Rolling Stone reports that Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse has committed suicide. He was 47. His family released the following statement:
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today. 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.
In the past 15 years, Linkous made four albums under the Sparklehorse moniker: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (1995), Good Morning Spider (1998), It’s a Wonderful Life (2001), and Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (2006). He also collaborated on two LPs: last year’s Dark Night of the Soul with Danger Mouse and In the Fishtank with Christian Fennesz.
Linkous worked on various projects with a slew of brilliant artists during his career, including with Daniel Johnston as the producer of 2003’s Fear Yourself, and the likes of Tom Waits, PJ Harvey, Vic Chesnutt.
According to Linkous’ publicist, he was nearly finished with a new album to be released via Anti- Records.