Susie Tennant, who was an integral part of Seattle’s music scene and publicist for Nirvana, passed away on Friday at the age of 61. Tennant suffered a rare form of early-onset dementia named frontotemporal degeneration. Her husband, Christopher Swenson, said that she passed away surrounded by her loved ones. Her passing was announced by the Susie Tennant Fan Club on Facebook. Tennant was a significant figure in Seattle’s music scene; she worked at Geffen Records’ alternative rock imprint DGC Records and also worked at Experience Music Project, Sub Pop, Tower Records, BMG, University Book Store, M3 Marketing, and Town Hall.
Tennant’s work with DGC Records led to her working with some of the biggest acts in the Seattle music scene such as Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Weezer, and Beck. Her impact on Seattle’s music scene was immense, and many people have expressed their admiration and respect for her work. Local music journalist Charles R. Cross wrote a tribute to Tennant where he highlighted how important she was to Seattle’s music scene and shared quotable insights from individuals that were involved with Tennant.
Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, who played in Nirvana, expressed their grief at her death and said that Susie was deeply loved and will be missed in an email to Charles R. Cross. Tennant’s passing has led to an outpouring of love from her friends and fans. Many noted Seattle musicians expressed admiration and condolences for Tennant, including Thurston Moore and Kim Warnick.
Tennant’s final years were spent surrounded by her family, children, and friends, and she continued to make friends with people in healthcare settings. Novoselic and other Seattle musicians organized a fundraising concert to cover Tennant’s medical expenses when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and bands such as Pearl Jam and Sub Pop, and Nirvana fans contributed to the cause. Details of a memorial service for Tennant will soon be announced on the Susie Tennant Fan Club page.
In honor of Susie Tennant’s legacy, her family requested that donations be made in her name to organizations such as Seattle Musicians Access to Sustainable Healthcare, Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital, MusiCares, and the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
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