Former Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Found Dead in Chicago
Posted by Melissa Daniels
Credit: Facebook.com/MikeyWelshArt
Mikey Welsh, former bassist for the So-Cal based band Weezer, was found dead in his Chicago hotel room on Saturday, October 8th by hotel staff.
Raffaello Hotel staff found the 40 year-old after he failed to make his 1pm checkout. According to Rolling Stone, no foul play is expected and a cause of death has yet to be determined.
On September 26th however, the former bassist tweeted “dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today.”
Welsh was linked with Weezer from 1998 through 2001. During this time the band produced their third album, Weezer, more popularly called the Green Album, which included “Hash Pipe” and “Island in the Sun.” Weezer was the only album Welsh recorded with the band.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9BGLtqqkVI&ob=av2e
It was initially reported that Welsh quit the band for “vauge reasons,” according to Rolling Stone, but it was later cited that Welsh had suffered a breakdown amid additional mental health issues. It was that same year that Welsh attempted a drug-assisted suicide, and sought treatment in a psychiatric hospital.
Aside from his rocky musical career, Welsh had become a successful artist, producing artwork that is featured on Burton snowboards and album cover work for Twin Berlin.
In an official statement on the Weezer website, the guys cite Mikey as “a unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist.”
According to the Weezer website, Mikey was planning to attend the band’s show at RIOTfest in Chicago Sunday, October 9th.
“As sad as it is to think about, we know Mikey would never want the rock stopped on his account – quite the contrary in fact,” reads the band’s statement. “While we wont see him, we know he will be there rocking out with us!”
You can check out Mikey’s official website here to see some more of his artwork.
Mikey posted on his Facebook wall that he would be in Nashville to be “photographed working on a big painting by a very good friend of mine.”
The photo below was taken in Nashville, TN on October 3rd by Mikey’s friend Jordan Vittitow.
Credit: Jordan Vittitow
