As notorious for his substance abuse and death wishes as he was for a mysterious ability to survive them, Van Zandt died in 1997 of a mere heart attack. He was 52. "I booked this gig 30 years ago," joked friend and fellow musician Guy Clark at the funeral, swallowing tears.
Hard-Living Folk Icon in a Sympathetic but Frank Doc Be Here to Love Me
by Georgia Christgau November 29th, 2005 villagevoice.com
did I fall in love with the name Georgia? since that Italian movie.