https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2005-08-26/286649/
The first red flag went up when Turner failed to deliver his artwork to Pedazo Chunk, and Marc Savlov, who wrote last week's Chronicle cover story on him, went to his house Thursday afternoon and found it quiet and dark. Savlov alerted police, who found the body inside (see "True Today").
While the exact time of death remains unknown, the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office's preliminary report puts the cause of death as gastrointestinal hemorrhaging resulting from cirrhosis of the liver. He was known to have hepatitis C and diabetes, but his friends and family contend Turner was not a heavy drinker. "He always asked for cranberry juice," said Josh Chalmers of Oh, Beast!, who shared the bill at Turner's final onstage appearance, with new band the Texas Biscuit Bombs, July 23 at Room 710. For an update on the ME's findings see "Postmarks."
At the wake, a giant sheet of paper labeled "Biscuit Timeline" covered one entire door, and people lined up to write memories and messages. Some wept, while others passed around joints rolled from Turner's own stash. Inside, a video of Turner leading Honky through ZZ Top's "Heard It on the X" ran on continuous loop.
"It was a pleasure to work with the man but more of a pleasure to know him," said Honky's Jeff Pinkus. "When he felt good, it was contagious. Damn, he'll be missed."
What seemed like the entire Austin music scene SXSW directors, Red River club owners, Turner's old bandmates, and friends too numerous to mention turned up to remember Biscuit. Thanks to the keg out back and the Pecan Food Mart next door, the initial hushed tones gradually became lively conversations punctuated by frequent laughter. Flipnotics owner Mark Kamburis once gave Turner a mint condition Big Boys LP and got a purple plastic pig in return.
"He told me, 'When I get a gift, I like to give one back,'" Kamburis said. Friday night, Biscuit kept right on giving.
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