Ex-Weezer Bassist Mikey Welsh Found Dead at 40

Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in his Chicago hotel room Saturday afternoon, The Chicago Tribune reports.

The 40-year-old musician, who left the band in 2001 to become a painter, reportedly died of a narcotics overdose; an autopsy won't be conducted until later Sunday afternoon.

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According to Chicago police, Raffaello Hotel staff found Welsh unresponsive on the floor after he failed to check out on time. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 2:50 p.m.

Welsh was a member of Weezer from 1998 to 2001; he quit the group because he suffered a nervous breakdown. Welsh was later replaced by bassist Scott Shriner, 46.

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"Really bummed about Mikey. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Such a talent," Shriner tweeted Sunday. "He made a special mark on the world with his art."