R.I.P. Keith Mitchell (Mazzy Star)

Read More Mazzy Star We've been following Mazzy Star for a while now, particularly since they've reformed and announced a new record (nevermind that it's been 17 years!)..…

Mazzy Star’s drummer Keith Mitchell has passed away on Sunday, May 14th. The band issued this statement:

Our hearts are broken. We have lost the much beloved Keith Mitchell, a very talented and amazing drummer that we have had the privilege to work with for many years, he will live in all of our hearts forever... We'll miss you Big Fella.

Mitchell was with Mazzy Star since they were originally from Opal. We last caught Mazzy Star (with Mitchell) in November 2013 and wrote, “There was a strict no-photography rule in place for the evening, so you’ll just have to visualize the stage set up for Mazzy Star, but it’s exactly as you probably imagined it- near darkness, save a few well-placed candles, with on-screen images of monochromatic slow motion nature scenes, stars, and circa 1890’s stereoscopic photos. Singer Hope Sandoval had a multi-tier wrought iron stand next to her that held her harmonica, percussion, a few candles, and a glass of red wine.”

Below are more deaths for the month of May - for the full death list: Musicians who died in 2017.

May (15)

[14 May 2017] Keith Mitchell (American drummer for Mazzy Star)

[14 May 2017] Tom McClung (American jazz pianist and composer), 60

[13 May 2017] Jimmy Copley (English drummer), 63, leukemia

[11 May 2017] İbrahim Erkal (Turkish singer-songwriter), 50

[11 May 2017] Joachim Kaiser (German musicologist and editor), 88

[09 May 2017] Christopher Boykin (American musician for Rob & Big), 45, heart failure

[08 May 2017] Dave Pell (American jazz musician), 92

[08 May 2017] Mary Tsoni (Greek actress Dogtooth and singer of Mary and the Boy), 30, suicide

[03 May 2017] C'el Revuelta (American bassist for Black Flag), brain cancer

[03 May 2017] Daliah Lavi (Israeli actress, singer, and model for Casino Royale), 74

[03 May 2017] Saxa (Jamaican-born British saxophonist for The Beat), 87

[02 May 2017] Kevin Garcia (American bassist for Grandaddy), 41, stroke

[02 May 2017] Péter Komlós (Hungarian violinist), 81

[02 May 2017] Grigori Zhislin (Russian violinist), 71

[01 May 2017] Bruce Hampton (American musician for Hampton Grease Band, Col. Bruce Hampton and The Aquarium Rescue Unit), 70

[01 May 2017] Erkki Kurenniemi (Finnish musician), 75

vu ([email protected]) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic