Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous shoots self

Late Saturday night, Rolling Stone magazine reported that Sparklehorse singer/songwriter Mark Linkous had died earlier Saturday of an intentional overdose. New reports indicate he may have shot himself.

The New York Times now reports more details about the circumstances of Linkous' suicide:

He shot himself in the heart in an alley outside a friend’s home, said his manager, Shelby Meade. Lt. Greg Hoskins of the Knoxville Police Department confirmed that the police responded to a call at 1:20 p.m., and that Mr. Linkous was pronounced dead at the scene. According to his family, Mr. Linkous owned the gun that he used.

Linkous, a Virginia native, released the first Sparklehorse album on Capitol/EMI, "Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot" in 1995. It was a stunning debut, featuring quivering, quirky ballads like "Homecoming Queen" and the instant rock classic, "Someday I Will Treat You Good."

Linkous suffered from chronic pain after his legs were paralyzed after a previous overdose in 1996, while on a Sparklehorse tour with Radiohead. He was saved after being dead for two minutes, but he had been unconscious for 14 hours with no circulation to his legs. He had a heart attack during one of seven surgeries to try to repair the damage.

Despite the overdose and its aftermath, Linkous went on to release three more records with Sparklehorse, 1999's "Good Morning Spider," 2001's stunning "It's A Wonderful Life" and 2006's "Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain."

There is another Sparklehorse record that was in the process of completion and due to be released on the Anti- label.

Linkous also collaborated with film director David Lynch, Danger Mouse and others on a multimedia project titled "Dark Night of the Soul" which had a contract-related hitch in its release, but can be heard in its entirety online. An accompanying book contains a blank CD-R for downloading the album.

Linkous' family sent a message to fans on the Sparklehorse website. "We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you," the statement said.

News of Linkous' suicide hits Sparklehorse fans especially hard, coming as it does on the heels of the Christmas suicide of Sparklehorse collaborator Vic Chesnutt.