Jeff Buckley’s Final Days Revisited: Rebecca Moore Opens Up in It’s Never Over
In Amy Berg’s new documentary, the late singer’s former muse shares intimate memories from a haunting last phone call to the legacy that refuses to fade.
New York, August 9 EST: It’s been 28 years since Jeff Buckley the singer-songwriter with a voice that could float like silk and then tear like thunder vanished into the Wolf River Harbor in Memphis. His legend, like his music, has only swelled with time. Now, Amy Berg’s new documentary, It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley, is pulling the curtain back on the man, the myth, and the messy beauty in between.
Among the most affecting moments comes courtesy of Rebecca Moore, Buckley’s ex, muse, and creative sparring partner, who sat down with People this week for a rare, open conversation about the final days before his death. And what she shares will hit longtime fans like an unresolved chord.
The Phone Call That Still Echoes
Moore recalls their last phone call a conversation she calls “both beautiful and concerning.” He was making plans, but his mood swayed in a way she now believes could have been a sign of bipolar disorder. That detail alone reframes a lot for fans who’ve spent decades piecing together what happened in those final weeks.
But Moore is clear on one thing: she doesn’t believe Buckley took his own life. “I truly believe it was an accident,” she says. It’s a reminder that sometimes tragedy doesn’t come with a neat narrative it just happens, mid-song, leaving you replaying the moment forever.
Not Just the “Doomed Romantic” Story
From Pitchfork to The Washington Post, early reviews have been quick to point out that Berg’s film doesn’t lean into the tired “doomed romantic” trope that has clung to Buckley since 1997. Instead, it shows the humor, the creative mania, the relentless work ethic, and the way he could fill a room even when he wasn’t singing.
Moore’s memories match that energy. She talks about his kindness, the way he pushed her to create, and the restless curiosity that kept him always reaching for something beyond his grasp. This isn’t saint-making it’s humanizing.
Grief, Then Grace
For Moore, losing Buckley wasn’t just grief it was a years-long loop of guilt and helplessness. “There’s a part of you that replays it endlessly, wondering what you could have done differently,” she says. Over time, she’s found a way to live with it, channeling her energy into a New York animal rescue organization. It’s a quieter tribute to the compassion she says Buckley carried everywhere.
A Legacy That Refuses to Fade
The thing about Buckley is that his one album, Grace, was enough to permanently change the landscape. Artists still name-check him like a secret handshake. His Hallelujah cover yeah, that one still breaks playlists in half. The documentary doesn’t try to top those moments; it sets them in the messy, unpredictable context of the person who created them.
By the time Moore appears in the film’s final stretch, you get the sense she’s not just talking about Jeff she’s talking to him. And maybe that’s why this doc matters. It’s not a eulogy. It’s a reminder that some voices never really fade.
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A bi-coastal pop culture critic and former indie screenwriter, Gia covers Hollywood, streaming wars, and subculture shifts with razor wit and Gen Z intuition. If it’s going viral, she already knew about it.
