(Rightallegiance.com) – Charlie Colin, the bassist and one of the founding members of the rock band Train, has sadly passed away at the age of 58. His sister, Carolyn Stephens, confirmed his death to The Associated Press on Wednesday. Reports from TMZ indicate that Colin died after slipping and falling in the shower while he was house-sitting for a friend in Brussels.
Colin’s mother shared that he had been in Brussels to teach a master class at a conservatory. Additionally, he was working on music for an upcoming film. Though Colin was raised in Southern California, he attended Berklee College of Music in Boston.
It was there that he started playing bass in a band called Apostles, alongside guitarist Jimmy Stafford and singer Rob Hotchkiss. After Apostles disbanded, Colin, Stafford, and Hotchkiss moved to San Francisco and formed Train in the early 1990s with singer Pat Monahan.
Train achieved great success, gaining widespread recognition for hits like “Meet Virginia,” “Drops of Jupiter,” “Hey, Soul Sister,” and “Marry Me.”
However, in 2003, Colin left the band due to struggles with substance abuse. Pat Monahan told NBC San Diego in 2017, “Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain, and the way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him.” Monahan mentioned that he gave the band an ultimatum to leave if Colin stayed. “They weren’t happy about the choice. They were very clear that I put them in a very tough position,” he added.
After the news of Colin’s death was announced, Train shared a touching tribute on their official Instagram account. “When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him. He was the sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do,” read the caption. “His unique bass playing and beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels.”
Fans were quick to share their condolences and memories. One fan commented, “Charlie was my musical hero. His playing inspired me to become a musician. He was so gracious in letting me into his life. The world has lost a consummate artist and truly beautiful soul. Love and condolences to Charlie’s friends and family.” Another wrote, “What an incredible loss to his family and the music world. Rest in Paradise.”
Colin had been living as an artist in Belgium and was serving as the musical director of the NBFilm festival, as mentioned on his Instagram account. His legacy continues to inspire many, and he will be deeply missed by his friends, family, and fans around the world.