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Sparklehorse was an American
indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...
band from Richmond, Virginia, led by singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Linkous. It was active from 1995 until Linkous's 2010 death. Before forming Sparklehorse, Linkous fronted local bands Johnson Family and Salt Chunk Mary. Only one song, "Someday I Will Treat You Good", survived from these earlier bands to be played by Sparklehorse. Linkous said he chose the name Sparklehorse because the two words sounded good together and could be a loose metaphor for a motorcycle. At its inception, members of Sparklehorse included Paul Watson (banjo, cornet, lap steel and electric guitar), Scott Minor (drums, chord organ, banjo), Johnny Hott (Wurlitzer organ, percussion, backing vocals), and Scot Fitzsimmons (standup bass).


History

Sparklehorse's first album, '' Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot'' (1995), produced by Cracker frontman David Lowery (credited as "David Charles" on the record), was a modest
college radio Campus radio (also known as college radio, university radio or student radio) is a type of radio station that is run by the students of a college, university or other educational institution. Programming may be exclusively created or produced ...
success. In 1996, while touring Europe with
Radiohead Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
shortly after the album's release, Linkous consumed a combination of
anti-depressant Antidepressants are a class of medications used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, and addiction. Common side effects of antidepressants include dry mouth, weight gain, dizziness, headaches, akathisia, sexua ...
s, valium,
alcohol Alcohol may refer to: Common uses * Alcohol (chemistry), a class of compounds * Ethanol, one of several alcohols, commonly known as alcohol in everyday life ** Alcohol (drug), intoxicant found in alcoholic beverages ** Alcoholic beverage, an alco ...
, and
heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the Opium, dried latex of the Papaver somniferum, opium poppy; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its eupho ...
in a
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
hotel room. Unconscious and with his legs pinned beneath him for almost 14 hours, the resulting potassium build-up caused his heart to stop for several minutes after his body was lifted up. The ensuing surgery almost caused him to lose the use of both legs and, as a result, he needed to use a
wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...
for six months and required dialysis for acute kidney failure. '' Good Morning Spider'' (1998) was recorded following this incident. Critics have conjectured that Linkous's brush with death inspired the album's somber tone, but Linkous said that much of ''GMS'' had already been written. One song that resulted from his affliction is "St. Mary", which is dedicated to the nurses at the eponymous hospital in
Paddington Paddington is an area in the City of Westminster, in central London, England. A medieval parish then a metropolitan borough of the County of London, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965. Paddington station, designed b ...
where Linkous recuperated. In 1999 Sparklehorse performed at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. 2001 saw the release of '' It's a Wonderful Life'', featuring appearances by
Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on society's underworld and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the American folk music, fo ...
,
PJ Harvey Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer-songwriter. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automat ...
, Bob Rupe,
Nina Persson Nina Elisabet Persson (; born 6 September 1974) is the lead singer and lyricist for the Swedish rock band The Cardigans. She also has worked as a solo artist, releasing two albums as A Camp and one under her own name, and has appeared as a guest ...
and
Dave Fridmann David Lawrence Fridmann is an American record producer and musician. Career From 1990 onwards he co-produced most releases by Mercury Rev and The Flaming Lips. Other bands he has worked with include Weezer, Saxon Shore (band), Saxon Shore, Neon ...
. Much of ''Vivadixie...'' and ''Spider'' were recorded solely by Linkous on his Virginia farm, but the new album was more collaborative. Linkous expressed his satisfaction with the overall sound of ''It's a Wonderful Life'', which was engineered by Joel Hamilton, while also saying he would have preferred to include more experimental and instrumental material. On September 25, 2006, Sparklehorse released its fourth album, '' Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain'', collaborating with Danger Mouse, Christian Fennesz, and
Steven Drozd Steven Gregory Drozd (born June 11, 1969) is an American musician. He is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter for the Flaming Lips, Electric Würms, and other projects. Early life Drozd was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Ri ...
. This album featured the radio release "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" and a remastered version of "Shade And Honey", which Linkous originally wrote for Alessandro Nivola to sing in the 2003 movie '' Laurel Canyon'', as well as a virtually unchanged re-release of "Morning Hollow", the bonus track on ''It's a Wonderful Life''. In 2008, Sparklehorse recorded a cover of "Jack's Obsession" from '' Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas'' for the official compilation album '' Nightmare Revisited''. In 2009, Sparklehorse teamed up with Danger Mouse and
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
on the project '' Dark Night of the Soul''. Corliss et al. (2010) described ''Dark Night of the Soul'' as “spooky, beautiful, (and)... bittersweet...considering Linkous’ untimely death.” In 2009, Linkous collaborated with electronic ambient-music artist Christian Fennesz to create '' In the Fishtank 15'', a wafting EP of experimentation and dreamy atmospherics. In October 2009, Linkous performed with Fennesz during a European tour. Linkous died by suicide in
Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville is a city in Knox County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. It is located on the Tennessee River and had a population of 190,740 at the 2020 United States census. It is the largest city in the East Tennessee Grand Division ...
, on March 6, 2010.


Discography


Studio albums

* '' Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot'' (August 1995, UK No. 58) * '' Good Morning Spider'' (October 1998, UK No. 30) * '' It's a Wonderful Life'' (June 2001, UK No. 49) * '' Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain'' (September 2006, US Heatseekers No. 11, UK No. 60) * '' Dark Night of the Soul'' (with Danger Mouse) (2010, UK No. 32) * '' Bird Machine'' (September 2023)


EPs

* ''Chords I've Known EP'' (CD, April 1996) * '' Distorted Ghost EP'' (CD, July 2000) * '' In the Fishtank 15 EP'' (with Fennesz – September 2009)


Compilations

* '' Chest Full of Dying Hawks ('95–'01)'' (U.S. promo) (2001) * ''Stained Glass Tears'' ('95–'06) (CD, Promo, Comp) (Capitol Records, 2006)


Singles

* "Spirit Ditch" / "Waiting for Nothing" (7", 1995, US) * "Hammering the Cramps" / "Too Late" (7", 1995, US) * "Someday I Will Treat You Good" / "Rainmaker" (7", February 1996, US Modern Rock No. 35) * "Someday I Will Treat You Good" / "London" / "In The Dry" (7" & CD, February 1996, UK) * "Hammering the Cramps" / "Spirit Ditch" / "Dead Opera Star" / "Midget In A Junkyard" (7" & CD, April 1996) * "Rainmaker" / "I Almost Lost My Mind" / "Intermission" / "Homecoming Queen (Live On KCRW)" / "Gasoline Horseys (Live On KCRW)" (7" & 2x CDs, August 1996, UK No. 61) * "Come On In" / "Blind Rabbit Choir" (7", February 1998, US) * "Maria's Little Elbows" / "Painbirds" / "
Wish You Were Here Wish You Were Here may refer to: Film, television, and theater Film * ''Wish You Were Here'' (1987 film), a British comedy-drama film by David Leland * ''Wish You Were Here'' (2012 film), an Australian drama/mystery film by Kieran Darcy-Smith ...
" (with
Thom Yorke Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his falsetto. ''Rolling Stone'' desc ...
) (
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
cover) / "Haint" (CD, July 1998) * "Sick of Goodbyes" / "Good Morning Spider (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)" (7", October 1998, UK No. 57) * "Sick of Goodbyes" / "Happy Place" / "Happy Pig (BBC Radio 1 Evening Session)" / "Shot A Dog" / "Gasoline Horseys (Live)" (2x CDs, October 1998, UK No. 57) * "Gold Day" / "Heloise" / "Devil's New" / Maxine" (CD, July 2001) * "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" / "Ghost In The Sky" / "Knives of Summertime" (CD, 4 September 2006) * "Don't Take My Sunshine Away" / "Galveston" (
Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...
/
Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...
cover) (7", 4 September 2006) * "Ghost in the Sky" / "Marigold" (7", 11 September 2006) * "Knives of Summertime" / "Caroline" (7", 18 September 2006, US)


Various artists compilations

* "Heart of Darkness" on "Dear Charlottesville" (1995) * "Heart of Darkness" on "Cowpunks" (1996) * "Sad & Beautiful World" on "Boys Soundtrack" (1996) * "West of Rome" (
Vic Chesnutt James Victor Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little (album), ''Little'', was released in 1990. His commercial breakthrough came in 1996 with the rele ...
cover) on " Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation" (1996) * "Hammering The Cramps" on "Chicago Cab Soundtrack" (1996) * "Hammering The Cramps" on "Mmmmm..." (Q Magazine CD issue Q118) (July 1996) * "Wish You Were Here" (with
Thom Yorke Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his falsetto. ''Rolling Stone'' desc ...
) (
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
cover) on "chEMIstry: A Hundred Years Of EMI" (VOX Magazine CD) (November 1997) * "Maria's Little Elbows" on "The MOJO Machine Turns You On – Let MOJO Take You There" (MOJO Magazine Subscriptions CD Volume 6) (July 1998) * "Hey Joe" on "Unconditionally Guaranteed" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue UG-1 7) (January 1999) * "Sad & Beautiful World" on "Dreamworld: Essential Late Night Listening" (2000) * "Happy Pig" on "Unconditionally Guaranteed 2000.8" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue UG-21 27) (September 2000) * "Galveston" (
Jimmy Webb Jimmy Layne Webb (born August 15, 1946) is an American songwriter, composer, and singer. He achieved success at an early age, winning the Grammy Award for Song of the Year at the age of 21. During his career, he established himself as one of Am ...
/
Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...
cover) on "New Sounds Of The Old West Volume Three" (2001) * "Shade And Honey" on "Devil In The Woods Magazine 3.3" (2001) * "Little Fat Baby" on "19-Track Guide To The Month's Best Music" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue UG-32 38) (August 2001) * "It's A Wonderful Life" on " Laurel Canyon Soundtrack" (2003) * "Go" (with
The Flaming Lips The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards), Steven Drozd (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, vocals), Derek Brown ...
) (
Daniel Johnston Daniel Dale Johnston (January 22, 1961 – September 11, 2019) was an American singer, musician and artist regarded as a significant figure in Outsider music, outsider, Lo-fi music, lo-fi, and alternative rock, alternative music scenes. Most ...
cover) on " The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered" (2004) * " Dark As A Dungeon" (
Merle Travis Merle Robert Travis (November 29, 1917 – October 20, 1983) was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Born in Rosewood, Kentucky, his songs' lyrics were often about the lives and the economic exploitation of Ameri ...
/
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter. Most of his music contains themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially songs from the later stages of his career. ...
cover) on "Cash Covered – Tribute To Johnny Cash" (MOJO Magazine CD issue 132) (November 2004) * "Wish You Were Here" (with
Thom Yorke Thomas Edward Yorke (born 7 October 1968) is an English musician who is the vocalist and main songwriter of the rock band Radiohead. He plays guitar, bass, keyboards and other instruments, and is noted for his falsetto. ''Rolling Stone'' desc ...
) (
Pink Floyd Pink Floyd are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experiments ...
cover) on " Lords of Dogtown: Music from the Motion Picture" (2005) * "Painbirds" on "Across The Great Divide: Music Inspired By The Band" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue 2005–04) (April 2005) * "Shade And Honey" on "The Playlist / October 2006" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue 2006–10) (October 2006) * "Shade And Honey" on "Love Will Tear You Apart – Tracks Of Hurt, Pain & Despair" (MOJO Magazine CD issue 159) (February 2007) * "Jack's Obsession" (
Danny Elfman Daniel Robert Elfman (born May 29, 1953) is an American film composer, singer, songwriter, and musician. He came to prominence as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo in the early 1980s. Since scoring his ...
cover) on " Nightmare Revisited" (2008) * "Dark Night Of The Soul" (with Dangermouse featuring
David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...
) on "NowHearThis!" (WORD Magazine CD issue 91) (September 2010) * "Listening To The Higsons" (
Robyn Hitchcock Robyn Rowan Hitchcock (born 3 March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar. After leading the Soft Boys in the late 1970s and releasing the ...
cover) on "Now Playing - 12 Tracks Of The Month's Best Music" (UNCUT Magazine CD issue 2023–10) (October 2023)


Guest appearances on Cracker tracks

* "Eyes of Mary" on " Garage D'Or" (2000) * "Rainy Days and Mondays" (
The Carpenters The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen Carpenter, Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (musician), Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinctive soft musical style, combining ...
cover) on " Garage D'Or" (2000)


Filmography

* ''Southern Man: Sparklehorse'' (1998,
VPRO The VPRO (stylized vpro; originally an acronym for ''Vrijzinnig Protestantse Radio Omroep'', lit. 'Liberal Protestant Radio Broadcaster', nowadays known as ''Omroepvereniging VPRO'') is a Netherlands, Dutch Public broadcasting, public broadca ...
, 50mins) * ''This is Sparklehorse'' (2019, Seven & Seven, 90mins)


Legacy

In March 2020, ''Spin'' magazine wrote that Linkous was more respected by his peers, such as
PJ Harvey Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer-songwriter. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments. Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined local band Automat ...
,
Nina Persson Nina Elisabet Persson (; born 6 September 1974) is the lead singer and lyricist for the Swedish rock band The Cardigans. She also has worked as a solo artist, releasing two albums as A Camp and one under her own name, and has appeared as a guest ...
and
Tom Waits Thomas Alan Waits (born December 7, 1949) is an American musician, composer, songwriter, and actor. His lyrics often focus on society's underworld and are delivered in his trademark deep, gravelly voice. He began in the American folk music, fo ...
, than recognized by the record-buying public.


References


External links


Official site
* *
Sparklehorse fansite
, shut down in 2022
Mark Linkous is Sparklehorse
– 1998 documentary, part of VPRO's series Lola Da Musica.
THIS IS SPARKLEHORSE
– feature-length music documentary, finally released in 2022 {{Authority control Indie rock musical groups from Virginia Alternative rock groups from Virginia American alternative country groups American psychedelic rock music groups Lo-fi music groups Music of Richmond, Virginia Musical groups established in 1995 Musical groups disestablished in 2010 Capitol Records artists Astralwerks artists History of Richmond, Virginia 1995 establishments in Virginia fr:Sparklehorse