Brent Mydland

Birth Name:

Brent Mydland

Birth Date:

October 21, 1952

Birth Place:

Munich, West Germany

Death Date:

July 26, 1990

Place of Death:

3454 Sky Lane, Lafayette, California

Age:

Cause of Death:

Drug overdose - acute cocaine and morphine intoxication ("speedball")

Cemetery Name:

Oakmont Memorial Park

Claim to Fame:

Music

Brent Mydland was a talented keyboardist, vocalist, and songwriter best remembered as a member of The Grateful Dead from 1979 to 1990, a longer tenure than any other keyboardist (aka The Hot Seat) in the band. No previous keyboard player contributed any enduring original songs to the Dead’s repertoire. Brent immediately made his impact felt with the songs “Far From Me” and “Easy to Love You,” which appeared on the Grateful Dead’s 1980 album “Go to Heaven,” released almost exactly a year after he joined the band. On 1987’s “In the Dark,” Brent brought “Tons of Steel” to the table, and he co-wrote the house rocker that opened many an ‘80s show, “Hell in a Bucket,” with Bob Weir and frequent collaborator John Perry Barlow.

Fun Fact

The keyboard position in the band is referred both by the band and fans alike as “The Hot Seat” due to the high mortality rate of those who’ve held that position. First held by Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (alcoholic induced gastrointestinal hemorrhage) and then joined by Keith Godchaux. After Donna and Keith Godchaux (auto accident) left the band Brent Mydland (drug overdose) was brought on for the longest tenure at the keyboards. His replacement was former Tubes member Vince Welnick who committed suicide. As of 2021 Bruce Hornsby is alive and doing well.