Six years ago today, singer-songwriter Elliott Smith died from a pair of stab wounds. And it’s still unclear whether his death was a suicide or murder. Since then, a cloud of mystery has grown around the artist, and still, years later, fans gather at the so-called Elliott Smith Wall in LA’s Silver Lake neighborhood, wedged between an electronics shop and a McDonald’s to honor his memory. It’s the place where photographer and longtime Smith confidant Autumn de Wilde shot the iconic cover of Smith’s 2000 album ‘Figure 8’. Since Smith’s mysterious death, it’s become a pilgrimage spot for fans who come to leave gifts and sign their names to the wall. In 2008, the wall was restored after vandals had covered it with graffiti.
To visit the Elliott Smith wall, head to 4334 Sunset Blvd. at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Fountain Avenue.