Mark Linkous

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.com

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

A member of the 1980s indie band the Dancing Hoods, Linkous moved with the group from his native Virginia to New York City and later Los Angeles in 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: on Capitol Records, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, Good Morning Spider, and It'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 in Hayesville, North Carolina, where he established Static King Studio. He died by suicide in Knoxville, Tennessee, on March 6, 2010.[3][4]

  1. ^ Spinner article: "Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse commits suicide."
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference variety was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference latimes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference eonline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).