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Former Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Dead At 40 -- Two Weeks After Tweeting 'Dreamt I Died in Chicago'

Jeff Kravitz FilmMagic, Inc

Mikey Welsh, a former Weezer bassist who later became an acclaimed painter and visual artist, died suddenly on Saturday (Oct. 8) in Chicago. He was 40.

The news comes nearly two weeks after a Sept. 26 tweet in which Welsh described a premonition he'd had about his own death.

"Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep)," he wrote. "Need to write my will today."

There has been no official word regarding the cause of death, but according to the Chicago Tribune, the rocker is thought to have died of a drug overdose.

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Mikey Welsh passed away unexpectedly today," a post on Welsh's Facebook page read late Saturday evening. "He will forever be remembered as an amazing father, artist and friend. May he rest in peace."

Welsh's former bandmates took to Twitter soon after to pay tribute.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear the awful news, our friend and fellow weez rocker @mikeywelsh71 has passed away," Weezer tweeted after hearing the news. "We love u Mikey."

"Rest in peace Mikey Welsh, you deserve it," drummer Patrick Wilson tweeted shortly thereafter.

Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Welsh got his start playing in several Boston-area groups prior to joining a side project of Weezer lead singer Rivers Cuomo in 1997. Welsh joined Weezer officially after original bassist Matt Sharp left the group the following year.

Welsh appeared on Weezer's 2001 self-titled third album, commonly referred to as the 'Green Album,' before leaving the group later that year due to the rigors of touring and a nervous breakdown. He would be replaced by current bassist Scott Shiner. However, Welsh returned to the group for a special one-off performance on July 29 of this year, performing 'Undone' with Weezer at a New York show. He had also performed with Wilson's side project, the Special Goodness.

On the band's website, Weezer associate Karl Koch penned an additional Welsh tribute, calling him a "unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist."

"Mikey was never one to shy away from the absurd, dangerous or strange, and he did so with a gusto few others had," Koch added. "No one had quite the stage presence of Mikey, nor have there been many who pulled the types of shenanigans he did at shows. If it rocked, he had to try it -- and he always found a way to pull it off."

Welsh had also become an accomplished artist, posting a string of drawings for sale last week, including one titled 'Mama's little pills spilled all over the floor.' Earlier this month, Welsh tweeted about how he was looking forward to taking his first vacation in a long time, heading first to Nashville and then Chicago.

"Just to clarify...nothing horrible happened to me in Nashville...besides the fact that my hotel was right next to c.mt (Country Music Television) headquarters," Welsh wrote on Oct. 4 on his Facebook page. "It looked kind of like the 9th circle of hell..."

He also said he was happy to be in Chicago and "of course Sat. being the day the ol' weez will rock...lots o' fun to be had." The band is scheduled to play the Chicago RiotFest on Sunday.

Watch Weezer's Video for 'Hash Pipe'


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G-DAWG

oldersters may not know it but weezer rocked it out! im 55 but i know kick ass rock when i hear it and they got it .... too bad about the bassist tho,... tragic for sure..

October 11 2011 at 4:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Sanders

Never heard of him.

October 11 2011 at 4:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
walkingwolf

live by the gun--die by the gun...Fame& drugs....too much money .. drugs to easily accessed ..too much drugs...equals death...dummass went a blew off a perfectly good life over a "get high"

October 11 2011 at 3:48 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
beckylynnla

Who?

October 11 2011 at 2:48 AM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
dannychgo1

So few people in this world are blessed with the opportunity to do what they love for a living. Abusing that gift is a sin. There is no romanticism in dying young; you’re just another casualty that will soon be forgotten. I'm very sorry for that.

October 11 2011 at 12:37 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to dannychgo1's comment
sean32k

I'm sorry for you...because apparently you think you are religious and therefore above anyone else who doesn't believe what you do...you must not have many friends. And who are you to say that this casualty will soon be forgotten? Did you know this artist - NO, you didn't. Do you know anyone who knew him - NO, you don't...so shut up with your negative religious remarks and let people who have positive things to say step in. That is all religion seems to do now-and-days is cut people down, one group fighting against another, and I seriously doubt a Deity would want that from his followers regardless of what "book" they choose.

Rest in Peace Mikey...although I only liked a select few songs made by Weezer I still want to pay respect to his talent and a life spent doing what he loved...May his lessons be taught and his inspirations live on.

October 13 2011 at 9:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
blacksunrising4

So sad......No mystery..he's not the first "rocker"with a premonition of death.Robert johnson,Jimi Hendrix.Jim Morrison,etc,etc,etc spoke of early death.They never predicted a time and they were actually very gifted.The fact tMike Welsh predicted a somewhat specific time makes me think it was planned!Very tragic.

October 11 2011 at 12:06 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to blacksunrising4's comment
Michael Sanders

Whoa there, pardner! Please don't mention Robert Johnson, Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison, in the same sentence as this fellow. Most of us have no idea who he is. He may be a real nice guy, a good Christian and quite talented, but Mikey Welsh isn't going to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

October 11 2011 at 4:22 AM Report abuse -2 rate up rate down Reply
coolhandfreak

Sad pathology that people love to trash others,especially after their deaths yet the brutal reality is we all pass by the same mirror. What will be written on your tombstone?.

October 10 2011 at 11:55 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
wiecek

self-fulfilling prophecy....not, a prediction!

October 10 2011 at 10:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sylvia Tucker

I wouldn't say he predicted his own death I would say he planned it for reasons of his own making

October 10 2011 at 10:12 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
Jill

I'm pretty shocked at the insensitivity so many are displaying. A man is dead. His loved ones are hurt. To think he is less than deserving of sympathy because drugs may have been involved is stupid.
Prayers to this man's family and friends. Losing a loved one hurts, no matter the cause of death.

October 10 2011 at 10:11 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply