Sims Ellison

Sims Ellison
Sims Ellison
Birth name	Sims Edgar Ellison
Born	March 10, 1967; San Antonio, Texas, United States
Died	June 6, 1995 (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	[1]

Sims Ellison (March 10, 1967 – June 6, 1995) was an American guitarist, who played for Pariah. In 1995, Ellison killed himself 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.

Biography[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

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

Tribute albums[edit]

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

References[edit]

^ "After Sims Ellison took his life in 1995, foundation was set up to aid musicians with mental health woes". Austin360.com.
^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 156. ISBN 9780857121172 – via Google Books.
^ Mims, Taylor (10 October 2021). "Austin's SIMS Foundation Wants to Take Musician Mental Healthcare Nationwide". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2021.

External links[edit]

[1] "After Sims Ellison took his life in 1995, foundation was set up to aid musicians with mental health woes". Austin360.com.

[2] Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries - Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 156. ISBN 9780857121172 – via Google Books.

[3] Mims, Taylor (10 October 2021). "Austin's SIMS Foundation Wants to Take Musician Mental Healthcare Nationwide". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2021.

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