Blues Traveler Bassist's Death Caused By Accidental Overdose

10/21/1999 2:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(10/21/99, 11 a.m. PDT) - The Orleans Parish Coroner has confirmed that Blues Traveler bassist Bobby Sheehan died of an accidental drug overdose. He was found dead Aug. 20 at his home in New Orleans (LAUNCH, 8/20).

Valium, cocaine, and heroin were found in his system, according to toxicology reports. Coroner Dr. Frank Minyard couldn't be reached for comment at press time.

A friend of Sheehan's, former Spin Doctors and current Cork guitarist Eric Schenkman tells LAUNCH, "I was very close with Bobby. I loved him like a brother. I mean, he really is a very special cat, and was responsible for so many good things. We were all very closely connected in the late '80s here in New York. Working with Blues Traveler and Spin Doctors, we used to do double gigs." Schenkman adds that Sheehan's death "hit me with a ton of bricks."

Sheehan had a near-constant battle with drug addiction. He was even arrested in Canada back in 1997 for cocaine possession. After the 1997 incident LAUNCH asked John Popper how the arrest impacted the band. "We were very fortunate," he said. "It wound up not impacting at all. What was good about it was that it gave Bob an opportunity to deal with something that he wanted to deal with, and I think we're all happy with that."

Blues Traveler has announced that it will carry on without its beloved bass player (LAUNCH, 10/6).

-- Darren Davis, New York

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