Grandaddy bassist Kevin Garcia dead at 41

Grandaddy bassist Kevin Garcia died aged 41 on Tuesday (02May17) after suffering a massive stroke.
The musician, one of the founding members of the U.S. indie rock band, was admitted to the Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, California, on Monday, after suffering a brain injury that was described by doctors as “catastrophic”.
Grandaddy confirmed the tragic news in a Facebook post on Tuesday, revealing that Kevin was surrounded by friends and family when he died.
“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,” the statement read.
“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. Right now the four of us are grieving together.”
A GoFundMe page was set up in Kevin’s name after his initial hospitalisation, and has already received $7,635 (£5,920) in donations.
Kevin is survived by his children Jayden and Gavin, wife Sondra, parents Randy and Barbara, brothers Craig and Jeff and grandmother Joan.
Kevin was just 15 when he started Grandaddy with singer Jason Lytle and drummer Aaron Burtch. The other members are guitarist Jim Fairchild and keyboard player Tim Dryden.
The group returned earlier this year with new album Last Place, their first in over a decade, which they also supported with a tour. Their next gig is scheduled for 8 May in Seattle, but it remains to be seen if they will go ahead with this or cancel in the wake of Kevin’s tragic passing.