Jeff Buckley managed to become a legendary artist with only one album under his belt. And I can’t help but wonder where his career would have gone if we hadn’t lost him so soon. The “Hallelujah” hitmaker passed away in 1997 at the age of only 30, following an accident in New York’s Wolf River that resulted in his drowning. It was a tragedy felt throughout the alternative rock world, and fans were bereaved and felt robbed of Buckley’s potential.

When a musician passes away, especially so suddenly and so young, fans often turn to recordings of that musician’s performances. And according to what we know, Jeff Buckley’s final performance was just as amazing as his previous sets.

Sadly, it looks like footage from the performance has been lost to time, or may not have been recorded at all. Thankfully, though, we know at least a little bit, though mostly through debatable personal claims, about what went down.

Jeff Buckley’s Final Performance Took Place Mere Weeks Before His Death

Jeff Buckley’s debut (and only) album, Grace, was released in 1994 and really didn’t get the love it deserved initially. After Buckley’s death, critics began to see just how much talent the alt-rock, folk, and jazz-leaning young artist had.

Buckley performed often, both before and after the release of Grace. His live vocals were always a delight, as was his otherworldly way of playing the guitar.

In 1997, Buckley found himself drawn to the down-to-earth vibe of Barrister’s in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. There, he started a residency on Monday nights. Through this residency, he performed many fan-favorite songs, but also took it as an opportunity to experiment with new songs and covers he had been practicing. He performed there until his death.

Jeff Buckley’s final performance of his life would take place on May 26, mere days before he drowned on May 29. Nobody knew it would be his last set, including Buckley.

According to those who got to witness it, Buckley only played six songs. Some say it was only four. This was common for him, as he preferred short sets. He reportedly opened with “Let’s Bomb The Moonlight”, his adored version of “Hallelujah”, and “Corpus Christi Carol”. Buckley also performed “The Sky Is A Landfill”, which would later appear on his posthumous compilation album Sketches For My Sweetheart. He reportedly closed his final set with “Your Flesh Is So Nice” and a cover of “Frankenstein” by The Edgar Winter Group.

Jeff Buckley had his struggles. His father, famed folk singer Tim Buckley, abandoned him as a boy. He inherited his father’s talent, and some would say he surpassed it. His uniquely 90s alternative rock edge to his music was a rare delight. And it’s still devastating that we lost him so young, decades after he passed.

Photo by Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images