Some sad news — ex-Weezer bassist and visual artist Mikey Welsh passed away yesterday at the age of just 40. According to MSNBC, Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel yesterday afternoon. No cause of death has yet been confirmed. Welsh was the bassist in Weezer from 1998 until 2002, and played on the band’s self-titled 2001 album (generally known as The Green Album). After leaving Weezer following a nervous breakdown, Welsh found success as a painter. His work was colouful and striking, yet often also somehow disconcerting, recalling variously the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat and also late period Willem de Kooning, but always with a style and power all its own. Creepily, Welsh tweeted two weeks ago about dreaming he’d die in his sleep in Chicago in two weeks’ time. Weezer posted a message on their website this morning, mourning the loss of their “beautiful, creative, hilarious and sweet friend”. Welsh is survived by his wife and two sons. RIP.