Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous has committed suicide, his publicist confirms 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,” reads a statement from his family. “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.”
Linkous is best known for his work with Sparklehorse, he also produced Daniel Johnston’s 2003 “Fear Yourself” and collaborated with Danger Mouse on “Dark Night of the Soul.” Linkous was in his forties.
Linkous’ inspiration for his soulful, dramatic music was often came from a place of pain. In 1996, Linkous’s two minute death from ingesting Valium and antidepressants while on tour with Sparklehorse in the U.K. was the inspiration for “Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot”. He recovered but was crippled after lying unconscious for 14 hours, cutting off circulation to his legs. He also suffered a heart attack when medics attempted to straighten his legs, and undrwent seven surgeries to save his damaged limbs.
In 1999 Linkous told Rollling Stone, “For a while there, I was really scared that when I technically died — which I guess I did for a few minutes — that the part of my brain that allowed me my ability to write songs would be damaged.”
But Linkous continued to produce, recording 1999’s “Good Morning Spider”, 2001’s “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and 2006’s “Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain”.
Linkous most recent collaborated with Danger Mouse and director David Lynch on the multimedia project “Dark Night of the Soul”, which following months of legal battles is set for release this summer.
View “Saturday” and “Wish You Were Here” videos below: