Butthole Surfers Drummer Teresa Taylor Dies at 60

Written by Peter Burditt

Teresa Taylor, member of the notorious Texas psychedelic punk-rock band The Butthole Surfers, died on Monday, June 10, after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer. She was 60.

The band shared a statement on their social media accounts in light of her death. “Teresa Taylor passed away peacefully this weekend after a long battle with lung disease,” the statement read.

The news was also confirmed by Taylor’s partner, Cheryl Curtice. According to Billboard, Curtice shared the death of Taylor via Facebook. “Teresa passed away clean and sober, peacefully in her sleep, this weekend. She was so brave, even in the face of her horrible disease.” Curtice added that there “will [be] a memorial service sometime in the future.”

According to Stereogum, the late drummer announced in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with “end stage lung disease” on Facebook. Last fall, she declared that her death was “imminent.”

Taylor, also known as Teresa Nervosa, was born in Arlington, Texas, in 1962 and joined the Butthole Surfers in 1983 after the release of their debut self-titled EP. However, Taylor’s relationship with the band goes far back, as Taylor knew the band’s founding member and fellow drummer, King Coffey, by playing with him in high school marching bands.

Taylor’s run with the Butthole Surfers went all the way into 1989 (with a brief hiatus in 85-86), and she played on the bands’ successful albums: Psychic, Powerless, Hairway To Steven, Another Man’s Sac, Locust Abortion Technician, and Rembrandt Pussyhorse. Shortly after the band’s album Double Live, Taylor left the group due to health complications regarding an aneurysm she had in prior years and later received brain surgery in 1993. Though, 20 years later, Taylor rejoined the band for their 2009 tour. 

In addition to Taylor’s musical track record, another staple of her career is her appearance on the cover and role as “Pap Smear Pusher” in Richard Linklater’s 1990s film Slacker, where her character tries to sell a jar of Madonna’s pap smear, People reports.  

Taylor will be remembered for her loud and proud drumming style alongside dueting drummer King Coffey. Her legacy and likeness will continue for years as the late drummer’s accolades reach far and wide throughout pop culture.