Members wheresgrant3 Posted June 3, 2006 Members Share Posted June 3, 2006 Grateful Dead keyboardist dies Grateful Dead keyboardist dies SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Vince Welnick, who took over as the Grateful Dead's keyboard player in 1990 after a succession of predecessors met untimely deaths, has died at the age of 55, according to an announcement on his Web site. "Vince passed from this earth on June 2, 2006 ... after a decade of battling tragedy while creating beauty and light around him," the announcement said. It did not give a cause of death. The San Jose Mercury News said he died in a hospital on Friday after being taken from his home in Forestville, California, and it quoted a person at his home as saying "it looks like he took his own life." Welnick had previously spoken of a deep depression after Jerry Garcia, founding guitarist of the iconic psychedelic rock band, died in 1995 and the group disbanded. Welnick is the fourth keyboard player for the band to have died, and his Web site referred to the position as a "particularly doomed spot." He once told an interviewer, "A lot of people ask about that and my stock answer is that I am aware of the fact that you could die doing this job, but I was somewhat dying of boredom before the job came up so I thought I'd take my chances." Originally a member of the 1970s rock band "The Tubes," Welnick joined the Grateful Dead after longest-serving keyboard player Brent Mydland died in 1990 of a drug overdose. Previously, pianist Keith Godchaux died in a car accident in 1980, a year after he left the band, and founding vocalist and keyboard player Ron "Pigpen" McKernan died in 1973 of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. After the Grateful Dead broke up and ended its 30-year run as one of America's biggest touring acts, Welnick formed his own group, Missing Man Formation. He also toured with other groups including Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart's band. He did not take part in various reunions of the Dead's other surviving members. "His service to and love for the Grateful Dead were heartfelt and essential. He had a loving soul and a joy in music that we were lucky to share," the band said in a statement. In an extension of the band's "curse of the keyboard player," Scott Larned, cofounder and keyboard player for the nationally-touring Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra, died last year of a heart attack. It's a good bet I won't be playing any GD tunes in the near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crawling Wind Posted June 3, 2006 Members Share Posted June 3, 2006 That's too bad - he seemed like such a nice guy. I've been reading comments about this on the web. Apparently, the Dead were not very nice to him (understatement) after Garcia's death, and the rejection really sent him into a downward spiral. I was appalled at some of the stories I read. RIP. ps I wonder what Tom Constanten thinks of this http://www.gaffmusic.com/constanten_new.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wheresgrant3 Posted June 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted June 3, 2006 Not so much a fan of the Dead... but I loved The Tubes! Great player, will be missed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Phishmonkey Posted June 3, 2006 Members Share Posted June 3, 2006 He was always unfairly ripped on by fans. The band was even worse. He almost overdoesed while touring with Ratdog (Bob Weir) and they sent to a hospital in a cab as john doe. Very sad story, RIP Vince. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members THBv2.0 Posted June 3, 2006 Members Share Posted June 3, 2006 Very sad news. I had the opportunity to meet and jam with Vince a couple years ago at one of my gigs. His sister is one of the bartenders and he dropped by once a year or so. He was a genuinely nice man and a brilliant talent on the keyboards. In 15 years of gigging, that afternoon was a hghlight. R.I.P. Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dan88z Posted June 4, 2006 Members Share Posted June 4, 2006 He did a lot of nice work with Todd Rundgren too. A talented player who will be missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members eric Posted June 4, 2006 Members Share Posted June 4, 2006 That sucks. Vince Welnick was a great player and a fun guy. I am officially bummed about this. I'll never forget the KB Mag spread when he took over for Brent. Not to mention he was one of The Tubes. RIP Vince. Regards, Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members electrobaby Posted June 4, 2006 Members Share Posted June 4, 2006 Originally posted by Phishmonkey He was always unfairly ripped on by fans. yeah this may be due to the fact that he followed brent who was probably the most energetic key player the dead had...it is indeed a shame....he was so young too...only 51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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