Doug hopkins cause of death

By Associated Press. But Hopkins was fired from the group in April because fellow band members said his drinking hindered his performance at recording sessions. Hopkins killed himself by putting a. Doug hopkins cause of death being kicked out of the group, Hopkins formed a band called Chimeras, but that broke up.

Like it did with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin and so many others, the dark side of making music has claimed the life of one of the Valley's biggest talents. Douglas Hopkins, founder and former lead guitarist of the Gin Blossoms, killed himself in his Tempe apartment Sunday with a gun he bought at a pawn shop Friday. His death follows a decadelong bout with depression and alcoholism. He had attempted suicide six times before, including two weeks ago. Hopkins, 32, wrote jangly guitar-oriented songs reminiscent of the Byrds and Beatles. Many of his songs refer to drinking and the pain that friends and family say he couldn't seem to escape. He patted my hand and said goodbye.

Doug hopkins cause of death

Things To Do. Best of Phoenix. Support Us. Calendar Events Lists. Before Doug Hopkins tragically committed suicide in , he would often tell his friends that the Gin Blossoms were ripping him off. By Jason Keil. Share this:. I mean, he and I were in cahoots about which singles to release. Nobody knows what the fuck happened. The album, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, came along four long years after the release of their successful major-label debut, which included touring in support of New Miserable Experience for over a year. Asking him to think back on the events surrounding an album recorded two decades ago feels like pulling teeth.

The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions.

A slew of talented artists from the '90s rock scene died too young. The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman was found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room on May 17, ; his death was ruled a suicide. A family attorney released a statement implying it may not have been deliberate, however. It stated: "Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages. The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions. Cobain 's death rocked the music world in , after the young and troubled Nirvana frontman was found in his Seattle home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

By Hobart Rowland. Doug Hopkins just wanted to smoke and drink in peace, so they retreated to the bar at a nearby Italian restaurant. Hopkins was becoming increasingly angry and distraught, lamenting the uselessness of his life, the sorry state of his liver and the injustices inflicted upon him by a local bar band that, at that moment, was poised for a national breakthrough thanks, in large part, to songs he wrote. Pretty soon, the anger gave way to sobs. Even worse, it was stolen from him. I want to die.

Doug hopkins cause of death

Filed under: s , alternative rock , doug hopkins , gin blossoms , hey jealousy , music , new miserable experience. It lent itself to Top 40 radio play as a result. But lyrically, the tune did not come from a good place. Hopkins was a member of the band until the middle of , just before the completion of this album, when his alcoholism became so out of control that he was fired from the band, which continued to perform his songs. Not that they ever felt very comfortable with that fact. The band, full of lifers in the Tempe, Arizona music scene, were about to see major success. Hopkins' bandmates were basically forced into a bad situation by their record label. His band mates were, to me, total bastards then—but kids, really; at least emotionally. The label mandate was dump Doug—get rid of the guy who built the band and whose songs got the band the record deal—or else. The label had already spent a small fortune recording a first album, which was scrapped.

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Brian Griffith. Since we started New Times , it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we'd like to keep it that way. We were all hoping he would pick up the pieces and make a record that would dazzle you," Lander says. You know when the phone rings it's the hotel people trying to kick you out. I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Best of Phoenix. Hopkins killed himself by putting a. Featured press image via azcentral. The cause of death was found to be a mix of cocaine, ethanol alcohol and MDA a relative of ecstasy. As they toured, did television appearances, and began to reap the fruits of six years of kicking around Tempe trying to get noticed, Hopkins returned home to figure out what to do next. They had a strong desire to write a collection of songs that stood well on their own.

He co-founded Gin Blossoms , a popular modern rock band of the early s, with Richard Taylor. He was the band's lead guitarist and a principal songwriter.

It wasn't put on, it wasn't a stage show. That was one of his lines. Join Today. You are no longer onsite at your organization. Site Information Updates Credits Who? By Associated Press. On Friday, Hopkins bought the gun he used to take his life at a Valley pawn shop, according to police reports. Holidays Your ultimate guide to St. It was us. He always said it was his big feet; he had size feet. I stayed with my friend, Wes, the only person in town I knew, in his apartment on University Drive in Tempe.