Former Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Dies at 40

Mikey Welsh, who played bass with the band Weezer from 1998 to 2001 before going on to a career as an artist, was found dead in the Chicago Raffaello Hotel on Saturday.

Hotel staff discovered the 40-year-old’s body in his room at 2:50 p.m. when he failed to complete check-out procedures. An autopsy is being performed, but police say no foul play is suspected.

The Burlington, VT native said in a Facebook post on October 1 that he was going to Chicago to see his former bandmates play at Sunday’s Riot Fest.

Welsh left the band 10 years ago after having a nervous breakdown, and later told MetroWest Daily News, “I’m taking a break from music. I really feel the need to reinvent myself and move on, and I couldn’t be happier painting. Music is still an important part of my life, but I really have no desire to actually play it.”

In a post on Weezer’s website Saturday night, the band said, “A unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist is gone, but we will never forget him. His chapter in the Weezer story… was vital, essential, wild, and amazing. We will miss him terribly… The world has lost a truly one of a kind guy.”

[The Huffington Post via Associated Press]