Former Weezer Bassist Found Dead in Hotel Room

CHICAGO –  Chicago police say former Weezer bass player and artist Mikey Welsh has been found dead in a Chicago hotel room.

Police spokeswoman Laura Kubiak says Welsh was supposed to check out of the Raffaello Hotel at 1 p.m. Saturday. When he didn’t, hotel staff went to his room and later entered it. Kubiak says Welsh was unconscious and not breathing.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office says autopsy results will be available Sunday afternoon. Kubiak says there’s nothing to indicate foul play.

Weezer posted a message on its official website, saying, “a unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist is gone, but we will never forget him.”

Welsh’s website says the 40-year-old painter lived in Burlington, Vt. He performed with Weezer from 1998 to 2001.