Mikey Welsh’s Death Possibly Drug Related

Another musician from a popular, successful band is dead of a suspected drug overdose.

Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room in early October 2011. While a cause of death is yet to be determined, pending toxicology tests, Welsh battled addiction in the past. Test results could take up to six weeks, but authorities found no indication of foul play.

Welsh joined the Grammy-winning band in 1998, and was the with the band during the release of The Green Album which featured the hit song “Hash Pipe.” His tenure was short-lived, though, with Welsh leaving in 2001 after suffering what he called a nervous breakdown. In August of that year he sought treatment in a psychiatric hospital, following a possible drug-assisted suicide attempt,” Rolling Stone reported, suggesting Welsh may have suffered from a co-occurring disorder.

The musician went on to find success as a painter, settling into a quieter life in Burlington, Vermont, where he was also a husband and father.

While in Chicago, Welsh planned to attend Weezer's Sunday performance at Riot Fest in the Windy City. Following Welch’s death, Weezer posted a message on the band’s website, calling his time with the band “vital, essential, wild, and amazing.”

Adding to the sadness of his untimely death, before he passed away, Welsh shared a dream via Twitter in which he predicted his death. “Dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today,” he tweeted. 

Co-occurring Disorder Treatment