Strait, James Lynn

BIOGRAPHY

All of the Snots have paid their dues in underground bands. Doling was in the West Coast speed metal outfit Kronix; Strait played bass in the punk band Lethal Dose. On the East Coast, Mayo was in Silence, a thrash metal ensemble. He later joined bassist John Fahnestock and drummer Jamie Miller in M.F. Pit Bulls. Doling formed Snot - of which he and Strait are the only original members - after Kronix was buried in the grunge avalanche.

Snot doesn't beat audiences over the head with a message. "All these L.A. bands have causes," sneered Strait, who serves as the band's lyricist. "If we have a message, it's to not take yourself too seriously. All we are is politically incorrect. We like eatin' steaks."

Nabbing a record contract was a dream come true for some of his mates, but Strait was underwhelmed by the development. His response: "Yeah, now I can order cheese on my Whopper." Actually, while his bandmates were signing on the dotted line, he was finishing a month in County Jail, where he'd spent a year in the early '90s. "There's a layer of filth that hides in every small town," he says. "Santa Barbara's no exception."

Strait was born in Manhasset, N.Y., but landed in Santa Barbara as a teen and immediately embraced the
SoCal punk scene. Prior to his work with Snot, he had never sung in a band. "I always wanted to because
it seemed like a lot of fun," he says. "But I wasn't into what most bands were playing." Starting from
scratch, Strait points out, has been an advantage. "There's nobody to emulate. I won't say what I do is
groundbreaking, but some of it is original; there are weird patterns in my vocals, because I got to make
up my style as I went along."
All of the Snots have paid their dues in underground bands. Doling was in the West Coast speed metal
outfit Kronix; Strait played bass in the punk band Lethal Dose. On the East Coast, Mayo was in Silence,
a thrash metal ensemble. He later joined bassist John Fahnestock and drummer Jamie Miller in M.F. Pit
Bulls. Doling formed Snot - of which he and Strait are the only original members - after Kronix was buried
in the grunge avalanche.

Snot doesn't beat audiences over the head with a message. "All these L.A. bands have causes," sneered
Strait, who serves as the band's lyricist. "If we have a message, it's to not take yourself too seriously. All
we are is politically incorrect. We like eatin' steaks."

Nabbing a record contract was a dream come true for some of his mates, but Strait was under whelmed
by the development. His response: "Yeah, now I can order cheese on my Whopper." Actually, while his
bandmates were signing on the dotted line, he was finishing a month in County Jail, where he'd spent a
year in the early '90s. "There's a layer of filth that hides in every small town," he says. "Santa Barbara's
no exception."

(12/11/98, 7 p.m. PST) -- Lynn Strait, singer of Geffen hard rock act Snot, died this afternoon in a three-car
crash near Santa Barbara, Calif., according to a statement released by Geffen Records. He was 30.

Also killed in the accident was Strait's dog, Dobbs, who graced the cover of the band's 1997 Geffen debut
album, Get Some and served as the group's mascot.

The band, which was based in Santa Barbara, was signed to Geffen Records in 1996, a little more than
a year after it was formed. Get Some was released in May 1997. More recently, the band's song "Absent"
appeared on the soundtrack to Dee Snider's StrangeLand soundtrack.

Snot made headlines last summer after Strait was arrested at an OzzFest show in Mansfield,
Mass. for indecent exposure. According to reports, Strait appeared onstage naked on a dare and
engaged in oral sex with a dancer that was part of Limp Bizkit's stage show. He was due in court on
Jan. 14 to face the charges.

Prior to Snot, Strait played bass in a punk band called Lethal Dose. He formed Snot in 1995 with
guitarist Mike Doling.

The band, which was hoping to release a second album in late summer 1999, was in the process of
recording demos. However, Snot's future with Geffen Records was uncertain, since some of the label's
roster is expected to be trimmed in wake of the Universal-PolyGram merger and plans to fold Geffen
under the Interscope umbrella.

Strait, who was headed to Los Angeles, was exiting the 101 Freeway between Santa Barbara and
Carpenteria when his Ford Tempo struck another vehicle at approximately 1 p.m., resulting in a three-car
accident.

"We're devastated," said Sean Henning, who co-manages the band with Nic Adler. "This is a tough one.
His family, friends and fans will miss him. Lynn had a lot of fans who grew to love him through his music,
and hardcore music has lost a great front man, singer, and songwriter."

Strait is survived by his mother and two sisters, all of whom live in Santa Barbara, and a brother.

STRAIT, James Lynn

Died December 11, 1998 as a result of an automobile accident on Highway 101. It was a beautiful day where the highway runs close to the ocean. Lynn was 30 years old. His best friend, Dobbs, his Boxer dog died with him at his side. Their spirits departed this life without a moment's suffering and now they sing and run and play with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Although born in Manhasset, New York, he grew up in Santa Barbara. Here he made many friends, grew to love life and found expression for himself in hard rock music. With his Mother's wonderful love and support, he became his dream, a composer and singer in a nationally known band.

Lynn was the lead singer in the up and coming rock band, Snot. They had just finished touring with Ozzy Osborne in the OzzFest 1998 tour this past summer. Their first album, Get Some, was introduced in the spring of 1997 featuring a picture of Dobbs balancing a lemon on his nose on the cover. Lynn had just finished writing nine songs for his second album. Lynn had always suffered from Tourette Syndrome but it was only recently diagnosed. It is a disease that affects the nervous system and the discomfort was sometime unbearable. But Lynn is free from that now and he is at peace. He will be deeply missed by his many fans throughout the world who were touched by his tremendous energy and generous heart.

He is survived by his loving parents, Marie Ann and Lynn Sr, his biggest fans, his sisters, Jennie and Julie and beloved girl friend Karen Mason. He is survived by his brother-in- law, David and step- mother Cheryl, Grandmothers, June Strait and Mary Mitroka and also will be missed by his many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friend, Charles Browning. Those who got to know Lynn as well as other friends of the family, will celebrate his journey from this life to the joy of the afterlife on Wednesday, December 16. A Celebration of his Life officiated by Father Virgil Cordano will be at the Old Mission on Laguna St in Santa Barbara and at the Rose Garden after services.

In memory of Lynn the family requests that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, in Lynn's memory to the Sheriff's Council and Treatment for Substance Abuse at 4434 Calle Real, Santa Barbara, 93160 attention - Undersheriff Dave Dorsey or to Tourette Syndrome Association, 6345 Balboa Blvd, Ste 290, Encino, CA 91316 or to the Music Cares Foundation, 3402 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405. The Music Cares Foundation was established by the recording industry to focus on the health and human service issues of those musicians in need.

How he died

The 30-year-old lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Snot was killed Friday as he attempted to drive across Highway 101 in this seaside community, the third fatality along that dangerous stretch of highway in the last year.

James Lynn Strait died instantly after his 1992 Ford Tempo was broadsided by a southbound full-size pickup truck about noon, officers said. Strait's small bulldog, who was sitting in the back seat, also perished. Pickup driver David Redderson, 20, suffered a neck injury and was treated at Saint Francis Hospital in Santa Barbara and released, a nursing supervisor said.

Redderson, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, had been on his way to Ventura to spend the holidays with family, said his brother, who drove to the crash site about eight miles north of Ventura. "By the time he [Redderson] went to apply the brakes, it was too late,"California Highway Patrol OfficerGeorge Orozco said. Visitors and Mussel Shoals residents gain access to northbound Highway 101 by crossing against southbound traffic.

Strait, a Santa Barbara resident, was crossing the highway after visiting his girlfriend in the community. Strait apparently pulled into the path of the truck, which was going about 65 mph. The impact sent Strait's car spinning into the center divider where it stopped, Orozco said. The truck skidded sideways and overturned, coming to rest on the driver's side near the center divider. A group of passing motorists stopped and pulled Redderson from the wreckage, Ventura County Fire Capt. Michael Wickham said. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, Orozco said. Although no evidence of drug or alcohol use was found, Chief Deputy Coroner Jim Wingate said toxicology tests would be conducted on Strait. An autopsy was scheduled today. Funeral arrangements were pending.

Strait joined the Santa Barbara-based band Snot after playing bass in a punk band called Lethal Dose. Snot,known for its loud, hard rock sound, performed in several venues in Los Angeles and Ventura before being signed to a Geffen Records contract in June 1996. Eleven months later, the group's debut CD, "Get Some," was released.

Strait apparently divided his time between the homes of his parents, James and Marie Strait, who live in Santa Barbara and are separated, and the residences of several band members. A family friend told officers that Strait had been planning to visit a friend in Los Angeles Friday. A backpack filled with his clothing was found in his back seat. Debris from the wreckage littered the center divider as well as the highway, which is two lanes in each direction. One lane in each direction was closed for about four hours, causing a four-mile traffic backup both north and southbound.

The hard rock community suffered a great loss with the tragic dath of Lynn Strait, December 11, 1998. The Snot frontman may have received national attention with his headline-stealing antics on last summer's OzzFest, but his true legacy will be the esteemed place held in the hearts of the friends, bands and fans that he came into contact with throughout his life. Around the world, word of the fatal, mid-day car accident that took his life shook those that were close to him--from his Santa Barbara, CA. home, where bandmates mourned his loss, stating that the band would not continue as Snot without him, to the East Coast, where a somber Sevendust set included a dedication of "Prayer" to the 30-year-old singer, and even in Europe, where sullen mood beset the Soulfly camp with news of their lost tribe member. Also killed in the crash was Strait's dog, Dobbs, who was teh band mascot, and on the cover of their Geffen debut "Get Some." Despite recent lineup changes, Snot was writing material for a mid-year release at the time of the accident. Strait is survived by his mother, two sisters, and a brother.

Who you have been and what you still are

You were a friend, and anyone who knew you felt the same way. I loved the way you lived life, without a care, loving every minute with your friends and music. If i could have had to pick one person in this world who didn't deserve this to happen, it was you. You were so unselfish, stopping in the middle of traffic to talk to me, as a friend. You poured all of your heart and emotion into your music, and it was so real. And I admired you so much. There really are no words to describe you, only those of us who were lucky enough to know you understand. And we'll never forget. Snot will not die. I'm so sorry to everyone who knew Lynn, I know how much this hurts. I wish I could see Lynn onstage one last time, not caring about anything but Snot and the fans(friends), ripping shit up and making the crowd jump. At least you left us with great memories, and wherever you are, I know you're throwing a stick to Dobbs. And I know he'll always bring it back to you. We'll miss you. Much Respect. Rest in peace!!!!!!!!!!!