Jonathan Melvoin
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
Jonathan David Melvoin | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. | December 6, 1961
Died | July 12, 1996 New York City, New York, U.S. | (aged 34)
Genres | Alternative rock, pop |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instruments | Keyboards, piano, drums, percussion, vocals |
Years active | 1980s-1996 |
Associated acts | The Smashing Pumpkins, The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa |
Jonathan David Melvoin (December 6, 1961 – July 12, 1996) was an American musician, active in the 1980s and 1990s.
Early life[]
He was the son of Constance (née Ives) and Mike Melvoin, keyboardist for The Wrecking Crew, and brother of twins Susannah and Wendy Melvoin of Prince and The Revolution. He first learned to play drums at the age of five.[1]
Career[]
Melvoin performed with many punk bands in the 1980s, such as The Dickies. He was also a member of The Family, a Prince side project band which produced the original recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U",[2] "Screams of Passion & Mutiny" and made musical contributions to many Wendy & Lisa projects, as well as to Prince and the Revolution's 1985 album Around the World in a Day. He also played drums on "Do U Lie?" from the 1986 Prince & the Revolution album Parade. At the time of his death he was the touring keyboardist for The Smashing Pumpkins during their worldwide tour for the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Death[]
Melvoin died at age 34 as the result of a heroin overdose. The Smashing Pumpkins were not invited to Melvoin's funeral.[3] Several songs were inspired by his death, including the Sarah McLachlan song "Angel", the Wendy & Lisa song "Jonathan" (as Girl Bros.), and Prince's "The Love We Make" from the album Emancipation.[4]
References[]
- ^ People Staff (July 29, 1996). "The Night the Music Died". People. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016.
- ^ Goldman, John J. & Hochman, Steve (July 13, 1996). "Heroin Linked to Death on Smashing Pumpkins Tour". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Bansal, Sachin (1998–99). "The Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Era: 1996". The Smashing Pumpkins Chronology.
- ^ Giles, Jeff (November 29, 2017). "Prince Mourns a Drug-Related Loss with 'The Love We Make'". Diffuser.
External links[]
- 1961 births
- 1996 deaths
- Musicians from Los Angeles
- Deaths by heroin overdose in New York (state)
- American rock keyboardists
- The Smashing Pumpkins members
- 20th-century American keyboardists
- Drug-related deaths in New York City