RIP Mark Linkous

Suicide .......it seems.

Who's Mark Linkous?

Sparklehorse

No hope that it's temporary like the first time he died, it seems. Damn. This really sucks.

That's terrible. I'm sure there was a lot of good work in front of him. They came out here a few years ago. It was a brilliant gig.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

Damn it. This news leaves me feeling wretched.

I saw him and the band in concert. Wish I could remember the entire bill. Still have the t-shirt in my wardrobe. Haven't even had a chance to wear holes in it yet (and I've worn it a lot). Were they opening for Yo La Tengo? With Portastatic?

:::sigh:::

It's a quality t-shirt, at least.

They were touring the second album. Linkhous was out of the wheelchair by that time. I remember it being really, really good.

You know ... having listened so much to his stuff over the years, it's still surprising to me to hear this awful news. Sure ... this was a guy who made really sad, forlorn music. But it still shocks the hell out of me when a person takes their own life. Lots of people produce depressed (and depressing) art and live long, productive lives.

I won't speculate on the happiness of any of those lives.

I have all his Sparklehorse studio albums and some odds and ends as well. It's all quite good. When I first heard Grandaddy, I remember noting how much of an influence Mark Linkhous appeared to have had on that band's sound. Of course, Neil Young is the cosmic lynchpin for this entire segment of the night sky. It's a lovely sound.

...

The side bar here would be an account of how my girlfriend at the time was the one that handed me the CD of "Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot" in the record store and said I should give it a listen. I had skipped over it while browsing.

(Capitol Records? Sparklehorse? Vivadixiewhateverblahblahblah.)

Of course, she was right. I would love it.

I miss her also.

What a bummer.

Sorry, all.

NOOOO!


That's fucking awful.

Beautiful tribute, Kay, and I've never even heard the man's music.

Damn.

This past Saturday, I was going through some old boxes of books, and re-discovered a Christmas present I'd bought for my dad (Great Books, by David Denby) in 1999. As it turned out, he didn't make it to Christmas. I just stared at the book for about 10 minutes. Then, I put on my headphones and listened to Sparklehorse's Good Morning Spider yet again.

"Painbirds"...damn.

Very sad indeed, though as with Vic Chesnutt, not completely shocking to me.

I just read an updated version of the story:

[www.huffingtonpost.com]

While I agree with you, Rhett, it is still hard to fathom this. Doesn't seem like it was exactly premeditated, does it?

Damn.

Jermoe wrote:

> While I agree with you, Rhett, it is still hard to fathom this.
> Doesn't seem like it was exactly premeditated, does it?

I guess that depends on how long you believe one needs to meditate on something before it becomes premeditated.

Damn, that makes the story even sadder somehow, even though it also makes me think "What a drunk dumbass." Seems like it's more the product here of being under the influence of something and pissed off about some news or offense that would not cause such a reaction in the cold, sober light of day. Of course, one never knows what else is going on in someone's head and I cast no aspersions. I like Sparklehorse, but wouldn't say I'm a huge fan. Still, this makes me sad.

OK, I never heard this guy's music until this week. But I hunted down Vivawhatever and it hasnt left the CD player. This is an pretty pretty record. The stereo plays the song "Saturday" right now on a Saturday morning and it sounds lovely and pensive as I gaze out on a gentle rain.

Rhett, killing yourself is a dumbass move in my opinion as well.

He's the only man I ever saw play a rubber duck as a wind instrument.

Quote

He's the only man I ever saw play a rubber duck as a wind instrument.

(((AHEM)))



I know. You'll probably scream and cry that Ernie isn't a man.