-time friend, manager and producer Janet Billig Rich.
Farry worked in a variety of areas in the music world, including later working as a nanny for Kurt Cobain’s daughter Frances Bean.
She shaped the New York music scene of the 90s
Jaqueline Beth Farry’s career, as her full name was, began in the 1980s when she worked as a receptionist at Homestead Records – a label that featured indie artists such as Babe the Blue Ox, The Meatmen and Tsunami made names. At the end of the 80s, Farry first moved to Atlantic Records and then to Epic Records in the early 90s, where she worked in radio promotion and worked primarily with metal and hard rock bands. Farry quickly became a familiar figure in the New York music scene of the 90s, where everyone knew her and vice versa.
During Nirvana’s heyday, Farry worked closely with the band and looked after Cobain and Courtney Love’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, until Kurt Cobain’s death in 1994. She also briefly hosted the MTV show “Superock”, which was intended as a successor to “Headbangers Ball” in 1995, but did not last long.
In the late 1990s, Jackie Farry also took on the role of tour manager for several well-known artists and bands – including Elliott Smith, The Lemonheads, Stereolab, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Quasi.
“She captivated people with her infectious energy”
Janet Billig Rich paid tribute to The Hollywood Reporter, saying of Farry that she carried with her “an incredible treasure trove of memories and songs from those formative years.” He continued: “Jackie’s love of music was matched only by her sharp intellect, humor and magnetic personality. She was a beacon of light for friends and strangers alike, captivating people with her infectious energy.”
Cheap Rich continued: “Jackie Farry’s legacy is one of love, laughter and an indomitable spirit. We will miss her greatly – her unforgettable stories, humor and influence on all who knew her will live on forever.”