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by Scott Russell | Paste | February 25, 2020 Producer, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter David Roback , best-known for co-founding Mazzy Star alongside vocalist Hope Sandoval, has died, a rep for the band announced late Tuesday. Roback was 61 years old. The musician’s cause of death was not disclosed. A brief obituary for Roback reads: Roback played a leading role in the neo-psychedelic revival of the 1980s and ‘90s, which in turn led to the explosion in the underground music scene, and came to be known as indie rock and alternative music. Often compared to other experimental producers and musicians such as Brian Wilson , Syd Barrett and Bert Jansch, Roback—who was also the co-founder of the band Opal—was regarded as a highly creative and sensitive guitarist who collaborated with many other artists as producer, songwriter and player. Roback was also well-known for his encyclopedic intellect, and for his involvement with the arts, design and cinema. Born in Los Angeles in California in 1958, David Roback lived and worked primarily in California and Europe. Mazzy Star ’s last release was 2018’s Still EP, which in turn followed their 2013 LP Seasons of Your Day , then the band’s first new album in 17 years. The psych-folk/dream-pop pioneers are still best-known for their massive 1993 hit “ Fade Into You .” In addition to his output as part of Mazzy Star and Opal, Roback also performed with Rain Parade and Rainy Day. more: https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2020/02/mazzy-star-co-founder-david-roback-dead-at-61.html?utm_source=PMNTNL&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=200226
Should I ever get to London, I hope that the lyrics of Downtown are more than a pretty sentiment:
"Maybe you know some little places to go to Where they never close Downtown Just listen to the rhythm of a gentle bossa nova You'll be dancing with him too before the night is over Happy again
The lights are much brighter there You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares So go downtown, where all the lights are bright Downtown, waiting for you tonight Downtown, you're gonna be alright now"
He lived a year for every piano key.