Mark Linkous Of Sparklehorse Commits Suicide

Carolina Kat Mon Mar 08, 2010 5:03 am

Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse Commits Suicide

Posted on Mar 7th 2010 8:15AM

by Stephen Dowling, Spinner

Mark Linkous, the leader of alt-country outfit Sparklehorse, has committed suicide, his family have said.

Linkous, who was believed to have been in his 40s, died on Saturday, Mar. 6, according to Rolling Stone.

"It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today," Linkous' family said in a statement. "We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you."

Born and raised in coal-mining communities in Virginia, Linkous first played as a member of the rock band the Dancing Hoods in the 1980s. After an abortive attempt to make it in Los Angeles, Linkous returned to Virginia and began recording the songs that would eventually be released under the Sparklehorse name.

Their debut album, 1995's 'Vivadixisubmarinetransmissionplot,' came to the attention of Radiohead, who brought Sparklehorse out as support on European dates for 'The Bends' tour.

It was while touring that Linkous lost consciousness for 14 hours in a London hotel room after taking a mixture of valium and anti-depressants, trapping his legs. After paramedics straightened his legs he suffered a heart attack and was in hospital for many weeks. Linkous then spent six months in a wheelchair and later underwent several operations on his legs. The incident coloured the band's second album, 'Good Morning Spider,' released in the UK in 1998 and in the US the following year.

Linkous released two more albums under the Sparklehorse name – 'It's a Wonderful Life' (2001) and 'Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain' (2006) -- the latter produced by Danger Mouse. He also produced Cardigans singer Nina Persson's debut solo album as A Camp and also worked with Daniel Johnston.

Linkous collaborated with the likes of Tom Waits, PJ Harvey and Radiohead on a cover of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here.'

The album Linkous had produced with Danger Mouse and David Lynch -- 'Dark Night of the Soul' -- had been embroiled in legal battles which had prevented its release until label EMI last week said it would be made available later this year.