Keith Mitchell, longtime drummer for the alternative rock outfit Mazzy Star and a member of Opal, Monitor and Green on Red, just passed away on Sunday. The band confirmed Mitchell’s death, though a cause of death has not yet been revealed.
Keith Mitchell performed the drums on each of the group’s four studio records, including the 2013 reunion release Seasons of Your Day.
“Our hearts are broken,” a statement posted to the band’s Facebook page reads. “We have lost the much beloved Keith Mitchell, a very talented and amazing drummer that we have had the privilege to work with for many years, he will live in all of our hearts forever… We’ll miss you Big Fella.”
Mitchell previously drummed for a California rock group called Opal, which disbanded in 1989. Mazzy Star ultimately formed out of Opal, with Mitchell, guitarist David Roback and bassist Kendra Smith teaming up once again for the group in Santa Monica, Calif. later that year.
With the dream-pop group, Mitchell provided drums on all four of Mazzy Star’s albums: 1990’s She Hangs Brightly, their breakout 1993 album So Tonight That I Might See (featuring the hit 1994 single “Fade Into You”), 1996’s Among My Swan and Seasons of Your Day.
Check out “Fade Into You” below.