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Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse commits suicide
by Natalie James - March 8, 2010 - comments
Linkous shot himself in the heart outside of a friend's home in Knoxville, Tenn., and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The music industry has lost one of its brightest star-singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Mark Linkous. The frontman for acclaimed U.S. indie band Sparklehorse committed suicide Saturday, according to his manager and an online statement from the family to Rolling Stone magazine.
Linkous, who recorded under the name Sparklehorse, took his own life Saturday (March 6) in Knoxville, Tenn. He was 47.
Family confirms suicide
The news of his passing was confirmed via an online statement posted on the Sparklehorse Web site.
“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 statement reads. “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 North Carolina-based singer-songwriter’s manager told the New York Times that Linkous shot himself in the heart outside of a friend's home in Knoxville, Tenn., and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Early life
Born and raised in Virginia, Linkous was basically a one-man band as Sparklehorse, working frequently with a wide variety of vintage instruments and curious noisemakers.
The multi-instrumentalist set up a small independent music empire in North Carolina, releasing four albums between 1995 and 2006.
He rose to fame with his debut album as Sparklehorse, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, which was released in 1995.
Near-death incident
The following year he nearly died following an overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol. The entertainer reportedly ingested a dangerous mix of Valium and antidepressants in 1996, which stopped his heart for several minutes.
The incident almost left him paralysed, after lying unconscious for 14 hours. He was confined to a wheelchair for nearly six months after circulation to his legs was cut off.
Linkous suffered a heart attack when doctors tried to straighten the limbs, and he underwent the knife seven times to save his legs. But he ultimately recovered.
Other projects
Despite that ordeal, Linkous went on with his band, releasing three more Sparklehorse LPs: 1998's stellar ‘Good Morning Spider’, 2001's ‘It's a Wonderful Life’, and 2006's ‘Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain’.
All of these featured collaborations and production contributions from the likes of P.J. Harvey, Tom Waits, Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann and Danger Mouse, whose real name is Brian Burton.
In 2009, Linkous made a multimedia collaboration with producer Danger Mouse and the director David Lynch for an album entitled ‘Dark Night Of The Soul’, which will finally see an official album release this year.
Linkous survivors include his wife, Teresa; his mother, Gloria Hughes Thacker; his father, Frederick Linkous; and his brothers, Matt, Paul, and Daniel Linkous.