music.wikisort.org - Musician

Sims Ellison (March 10, 1967 – June 6, 1995) was an American guitarist, who played for Pariah. In 1995, Ellison took his own life due to depression about the music industry. Today there is a charity for local Austin musicians who suffer from mental health and suicidal issues called the Sims Foundation.

Sims Ellison
Birth name	Sims Edgar Ellison
Born	(1967-03-10)March 10, 1967 San Antonio, Texas, United States
Died	June 6, 1995(1995-06-06) (aged 28) Austin, Texas, United States
Genres	Alternative, heavy metal, hard rock
Occupation(s)	Musician, guiatirst
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1980's–1995
Website

Biography

Ellison was born into a San Antonio musical family. He and his brother Kyle formed a heavy metal band in high school called Pariah. After a few albums released with different record labels they signed with Geffen Records in 1991 recording their notable album To Mock A Killingbird that was released in 1993. In May 1995 Geffen Records dumped the band after which Ellison went into a major depression.

Death

On June 6, 1995 Ellison died after he shot himself with a gun in his Austin apartment. He was 28 years old.[1]

SIMS Foundation

The SIMS Foundation was founded by former Pariah manager Wayne Nagle shortly after Sims`death, in honor of him. This charity helps local Austin musicians who have mental health issues by supporting them and their families.[2]

In October 2021, the SIMS Foundation launched a campaign to treat musicians' mental health. The idea first arose in the immediate aftermath of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic when, in late 2020, Ellison's father launched The Founders Challenge to address mental health in the musical stage.[3]

Personal life

Ellison dated actress Renée Zellweger for a few years.^{[citation needed]}

Discography

Studio albums

• 1989 - Rattle Your Skull (Not On Label)
• 1992 - Make Believe (Sick Kids Productions)
• 1993 - To Mock A Killingbird (Geffen Records)

Tribute albums

• 2015 - It`s All Over Now Baby Blue (SIMS Foundation)

References

External links

• Sims Foundation

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