Grateful Dead keyboardist Vince Welnick has died aged 55, according to a statement on his website, which reads: "Vince passed from this earth on 2 June 2006... after a decade of battling tragedy while creating beauty and light around him". There's been no official word on cause of death, though reports suggest that Welnick committed suicide.
Welnick joined the band in 1990 when original keyboardist Brent Mydland died from a drug overdose. When Greatful Dead disbanded following the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Welnick formed his own group, Missing Man Formation and did not take part in any reunions of surviving Grateful Dead members. He is the fourth Grateful Dead keyboard player to meet an untimely demise, preceded by the aforementioned Mydland as well as Keith Godchaux, who died in a car accident in 1980, and founder member Ron McKernan who died from a haemorrhage in 1973.
The band have said in a statement: "His service to and love for the Grateful Dead were heartfelt and essential. He had a loving soul and a joy in music that we were lucky to share."