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Mikey Welsh: Difference between revisions
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'''Michael Edward "Mikey" Welsh''' ([[April 20]], 1971 | '''Michael Edward "Mikey" Welsh''' ([[April 20]], 1971 – [[October 8]], [[2011]]) was an American musician and visual artist, best known as the former bassist for [[Weezer]]. Welsh was one of several musicians that played with Weezer frontman [[Rivers Cuomo]] in Boston during Weezer's hiatus from [[1997]] through [[2000]]. Following original bassist [[Matt Sharp]]'s departure from the band, Welsh was chosen to take his place. Welsh played with Weezer from [[1998]] until August [[2001]], when he was hospitalized following a suicide attempt. Shortly afterwards, he retired from music to focus on an art career. Welsh passed away in [[2011]]. | ||
==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
===As a musician=== | ===As a musician=== | ||
[[Image:Leftnut.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Welsh (far right) with [[Left Nut]].]] | |||
Welsh was born [[April 20]], 1971 in Syracuse, New York. He started off as a Boston-area musician, playing in bands such as [[Heretix]], Chevy Heston, [[Jocobono]], [[Left Nut]], and Slower. He also performed in [[Juliana Hatfield]]'s backing band and, during Weezer's hiatus, he performed as a touring musician for [[Wikipedia:Verbena_(band)|Verbena]] and in the first full-band incarnation of [[Patrick Wilson]]'s musical project [[The Special Goodness]]. Welsh joined Weezer following the departure of [[Matt Sharp]] in [[1998]]. According to Welsh in [[Facebook posts by Mikey Welsh|a Facebook post]] from [[September 13]], [[2011]], Welsh first met Rivers Cuomo when a member of [[Wikipedia:The_Mighty_Mighty_Bosstones|The Mighty Mighty Bosstones]] recommended Welsh to Cuomo: | Welsh was born [[April 20]], 1971 in Syracuse, New York.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19990220162354/http://www.weezer.net/hifi/info/mikey.html Mikey Welsh - Weezer.net bio]. Archived by ''Wayback Machine''.</ref> He started off as a Boston-area musician, playing in bands such as [[Heretix]], Chevy Heston, [[Jocobono]], [[Left Nut]], and Slower. He also performed in [[Juliana Hatfield]]'s backing band and, during Weezer's hiatus, he performed as a touring musician for [[Wikipedia:Verbena_(band)|Verbena]] and in the first full-band incarnation of [[Patrick Wilson]]'s musical project [[The Special Goodness]]. Welsh joined Weezer following the departure of [[Matt Sharp]] in [[1998]]. According to Welsh in [[Facebook posts by Mikey Welsh|a Facebook post]] from [[September 13]], [[2011]], Welsh first met Rivers Cuomo when a member of [[Wikipedia:The_Mighty_Mighty_Bosstones|The Mighty Mighty Bosstones]] recommended Welsh to Cuomo.<ref name="facebook1">[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10150290813537717&set=a.293875232716 Facebook post] by Mikey Welsh, 12 September 2011. [[Facebook_posts_by_Mikey_Welsh|Weezerpedia mirror]]</ref> | ||
Welsh met [[Rivers Cuomo]] well prior to {{PN|Matt Sharp}} departure from Weezer. The band informally auditioned Welsh as a session player in the Spring of 1997 during the sessions Fort Apache studios in Boston, MA<ref>[[Recording History - Page 9#Spring 1997 - Boston, MA - Pink Triangle single session.]]</ref>. [[Scott Riebling]] was selected to appear on the recording in place of Welsh, to replace an absent Sharp. Welsh stayed connected to Cuomo after this, performing with him at a few Weezer "try-out" shows in late 1997. He formally auditioned for the band in early [[1998]],<ref name="facebook1" /> and, upon being selected moved in with Cuomo and [[Pat Wilson]] in Los Angeles<ref name="Tom">"[[Indecision and Abandoning the Past#Part 2|Indecision and Abandoning the Past]]" by [[User:Tom]]</ref> rehearsing semi-regularly with them and [[Brian Bell]] as early as June of that year. In addition to Weezer work, Welsh and Wilson helped Bell record four songs during this time period<ref>[[Recording History - Page 10#Late Summer 1998: Demo of Brian's songs (not really Weezer nor Space Twins)]]</ref>. His first recorded work to be released with the band was the [[Pixies]] cover "[[Velouria]]," which was recorded in August of 1998 but not released until the next year. | |||
Welsh met [[Rivers Cuomo]] well prior to {{PN|Matt Sharp}} departure from Weezer. The band informally auditioned Welsh as a session player in the Spring of 1997 during the sessions Fort Apache studios in Boston, MA<ref>[[Recording History - Page 9#Spring 1997 - Boston, MA - Pink Triangle single session.]]</ref>. [[Scott | |||
Welsh wrote a number of bass lines for Weezer in this period, some of which Cuomo considered but never used. Welsh instead offered them to [[Juliana Hatfield]], who wrote four different songs using his material, all of which eventually saw release on her [[2000]] album ''[[Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure]]''. [[Karl Koch]] credited Welsh helping shape the song "[[Everyone]]," saying he was responsible for the song being "ultra heavy" and "{{Wiki2|Fu_Manchu_(band)|Fu Manchu}}-like."<ref name="Tom"/> | Welsh wrote a number of bass lines for Weezer in this period, some of which Cuomo considered but never used. Welsh instead offered them to [[Juliana Hatfield]], who wrote four different songs using his material, all of which eventually saw release on her [[2000]] album ''[[Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure]]''. [[Karl Koch]] credited Welsh helping shape the song "[[Everyone]]," saying he was responsible for the song being "ultra heavy" and "{{Wiki2|Fu_Manchu_(band)|Fu Manchu}}-like."<ref name="Tom"/> | ||
The band did not perform live with Welsh until November of 1998, when they did two secret shows in California under the name [[Goat Punishment]]. One of these shows consisted of [[Nirvana]] covers and the other [[Oasis]] covers. When Weezer became less active in [[1999]], Welsh joined Wilson's project [[The Special Goodness]] for multiple tours, and recorded with Hatfield. | [[Image:Essay 97-98 02.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Welsh in 1998.]]The band did not perform live with Welsh until November of 1998, when they did two secret shows in California under the name [[Goat Punishment]]. One of these shows consisted of [[Nirvana]] covers and the other [[Oasis]] covers. When Weezer became less active in [[1999]], Welsh joined Wilson's project [[The Special Goodness]] for multiple tours, and recorded with Hatfield. | ||
Welsh toured with the band during their resurgence in the [[Summer Songs of 2000|summer of 2000]] and appeared on the EP ''[[Christmas CD]]'' that December. | Welsh toured with the band during their resurgence in the [[Summer Songs of 2000|summer of 2000]] and appeared on the EP ''[[Christmas CD]]'' that December. | ||
Privately, Welsh's relationship with Cuomo became strained.<ref name="kellyaltpress">Kelly, Trevor. "[[Alternative Press article - May 2005|The World Has Turned and Left Us Here]]" ''Alternative Press''. May 2005.</ref> "Once we started becoming successful again, Rivers turned into this robot," Welsh later said, "He had ice flowing through his veins, In my opinion, that's when he stopped being an artist." Cuomo fined bandmates for "poor" behavior, reportedly fining guitarist [[Brian Bell]] $2000 for his guitar being out of tune. | |||
===Departure from Weezer=== | ===Departure from Weezer=== | ||
Welsh left Weezer in August of 2001. On [[August 11]], Koch [[Karl's Corner - 08/11/2001|first | Welsh left Weezer in August of 2001. On [[August 11]], Koch [[Karl's Corner - 08/11/2001|first reported]] on Weezer's official website that Welsh had not come to rehearsals due to a "private medical problem" and that the band would be trying out replacement bass players. Following Welsh's continued absence during filming of the band's music video for "[[Island in the Sun]]" with [[Spike Jonze]], Koch posted [[Karl's Corner - 08/14/2001|an update]] on [[August 14]] explaining that the band was unsure as to Welsh's whereabouts, and that the band was "in the dark" on his health status. Koch continued to emphasize that Welsh's issues were, according to sources close to Welsh, not drug-related. The following day, Koch [[Karl's Corner - 08/15/2001|confirmed]] that Welsh had been checked into a psychiatric hospital. | ||
Koch continued to update fans on Welsh's status in the coming weeks. On [[August 19]], Koch [[Karl's Corner - 08/19/2001|posted an update]] confirming that [[Scott Shriner]] had been selected to fill in on bass. Koch posted [[Karl's Corner - 09/23/2001|one final update on Welsh]] on [[September 23]]. "Whats going on between Mikey and Weezer is a private matter," wrote Koch, "and there will be no further announcements, news or speculation in this space unless and until everyone involved is ready to make any statements on the matter." | |||
Koch continued to update fans on Welsh's status in the coming weeks. On [[August 19]], Koch [[Karl's Corner - 08/19/2001|posted an update]] confirming that [[Scott Shriner]] had been selected to fill in on bass. Koch posted [[Karl's Corner - 09/23/2001|one final update on Welsh]] on [[September 23]] | |||
The exact details of Welsh's departure were unknown to the public for several years. It was eventually revealed that he did, in fact, have a nervous breakdown due to a combination of drug use, undiagnosed mental conditions, and the constant wear of touring. The combination of these factors ultimately led Welsh to attempt suicide via drug overdose. He was subsequently checked in to a psychiatric hospital. Welsh spoke about the ordeal in [[Rock Salt Plum Review interview with Mikey Welsh - Spring 2007|a 2007 interview]] with the website Rock Salt Plum<ref name="Rock Salt">''Rock Salt Plum Review''. Spring 2007. Archived by ''Archive.today'' 4 December 13. https://archive.ph/20070812121105/http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html from the original: http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html</ref>: | The exact details of Welsh's departure were unknown to the public for several years. It was eventually revealed that he did, in fact, have a nervous breakdown due to a combination of drug use, undiagnosed mental conditions, and the constant wear of touring. The combination of these factors ultimately led Welsh to attempt suicide via drug overdose. He was subsequently checked in to a psychiatric hospital. Welsh spoke about the ordeal in [[Rock Salt Plum Review interview with Mikey Welsh - Spring 2007|a 2007 interview]] with the website Rock Salt Plum<ref name="Rock Salt">''Rock Salt Plum Review''. Spring 2007. Archived by ''Archive.today'' 4 December 13. https://archive.ph/20070812121105/http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html from the original: http://www.rocksaltplum.com/RSPSpring2007/ARTMikeyWelsh.html</ref>: | ||
{{Mikey Welsh quote|Basically, a lifetime of doing drugs and being undiagnosed as having Bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder finally caught up with me when I was 30 years old. At the beginning of a 3-month European tour with Weezer, I started slowly falling apart. Without getting too graphic, by the time the tour was winding up, my weight had gone down to about 140lbs (I'm 6'2") and mentally completely wiped out. When I returned to the states, my family had made plans for me to see a psychiatrist in Boston. First though, we had to play a few dates around the U.S., and perform on The Tonite Show (which ended up being my last performance with Weezer). By the time I got to Boston, I was having a complete nervous breakdown. It ended with a severe suicide attempt (an overdose). I was found and rushed to the hospital where I had come to within minutes of my heart completely stopping. I was in a coma for a few days, and woke up in a lockdown psychiatric ward.|<ref name="Rock Salt" />}} | {{Mikey Welsh quote|Basically, a lifetime of doing drugs and being undiagnosed as having Bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and borderline personality disorder finally caught up with me when I was 30 years old. At the beginning of a 3-month European tour with Weezer, I started slowly falling apart. Without getting too graphic, by the time the tour was winding up, my weight had gone down to about 140lbs (I'm 6'2") and mentally completely wiped out. When I returned to the states, my family had made plans for me to see a psychiatrist in Boston. First though, we had to play a few dates around the U.S., and perform on The Tonite Show (which ended up being my last performance with Weezer). By the time I got to Boston, I was having a complete nervous breakdown. It ended with a severe suicide attempt (an overdose). I was found and rushed to the hospital where I had come to within minutes of my heart completely stopping. I was in a coma for a few days, and woke up in a lockdown psychiatric ward.|''Rock Salt Plum Review'', 2007<ref name="Rock Salt" />}} | ||
In [[Entertainment Weekly interview with Mikey Welsh - March 15, 2002|an interview with ''Entertainment Weekly'']] from March of 2002, Welsh expressed that he felt abandoned by his former Weezer bandmates: "I took some time to get some help for something and they basically took off on me, abandoned me [...] The way it went down was pretty lame. Being in a band with guys that long and being as good friends as we were, having them just kind of split was definitely cold."<ref>Brunner, Rob. "[https://ew.com/article/2002/03/15/hear-now-11/ Hear & Now]" ''Entertainment Weekly''. 15 March 2002. </ref> A 2005 article by ''Alternative Press'' omitted the details of Welsh's ousting from the band, but described them as "more fucked-up and insensitive than you could possibly imagine."<ref name="kellyaltpress" /> | |||
In [[2001]], Welsh returned to the Boston music scene, briefly joining Nate Albert's (guitarist for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) band, [[The Kickovers]]. In an interview, he expressed his distaste for the corporate music process, stating that, "It’s actually fun to just be playing in the studio without some major-label idiot standing over your shoulder." | |||
In [[2001]], Welsh returned to the Boston music scene, briefly joining Nate Albert's (guitarist for The Mighty Mighty Bosstones) band, [[The Kickovers]]. In an interview, he expressed his distaste for the corporate music process, stating that, "It’s actually fun to just be playing in the studio without some major-label idiot standing over your shoulder." | |||
Soon after, Welsh retired from music to become a full-time artist. He, his wife and their two sons lived in Vermont. | Soon after, Welsh retired from music to become a full-time artist. He, his wife and their two sons lived in Vermont. | ||
Welsh received an apology letter from [[Rivers Cuomo]] in the spring of [[2004]]. "To be honest, I thought it was a prank," said Welsh, "But I read it again, and immediately recognized Rivers' handwriting; just the way he writes and talks and thinks. Needless to say, I was shocked. I assumed I would never speak to the guy again. I didn't really care either way if I did."<ref name="kellyaltpress" /> | |||
Welsh attended [[Weezer concert: 07/12/2005 - Lewiston,_ME|a Weezer show]] on [[July 12]], [[2005]] in Lewiston, Maine. Cuomo dedicated "[[Hash Pipe]]" to him, the very mention of his name drawing forth cheers from the crowd. Welsh also got to meet current Weezer bassist [[Scott Shriner]].<ref name="Lewiston Karl's Corner">[[Weezer concert: 07/12/2005 - Lewiston,_ME]]</ref> | |||
Welsh attended [[Weezer concert: 07/12/2005 - Lewiston,_ME|a Weezer show]] on [[July 12]], [[2005]] in Lewiston, Maine. Cuomo dedicated "[[Hash Pipe]]" to him, the very mention of his name drawing forth cheers from the crowd. Welsh also got to meet current Weezer bassist [[Scott Shriner]]. | |||
On [[September 2]], [[2010]], Welsh attended [[Weezer concert: 09/02/2010 - Essex Junction, VT|a Weezer concert in Essex Junction, Vermont]]. During the concert, Scott Shriner and Pat Wilson organized a "[[Karl's Corner - 09/02/2010|last minute switcheroo]]", pulling Welsh onstage to play bass during the song "[[Hash Pipe]]", to the surprise of Rivers Cuomo. Said Welsh, "Fortunately, they picked the one Weezer song I still remember how to play!" | On [[September 2]], [[2010]], Welsh attended [[Weezer concert: 09/02/2010 - Essex Junction, VT|a Weezer concert in Essex Junction, Vermont]]. During the concert, Scott Shriner and Pat Wilson organized a "[[Karl's Corner - 09/02/2010|last minute switcheroo]]", pulling Welsh onstage to play bass during the song "[[Hash Pipe]]", to the surprise of Rivers Cuomo. Said Welsh, "Fortunately, they picked the one Weezer song I still remember how to play!" | ||
On July 29th, [[2011]], Welsh played "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]" with Weezer and The Flaming Lips at [[Weezer concert: 07/29/2011 - Wantagh, NY|a show in Wantagh, New York]]. | On July 29th, [[2011]], Welsh played "[[Undone - The Sweater Song]]" with Weezer and The Flaming Lips at [[Weezer concert: 07/29/2011 - Wantagh, NY|a show in Wantagh, New York]]. | ||
===As an artist=== | |||
Welsh turned to art and, as of August [[2008]], had 13 exhibitions of his artwork. He was a member of the gallery [https://web.archive.org/web/20190101100824/http://www.outsiderart.info/welsh.htm Outsiderart.info]. | |||
A quote from Welsh's official website explained his methods of creating his art thusly: | |||
<blockquote>''"Welsh attacks his canvases with pure spontaneity and aggression, almost never using a brush and preferring to work only with his hands and fingers. This technique gives him the opportunity to get as close and "inside" to his paintings as he needs to be. For him, this is a necessity. Welsh also works in sculpture, working with found objects. Constructing creatures out of broken and dismantled chairs and furniture, to vacuum hoses, tupperware, wire, and rope. All painted with his usual explosion of color.”''</blockquote> | |||
His artwork was featured on a line of snowboards for the manufacturer Burton Snowboards, in a line of entitled "The Farm."<ref>Polston, Pamela. "Burton and Artist Mikey Welsh Team Up on New Snowboards" ''Seven Days''. 13 August 2008. https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/burton-and-artist-mikey-welsh-team-up-on-new-snowboards/Content?oid=2134537</ref> He also painted the album cover for the album ''[https://twinberlin.bandcamp.com/album/there-goes-my-virtue There Goes My Virtue]'' by the band Twin Berlin, as well as the covers for the albums ''[https://www.allmusic.com/album/fall-in-love-with-the-concussions-mw0002541248 Fall in Love With The Concussions]'' and ''[https://www.discogs.com/Concussions-Break-Up-With-The-Concussions/release/5585413 Break Up With The Concussions]'' by the band The Concussions. | |||
===Death=== | ===Death=== | ||
On [[October 8]], 2011, Welsh was found dead by staff at the Raffaello Hotel in Chicago.<ref>Nickeas, Peter. "Drug overdose suspected in death of former Weezer bass player" ''Chicago Tribune'' 9 October 2011. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-weezer-bass-player-dies-in-chicago-20111009-story.html</ref> A drug overdose was suspected, but toxicology results were inconclusive.<ref>Mapes, Jillian. "Weezer’s Mikey Welsh: His Final Weeks" ''The Hollywood Reporter''. 10 October 2011. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weezer-mikey-welsh-final-days-246466</ref> He was 40 years old. Welsh's Facebook page announced that he had tragically passed away that day, and was confirmed later on the official Weezer Twitter account. Two weeks before his death, Welsh posted to his Twitter account: "Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today,".<ref>@MikeyWelsh71 "dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today." ''Twitter''. 26 September 2011. https://twitter.com/mikeywelsh71/status/118305899923259392</ref> Welsh later added, "correction – the weekend after next"<ref>@MikeyWelsh71 "correction – the weekend after next" ''Twitter'' 26 September 2011. https://twitter.com/MikeyWelsh71/status/118318253276798976</ref><ref>"Did former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh predict his Chicago death?" ''Chicago Tribute''. 10 October 2011. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-10-10-chi-mikey-welsh-weezer-bassist-death-20111010-story.html</ref> | On [[October 8]], 2011, Welsh was found dead by staff at the Raffaello Hotel in Chicago.<ref>Nickeas, Peter. "Drug overdose suspected in death of former Weezer bass player" ''Chicago Tribune'' 9 October 2011. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-weezer-bass-player-dies-in-chicago-20111009-story.html</ref> A drug overdose was suspected, but toxicology results were inconclusive.<ref>Mapes, Jillian. "Weezer’s Mikey Welsh: His Final Weeks" ''The Hollywood Reporter''. 10 October 2011. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/weezer-mikey-welsh-final-days-246466</ref> He was 40 years old. Welsh's Facebook page announced that he had tragically passed away that day, and was confirmed later on the official Weezer Twitter account. Two weeks before his death, Welsh posted to his Twitter account: "Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today,".<ref>@MikeyWelsh71 "dreamt i died in chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). need to write my will today." ''Twitter''. 26 September 2011. https://twitter.com/mikeywelsh71/status/118305899923259392</ref> Welsh later added, "correction – the weekend after next"<ref>@MikeyWelsh71 "correction – the weekend after next" ''Twitter'' 26 September 2011. https://twitter.com/MikeyWelsh71/status/118318253276798976</ref><ref>"Did former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh predict his Chicago death?" ''Chicago Tribute''. 10 October 2011. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2011-10-10-chi-mikey-welsh-weezer-bassist-death-20111010-story.html</ref> | ||