Scenestar

Sad news in the world of music tonight. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse has committed suicide, according to his publicist, who confirmed the news to Rolling Stone. According to the New York Times, Linkous died from a self-inflicted shot to the heart in an alley outside a friend’s home. Here is a statement from his family:

“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.”

Mark Linkous’ publicist confirmed that he was nearly done with a new album. His last musical project was Dark Night of the Soul, which he worked on with Danger Mouse and David Lynch. We last saw Sparklehorse at the Henry Fonda Music Box in 2007, and we were hoping to see more from the talented singer-songwriter, who battled with depression and substance abuse. Alas, we now have lost another talented artist sooner than we should have. R.I.P. Mark Linkous, March 6, 2010.

Click below to listen to a live performance on KCRW of Sparklehorse here in Los Angeles:

KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic w/ Sparklehorse (2001)

Here’s one of our favorite tracks from Dark Side Of The Soul on You Tube: Insane Lullaby w/ James Mercer of The Shins: