kevin-garcia-dead

Grandaddy bassist Kevin Garcia has died at the tender age of 41, after suffering from a massive stroke. In the midst of their grieving, the indie rock band posted this statement to their Facebook page: “There are no accurate words to express what we need to. We are absolutely shattered to say that we lost our friend and band mate Kevin Garcia early this afternoon. He succumbed to the effects of a massive stroke. We were all able to say goodbye to him and he was surrounded by his closest friends and family here in Modesto. Kevin started playing with Grandaddy when he was fifteen. He was an actual angel. He navigated life with a grace, a generosity and a kindness that was utterly unique. And contagious. He is loved so deeply by so many. Kevin was a proud father of two children, Jayden and Gavin. He is survived by his grandmother Joan, his parents Randy and Barbara (who let us practice at their house until 2001 and who are the best), his brothers Craig and Jeff and his wife Sondra. We’ll have more to say in the days ahead. Right now the four of us are grieving together. With great sadness and love, Grandaddy.”

Grandaddy originally formed in 1992, with Garcia as a founding member. The band’s debut, 1997’s ‘Under The Western Freeway’ was a critic’s darling, with the second single ‘Laughing Stock’ even gaining mention in Steve Taylor’s book “The A To X Of Alternative Music“. After three more albums and breaking up in 2006, the band reformed in 2012 to play a string of European festivals, but it was only in March of this year that new material was released; in the form of the twelve-track LP ‘Last Place’. The band was expected to set out on tour May 4th. “Given the circumstances, we unfortunately have to cancel our upcoming U.S. tour dates,” the band stated. “We hope to reschedule these at some point in the future.” European tour dates still on the horizon for Granddaddy include a performance at Barcelona’s Primavera Sound Festival.

Sarah Medeiros