>He co-founded Gin Blossoms, a popular modern rock band of the early 1990s. He was the band's lead guitarist and principal songwriter. Hopkins' writing credits included the hits "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You". >In February 1992, during the recording sessions for their full-length major label debut album New Miserable Experience, it was reported that Hopkins' drinking had hit a breaking point. He was unable to stand during his recording sessions and his hands trembled to the point of being unable to play guitar. Faced with the prospect of firing Hopkins or being dropped by A&M, the band chose to terminate Hopkins. Doused in aftershave and mouthwash to cover the effects of his days-long drinking binge, he was flown back to Arizona.>Hopkins was also required to relinquish his mechanical royalties to Johnson, his replacement. Hopkins reluctantly agreed to these demands because of his dire financial situation.[6] Overall, it was reported that no one from the band or label offered any support to Hopkins' wellbeing.>Hopkins' health had worsened due to his drinking. Reportedly, his liver was damaged to the point of uncontrollable vomiting, and a doctor had warned him of the fatal consequences.[2] As Gin Blossoms experienced mounting success performing songs he had written, Hopkins became increasingly despondent.[3] The singles "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You" gained national airplay, and the former was even certified gold by the RIAA. Although he had always dreamed of having a gold record, when he received one for "Hey Jealousy", he hung it up for two weeks before taking it down and then destroying it. Nine days later, after an intake consultation in the detox unit of Phoenix's St. Luke's Hospital, Hopkins purchased a .38 caliber pistol. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound the next day on December 5, 1993
why didn't he just stop drinking
wew thats a pretty dark story for the songwriter behind Hey Jeaousy, kek. Has alcoholism destroyed any guys potential more than that? And I don't mean some guy who already succeeded and after 4 gold records drank himself to uselessness
>>130343779>Hopkins was also required to relinquish his mechanical royalties to Johnson, his replacement.Why the fuck?
>>130343827Maybe Jeff Buckley getting drunk and drowning.
>>130343827idk about alcoholism but look up what happened to syd barrett, though I seriously have doubts that simply microdosing lsd every day would lead to this
>>130343839Those guys are total bastards for what they did to that guy. They could have kept him in the loop somehow, like having him be a writer but not a performing member, or just withholding his royalties until he checked into rehab
>>130343853I know Syd's story but it really sounds like schizophrenia played a big role and he just stopped caring about music and then lived a pretty long life as a normal guy
>>130343850autopsy says Buckley was barely drunk but the whole drowning story is pretty damn absurd
>>130343911yeah its doubtful they were real friends but then again my "real friends" probably would've done the same to me, they pretty much reformed our band without me anyways
Kinda fucked up how their biggest hit songs were made by a guy they screwed over and drove to suicide.
>>130345157They'd never get away with that shit today.
>>130343779here's hoping the band members have a slow and painful death
>>130343779Forcing him to sign over the royalties was a fucked, but it's not like he was gonna make a bunch of money and get better and they had no clue they would become massive. Also didn't sounds like he was much interested in getting better himself.
>>130343779what a bunch of assholes
