Embedded Files
NEIL LENART was the most prolific Los Angeles beach-side van dweller there ever was. Many have come and gone, and Neil did his fare share of coming and going, but no other has been here living the van lifestyle, down on the beach, more consistently than Neil. In this day and age of "hashtag vanlife" and the massive and trendy popularity that the van living movement has taken on, it's rare to see someone who's been doing it for 25 years, while maintaining a wild and creative lifestyle yet a calm and peaceful existence through the art of vandwelling.
Neil's passion was metal. HEAVY METAL. Not just a massive fan, but a massive creator. As a musician and high level guitarist, Neil wrote, performed, mixed and produced a number of heavy metal albums, all from inside his van!
Neil was a former guitar playing member of the gothic heavy metal band DEAD BY DAY, performing in and around Los Angeles. Before that, he was a member of a popular country band called SOUTHERN EXPOSURE back where he grew up in Illinois.
Neil was also a loner. He had his schedule and he kept to it. This made the band life and collaborating with others more difficult. So eventually he decided to just do everything himself. EVERYTHING. So what to do - rent out a studio? Hell no. Going forth he would create all his music from inside his epic blue buggy.
If you were to have seen the inside of Neil's blue van you would witness an art project. A very carefully, not cluttered, arrangement of memorabilia, nick-nacks, skulls, small plants, colorful banners and just an overall heavy metal "feng-shui"! He neatly stored away his microphones, guitars and recording equipment. He also had a roommate. His beloved cat ARES.
On September 23rd 2020, right before midnight, apparently Neil let his cat Ares out of the van to use the restroom. Neil would suddenly collapse a dozen or so feet from his van, on a grassy/dirt incline. The cause is unclear as of yet, and there are a lot of questions.
What is clear is the tragedy of his passing. He was beginning work on a new album. He JUST had a new engine and a rebuilt transmission installed in his van. The peace of mind of having essentially a brand new vehicle was both a massive relief to Neil and an exhilarating sense of excitement for new adventures in the future to come. He never got the chance to enjoy the new additions to his beloved buggy, and enjoy recording on his recently purchased new Strat guitar. Sadly, that's the way of things.
This site is to give the man his due as a one-of-a-kind unique soul in this mad universe; a rare dude that was into his art, saw beauty and tranquility in his lifestyle, yet could, and would put up his fists to fight, while tackling and overcoming the inner demons of his past.
There's few dudes that truly are "genuinely cool". Neil was one of them. If you knew him, you knew. If you met him once, you quickly got that vibe.
Neil in the popular 90's midwest band SOUTHERN EXPOSURE (Neil with mullet, far right)
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse