Matthew "Wink" O'Bannon

July 22, 1956 - June 30, 2020

Matthew “Wink” O’Bannon (July 22nd,1956 - June 30th, 2020). Wink O’Bannon, legendary guitar player and Louisville Punk Rock hero, died on June 30th. In 1978, Wink and his brother, the artist and musician Michael O’Bannon, formed Blinders, one of Louisville’s earliest Punk Rock bands. The brothers, along with Michael’s wife Tari Barr O’Bannon later started the group Pure Jesus. Wink was a founding member or essential part of too many bands to list here, including Skull Of Glee (with the late Chili Rigot), Bodeco, and Eleventh Dream Day. Wink was a brilliant, exacting, and explosive guitar player. His knowledge of Rock & Roll, Blues, and County Music was inexhaustible. A generation of Louisville musicians happily acknowledge their debt to him. A beloved son, brother, uncle, friend, and self-described curmudgeon — he was also an unabashed and sentimental animist, he doted on and acknowledged every animal and thing, however small as having a spirit of worth—on walks he would stop and have a word or at least a nod of acknowledgement with particular regular tree friends. Wink was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence D. O’Bannon and Marcella Tweedell O’Bannon, and his brother Michael T. O’Bannon. Also, Puppy the Cat and Kitten the Kitten, Merry the Horse, and Spiny Norma the Hedgehog, and “The Grandfather Tree” a venerable slippery elm. Wink is survived by Theresa Brenzel, Erin O’Bannon, Eileen O’Bannon, Tari Barr O’Bannon, and Esmerelda Beatrix O’Bannon — his magical, life-affirming, grand-niece, who has managed to keep the wheels on the road for the last 3 years, AKA her entire life. Wink also leaves behind his beloved dogs Polly and Gus, and Betty the Squirrel. A memorial will be held at a later to date to be announced.