Vince Welnick: R.I.P.

[pooldude]

Vince Welnick, the talented keyboard player for the Tubes, & later the Grateful Dead, has died...reportedly a suicide.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/breaking_news/14734546.htm

Apparently Vince Welnick was suffering from emphysema & cancer for many years, as well as drug addiction.

After Jerry Garcia died about 11 years ago, Welnick was reportedly ostracized by the surviving members of the Dead, whether for being the newest member, or his ongoing drug problems, it's hard to tell.

http://www.vincewelnick.com/index.php?module=pnForum&func=viewtopic&topic=315

Either way, he was very despondent over his music career & failing health. It's another sad ending for a talented musician.

 

[Music Wench]

Wow, I heard he had died but I didn't know it was a suicide. Most sad.

 

[runtfan]

Yeah, pretty sad. He was a great keyboard player and, by all accounts, a great guy too. I had the pleasure of seeing him with the Tubes and with Todd Rundgren.

R.I.P. Vince

 

[mojoman]

Wow, that's a shame. Seems like you don't want to have been a keyboard player for the Dead. Isn't he the third or fourth one to die an untimely death?

 

[Music Wench]

Yep, here's an article I came across regarding his death. It mentions the keyboard players all dying.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060603/en_nm/welnick_dc_1

 

[Gearjammer]

Yes, keyboard players are to the Dead what drummers are to Spinal Tap. I think Bruce Hornsby is the only one have survived.

 

[Reverend Rock]

I remember seeing Vince onstage with Todd Rundgren during the "Nearly Human" tour. Anybody who could play behind Todd has to be among the finest. Sad news. 51 feels young to me. I'm 49, so it feels very young.

 

[pooldude]

51 feels young to me. I'm 49, so it feels very young.

I believe Welnick was born in '51 & that he was actually 55 years old.

I think some of the news reports got the bdate wrong...

According to Vince's official website bio...he was born in Feb 1951.

http://www.vincewelnick.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=2

 

[Reverend Rock]

55 feels young too...