Mimi Parker was the drummer and co-vocalist for the indie rock band Low, known for their slow and ethereal music.
- Died: November 5, 2022 (Who else died on November 5?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting ovarian cancer at the age of 55.
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Musical career
Parker formed Low in 1993 in Duluth, Minnesota with her husband, George Sparhawk. They offered a counterpoint to the grunge that was then at the center of the indie scene, playing slow, minimalist music that was subbed “slowcore” by critics. Parker had played snare drums in high school marching band but didn’t have any other experience with a drum kit when the band was formed. Initially, she played on a stripped-down kit that consisted only of a snare drum, cymbal, and floor tom, played exclusively with brushes. Low later added electronic elements to their sound. Their music became better known to a wide audience as it began being used in commercials, movies, and TV shows, including a Gap ad that featured a slow-motion snowball fight set to the sound of their dreamy version of “The Little Drummer Boy.”
Notable quote
“We played in a laundromat in Los Angeles on our first tour. We opened for Soul Coughing, which was kind of ridiculous. But they really wanted us to do it, so we said okay. Some of their fans threw stuff at us. Years ago, people would always yell stuff about drugs, like they thought we were stoned all the time or something. They’d yell, ‘heroin!’ and stuff like that to us. So I guess we developed a hard shell.” —from a 2001 interview for Chick Factor
Tributes to Mimi Parker
Full obituary: Star Tribune
