Wilco singer Jeff Tweedy tells the story of his conversion to Judaism
The news has been out there for years, but for many rock and folk music fans it might still be a surprise.
Jeff Tweedy, the frontman and songwriter for the beloved alternative rock band Wilco, has converted to Judaism.
Tweedy, who is doing interviews these days to promote his new album “Warm” and his new memoir “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back),” described the whole story in a recent chat with Jewish comedian Marc Maron on his “WTF” podcast. And it’s a great story.
Tweedy, 51, is married to Sue Miller, a former talent agent who is Jewish. Both of their sons have had bar mitzvahs.
“I find myself extremely comfortable and attracted to secular Judaism,” he said.
When his older son, Spencer, started to struggle with his bar mitzvah training, Tweedy offered to go to the synagogue with him to talk with the rabbi. He said he offered to convert, if the rabbi let him, if Spencer learned his Torah portion.
And convert he did.
Tweedy said his wife says she can’t go to Germany because “whenever she hears anyone saying anything in German she thinks they’re saying, ‘Get in the oven.’”
JTA
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