Oliver Tree’s mother has said that the late singer was “so happy and excited about life” on the day he was tragically killed in a helicopter crash.
The eccentric singer-songwriter died in the accident in Brazil on June 14, aged 32. The incident also took the lives of five others. There was celebration of his life and career held over the weekend in his native Santa Cruz, California, with Diplo, Logan Paul and more coming together to pay tribute to the artist.
At the event, his mother Christine Nickell spoke about the last conversation she had with her son, and revealed how he was in high spirits and “excited about life” on that day.
“I texted Oliver the day before he passed and asked how quitting smoking was going for him, as he promised he would give it up once he was on tour,” she began. “He FaceTimed me immediately and let out a huge puff of cigarette smoke in my face.”
“But he was so happy and excited about life that day, he told us he was taking a helicopter ride to a house on a mountain top the next day to make TikToks and music with his friends,” she continued. “He loved having epic days, each one more memorable than the last.
“The overwhelming outpouring of love and support since Oliver’s passing has been a profound source of comfort. I have witnessed humanity at its very best.”
Also at the tribute event, Diplo called Tree the coolest person he’d ever met, while Paul – a close friend of the late musician – delivered a eulogy in keeping with Tree’s own comedic spirit, making jokes about his hair and quipping that he was “watching us all from somewhere in the heavens,” likely “super disappointed in this production.”
“Oliver was everyone’s best friend. He was an adventurer with an incomparable zest for life and the ultimate ability to make anyone feel seen and heard,” he said. “Oliver is a generational artist whose legacy and music will last forever, and he’d be proud of all of us for keeping our heads up high by celebrating the impact of his time here on Earth, because at the end of the day, life goes on.”
Before the event, Nickell had said she was “so proud” of her son and thanked fans for their support. His family also recently launched Dr. Oliver Tree’s Extremely Epic Art Grant for Baby Geniuses in his memory, in accordance with plans explicitly put in place by Tree during his lifetime.
Tree, whose real name was Oliver Tree Nickell, was best known for songs including ‘Life Goes On’, ‘Miss You’, ‘Alien Boy’ and ‘Hurt’. His most recent album, ‘Love You Madly Hate You Badly’, was released earlier this year.
In a statement following his death, his family described him as “more than a musician”, adding that he was “a true artist in every sense of the word”.
“No matter how strange you think you look, no matter how ugly you feel, you are beautiful,” they added, quoting one of Tree’s messages to fans.
After news of his passing, Post Malone dedicated a show in Toronto to the artist, describing him as a “beautiful man” and telling the crowd: “We love you so much, Oliver.”
Others who paid their respects online included Kid Cudi, KSI, Bebe Rexha and Tree’s ex-girlfriend Melanie Martinez.
