Sparklehorse singer Mark Linkous got suicide
Rock singer Mark Linkous, frontman with US band Sparklehorse, has killed himself, according to a statement from his family to Rolling Stone magazine.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member Mark Linkous took his own life today,” the family said.
Mark Linkous, the musician better known as Sparklehorse, has died. The singer-songwriter celebrated for his beautiful, haunting and melancholy music took his own life on Saturday (6 March) in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was 47.
Although a modest and self-deprecating figure, Linkous left an indelible mark on alternative folk and indie rock, beginning in the mid-90s. Albums such as 1995’s Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, 1998’s Good Morning Spider and 2001’s It’s a Wonderful Life are lush, expansive and utterly heartbreaking. He released only four solo albums, the last in 2006, followed by a collaboration in 2009 with electronic musician Fennesz, as well as the Dark Night of the Soul project with Danger Mouse. The latter, which also featured contributions from Iggy Pop, David Lynch and others, was initially issued as a blank CD; a proper re-release was announced just last week.
His four acclaimed Sparklehorse albums led him to be regarded by many as a hero of the US alternative rock scene.
His work included collaborations with Tom Waits, PJ Harvey and Danger Mouse.
His family said in the 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.”
The following year, he “died” for two minutes after ingesting a dangerous mix of Valium and antidepressants while supporting Radiohead on tour in the UK.
He recovered, but the incident almost left him paralysed–after lying unconscious for 14 hours, with circulation to his legs cut off.
He suffered a heart attack when doctors tried to straighten the limbs, and he had surgery seven times to save his legs.
Linkous was working on a new Sparklehorse album, which was due to be released by the Anti- record label.
