Clayton Counts
| Clayton Counts | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Born | August 19, 1973 |
| Origin | Denver, Colorado |
| Died | November 22, 2016 |
| Genres | Drone, experimental, sound art, noise, dark ambient, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, post-rock, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, DJ, writer |
| Instruments | Guitar, bass guitar, synthesizers, piano, computer |
| Years active | 2006–present |
| Associated acts | Bull of Heaven, The Beachles |
| Website |
www |
Clayton Counts (born Jimmie Clayton Wittliff) was an American musician and composer, a former DJ, and one half of the experimental band Bull of Heaven.
Counts was born with detached retinas in both his eyes. A series of surgeries at a young age complicated this, leaving him blind in his right eye, and weakened in his left. Counts was initially located in Austin, Texas.
In the 1990s, Counts became notorious with his prank phone calls to the Austin Community Access Center, in particular Alex Jones's show. An incident occurred - though with varying claims from both sides - in which Counts was involved in the assault of Jones in a parking lot with three other individuals. As a follow-up, it was claimed that Jones used FBI connections to label Counts a terrorist and claimed he possessed child pornography. Federal agents raided the FringeWare Review bookstore, headquarters of an early cyberculture magazine that Counts wrote articles for. The case was later dropped.
In 2000, Counts relocated to Chicago. Whilst there, he met Neil Keener, who would later join Counts in the band Bull of Heaven.
In the 2000s, Counts worked as a DJ to afford a living. He worked at various clubs, including Lava, Whiskey Sky, Reserve, Darkroom, the Allstate Arena, as well as performing at private functions. In July 2005, Counts was again involved in an incident - this time the alleged battery of a bouncer at the Lava club. Much like the Alex Jones incident in 2000, there are two sides to this story; Counts claims that he was told the set he was playing was "too loud" by club owner Brian Sarpalius (aka Phantom 45), who then subsequently interfered with and eventually unplugged Counts' equipment prior to having him removed by a bouncer. Sarpalius claims that it was actually Counts who caused a scene, and damaged the club's equipment. Counts allegedly discharged a can of mace at the bouncer's feet as a warning shot, though the stories of this differ from both sides. Later in the night, Counts was arrested, and his equipment was lost for several days whilst it was in possession of another club-goer the night of the incident. Counts had been DJing at the Lava club for four years prior to Sarpalius becoming the new owner, and this incident ending his shows there. The charges against Counts were dropped after a lengthy court case.
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