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Mark Linkous

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Mark Linkous
Linkous in 1992
Linkous in 1992
Background information
Birth nameFrederick Mark Linkous
BornSeptember 9, 1962
Arlington, Virginia,US
DiedMarch 6, 2010 (aged 47)
Knoxville, Tennessee,US
GenresLo-fi,indie rock,alt-country,bluegrass,folk,psychedelic,southern gothic
Occupation(s)Musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drums, percussion
Years active1984–2010
LabelsCapitol/EMI,Astralwerks/Caroline/Virgin/EMI,Konkurrent,Combat,Relativity,Anti-/Epitaph
Websitesparklehorse

Frederick Mark Linkous/ˈlɪŋkəs/(September 9, 1962 – March 6, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as leader ofSparklehorse.He was also known for his collaborations with such artists asTom Waits,PJ Harvey,Daniel Johnston,Cracker,Radiohead,Black Francis,Julian Casablancas,Nina Persson,David Lynch,Fennesz,Danger Mouse,andSage Francis.[1]

A member of the 1980sindieband the Dancing Hoods, Linkous moved with the group from his nativeVirginiatoNew York Cityand laterLos Angelesin hopes of achieving mainstream success. By 1988, the band had failed to land a major record label deal, and it disbanded, with Linkous returning to Virginia, where he began writing songs under various monikers.[2]

By 1995, he created a project named Sparklehorse, of which he remained the only permanent member. The band released a quartet of critically acclaimed albums: onCapitol Records,Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot,Good Morning Spider,andIt's a Wonderful Life;and on Astralwerks records,Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain.Linkous lived the last years of his life inHayesville, North Carolina,where he established Static King Studio. He died by suicide inKnoxville, Tennessee,on March 6, 2010.[3][4]

Biography

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Early life

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Frederick Mark Linkous[5]was born on September 9, 1962, inArlington, Virginia,to Gloria Hughes Thacker and Frederick Linkous.[6]He had three brothers.[6]Many members of his family werecoal minersby trade,[7][8]and Linkous chose a career in music in part to avoid working in mines.[9]His parents divorced before he was 13.[10]

He later characterized himself during his teenage years as a "juvenile delinquent", and began hanging out in amotorcycle gangat a young age.[10]During his adolescence, he was sent to live with his paternal grandparents inCharlottesville,Virginia.[10]Linkous also attendedAlbemarle High Schoolin Charlottesville, where he "went to school to see my friends—that's the only reason I didn't drop out."[10]During his high school years, he began abusingalcoholand consumingmarijuanaheavily.[10]

Dancing Hoods

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Shortly after graduating from high school in the early 1980s, Linkous moved toNew York City,where he co-founded the band Dancing Hoods.[6][11]It featured Linkous on guitar and vocals, Bob Bortnick on vocals and guitar, Don Short on drums, and Eric Williams on bass.[11]In 1984, the group released a self-titled EP; a year later, it released the album12 Jealous RosesonRelativity Records,which received a number of positive reviews.[11]The ReplacementsandThe Del Fuegoswere also vocal fans of the band after the release of its first record.[11]

In 1988, Dancing Hoods put out its second album,Hallelujah Anyway,onCombat Records.[11]A single from the album, "Baby's Got Rockets", was a modestcollege radiohit, and its video was picked up byMTV's program120 Minutes.[11]The same year, the group relocated toLos Angelesin hopes of achieving mainstream success, but broke up shortly after.[11]

Salt Chunk Mary

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Following the breakup of Dancing Hoods, Linkous moved back to Virginia. There, before he started theSparklehorseproject, he had another band consisting of Frederick Mark Linkous, Matt Linkous, Chip Jones, and Steve Schick. Formed in late 1989 as The Johnson Family, it soon became Salt Chunk Mary—both names being characters inJack Black's memoirYou Can't Win.Demos were circulated, but no official releases were made. By 1995, Mark Linkous formed the solo project Sparklehorse, taking a couple of Salt Chunk Mary songs with him, and Matt Linkous later formed The Rabbit with Melissa Moore.[12]

Sparklehorse

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After Dancing Hoods broke up, Linkous moved back to Virginia,[6]where he continued writing songs. One of the tracks he wrote during this period withDavid Lowery,"Sick of Goodbyes", was recorded byCrackerand appeared on its 1993 albumKerosene Hat.While in Virginia, he performed concerts under the monikers The Johnson Family (with members of Richmond punk legends Honor Role) and Salt Chunk Mary.[2]Linkous finally settled on the band nameSparklehorse,and releasedVivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplotonCapitol Recordsin 1995. He remained the only consistent member throughout the band's existence.

In 1996, while supportingRadioheadon the first Sparklehorse tour, Linkous overdosed on alcohol,Valium,antidepressants,and possibly other substances in his London hotel room.[13]Rendered unconscious, he collapsed with his legs pinned beneath him, and remained in that position for almost 14 hours.[14]He was treated atSt Mary's Hospital, London.[6]Subsequent surgeries saved both legs, but he required the use of a wheelchair for six months.[14]His legs never regained their original strength.[3]

1998 saw the release ofGood Morning Spider;one of the album's songs, "St. Mary", dealt with Linkous's accident in London and subsequent rehabilitation.[6]In 2001, Sparklehorse releasedIt's a Wonderful Life,which featured contributions fromTom Waits,PJ Harvey,John Parish,Nina Persson,Vic Chesnutt,andDave Fridmann.

In 2003, Sparklehorse's song "Sea of Teeth" was featured on the soundtrack forAll the Real Girls,a film starringZooey Deschaneland directed byDavid Gordon Green.

In September 2006, Sparklehorse releasedDreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain.The album marked a new collaboration withDJ Danger Mouse.[15]

In 2009, Linkous teamed up with electronic ambient artistChristian Fenneszto createIn the Fishtank 15,an experimental EP. The last four live shows Linkous did with Fennesz were during a European tour in October 2009.

At the time of his death, his manager confirmed that Linkous "had completed most of the work for a new Sparklehorse album", was in the process of moving toKnoxville, Tennessee,and was working on setting up a studio where he planned to finish the record.[6]

Dark Night of the Soul

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In the late 2000s, Linkous recorded the albumDark Night of the Soulwith the producerDanger Mouse,the directorDavid Lynch,and ten other musicians. It was released on the Internet in May 2009, as was a book of photographs by Lynch to accompany the music. Though long delayed due to legal problems, it was officially released in 2010[6]several months after Linkous's death. The album features several guest singers and writers, such asThe Flaming LipsandIggy Pop.Vic Chesnutt, another guest on the album, died by suicide a few months before Linkous. Because of this, the album is dedicated "in memory of Mark Linkous andVic Chesnutt".

Production and other work

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Aside from his own music, Linkous became a sought-afterrecord producer,and helmed works such asNina Persson's solo record,A Camp;the track "Silverlake" byAzure Ray(feat.Sparklehorse), the first recording by Azure Ray after its six-year hiatus ended in 2009, later rerecorded and released bySaddle Creek Recordsafter Linkous's death along with the demo he created; andDaniel Johnston'sFear Yourself.Linkous was one of Johnston's most ardent supporters. Johnston was anoutsider artistwho had a long battle withmental illness.In 2004, Linkous curated and producedThe Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered,a tribute album featuring acts such asBeck,Death Cab for Cutie,Vic Chesnutt,Tom WaitsandBright Eyes,and a collaboration between Sparklehorse andThe Flaming Lipson the track "Go."

He collaborated withBanglessinger-songwriterSusanna Hoffson several tracks for an unrealized solo album in 1993-1994, cowriting and contributing songs and playing on tracks including a cover of Johnston's "Go." Linkous also provided music for rapperSage Francis's albumLi(f)eand the song "Love The Lie." The album and song were released after Linkous's death.

Death

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In March 2010, Linkous was about to move into a spare bedroom in the Knoxville home of bandmate Scott Minor; Linkous was apparently in the process of breaking up with his wife of 19 years, Teresa.[16][17]Linkous battled depression for many years and was greatly shaken by the December 2009 suicide of his close friend Vic Chesnutt.

In the early afternoon of March 6, 2010, Linkous was drinkingKentucky bourbonwith Minor and friend DeWitt Burton at their home.[16]After receiving a number of text messages on hisBlackBerrythat left him distraught, he told Minor and Burton, "It's not good."[16]Linkous quietly retrieved his ITM Arms rifle from an upstairs room, then told his two friends that he was going for a walk and left through a back door.[16][18][17]At about 1:15pm, a witness saw him sit down in the alley near Irwin Street, aim the rifle at his own heart, and pull the trigger.[16][18][17]Linkous was declared dead at the scene; he was 47 years old.[4][3][6][18][2]

Police did not find asuicide note.[18][17]Linkous's publicist confirmed the details of his death to a number of publications that day.[3][6]According to his toxicology report, hisblood alcohol contentwas 0.43 at the time of his death;benzodiazepinesandantidepressantswere also found in his system.[16]

Teresa Linkous died six years later, on March 5, 2016, from an acuteasthmaattack.[19]

Reaction

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Within a few hours of his death, a message attributed to the Linkous family was posted on the official Sparklehorse website: "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."[20]

A number of notable musicians and people in the music world made statements mourning the loss of Linkous, includingPatti Smith,[21][22]Radiohead'sColin Greenwood,[22][23]Silversun Pickups'Brian Aubert,[24]Death Cab for Cutie'sChris Walla,[25]Steven DrozdandWayne CoyneofThe Flaming Lips,[26]Steve Albini,[22][27]Gemma Hayes,[28]andthe Jesus Lizard'sDavid Wm. Sims.[29][16]Emily Hainesof Metric wrote a eulogy titled "The Rings of Saturn on Your Fingers".[30]

TheOrange County Registerpublished an appreciation of his work alongside a discussion of his depression and his relationship to other musical artists.[31]

References

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  1. ^Spinner article: "Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse commits suicide."
  2. ^abcVarietyarticle: "Sparklehorses's Mark Linkous dies".
  3. ^abcdLA Timesarticle: "Mark Linkous, aka Sparklehorse, takes his own life, his family says."
  4. ^abE! Newsarticle: "Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous Takes His Own Life".
  5. ^"FREDERICK LINKOUS Obituary: View FREDERICK LINKOUS's Obituary by Richmond Times-Dispatch".Legacy.14 March 2010.Retrieved2010-05-01.
  6. ^abcdefghijSisario, Ben (March 7, 2010).The Singer-Songwriter Known as Sparklehorse is Dead at 47.New York Times
  7. ^Graham, James D. (28 February 2002)."Sparklehorse's one-man band owes everything to his snoozing wife".The Hook.Archived fromthe originalon 6 December 2007.
  8. ^Laurence, Alexander (6 March 2010)."Sparklehorse 2002 interview".The Portable Infinite.
  9. ^"Sparklehorse BBC Culture Show"onYouTube.
  10. ^abcdeThe Hookarticle: "He sparkles: The sad and beautiful world of Mark LinkousArchived2007-12-06 at theWayback Machine."
  11. ^abcdefgAllMusicpage: "Dancing Hoods - biography."
  12. ^You can find the only existing album from this bandhere.
  13. ^"Mark Linkous: It's a Wonderful Life".Archived fromthe originalon 2006-10-31.Retrieved2006-10-31.
  14. ^abFree Williamsburgarticle: "Sparklehorse: An interview with Mark LinkousArchived2013-01-23 atarchive.today."
  15. ^"CULTURE- Light Years later: Linkous back after five years".readthehook.Retrieved2020-09-10.
  16. ^abcdefgPitchfork Mediaarticle: "The Sad and Beautiful World of Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous"
  17. ^abcdMetro Pulsearticle: "R.I.P. Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse.
  18. ^abcdAssociated Pressarticle: "Mark Linkous, leader of Sparklehorse, dies at 47."
  19. ^"LINKOUS, TERESA ANN".Richmond Times-Dispatch.Retrieved3 February2019.
  20. ^Ganz, Caryn (6 March 2010)."Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous Takes Own Life".Rolling Stone.Wenner Media.Archived fromthe originalon March 8, 2010.Retrieved7 March2010.
  21. ^"pattismith.net: souvenance".Pattismith.net.Retrieved3 February2019.
  22. ^abcNMEarticle: "Patti Smith, Flaming Lips, Steve Albini pay tribute to Mark Linkous."
  23. ^Greenwood, Colin (8 March 2010)."Mark Linkous RIP".radiohead.Archived fromthe originalon 9 March 2010.Retrieved4 June2024.
  24. ^"Remembering Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous".The Hollywood Reporter.30 December 2010.Retrieved3 February2019.
  25. ^Twitterpage forChris Walla:"Rest in peace, Mark Linkous".
  26. ^Twitterpage forSteven Drozd:"Mark Linkous toured with us..."
  27. ^Electrical Audio messageboard, post bySteve Albini:"Re: R.I.P., Mark Linkous."
  28. ^"Gemma Hayes".Gemma Hayes. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-04.Retrieved2013-04-01.
  29. ^"Mark Linkous, 1962-2010 | David Wm. Sims".2012-03-09. Archived fromthe originalon 2012-03-09.Retrieved2020-09-10.
  30. ^Blanche, Cate (2010-03-19)."The Rings of Saturn on Your Fingers: Metric's Emily Haines on Mark Linkous / In Depth // Drowned In Sound".Drownedinsound. Archived fromthe originalon 2013-04-12.Retrieved2013-04-01.
  31. ^"RIP: Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous, 1962-2010 - Soundcheck: The Orange County Register".2010-03-13. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-03-13.Retrieved2020-09-10.
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