“At 58, Charlie Colin, a pivotal figure in the American pop-rock group Train, has passed away. His mother confirmed the heartbreaking news, attributing his death to a tragic accident where he slipped and fell in the shower, as reported by TMZ. The incident occurred while Colin, a former bassist of the band, was house-sitting for a friend in Belgium. The exact timing of his passing remains uncertain.”
According to his mother, Charlie remained undiscovered until his friends returned from their trip around five days ago.
Reportedly, Colin was compelled to depart from the thriving band in 2003 due to struggles with substance abuse.
“Tragedy Strikes: Charlie Colin, Co-Founder of Train, Passes Away at 58 After Fatal Shower Mishap”
Lead singer Pat Monahan expressed at that time, “Charlie is an incredible bass player, but he was in considerable pain, and his coping mechanisms were causing distress for everyone around him.”
Monahan reportedly convened a band meeting to decide between himself and Colin. “They weren’t pleased with the dilemma. It was clear I had put them in a difficult position,” he stated.
The ultimatum arose after Colin’s troubled performance during a live show in Oregon, as recounted by Monahan.
Reflecting on his departure, Colin shared on Delphine’s Circle last year, “There were numerous factors leading to my departure, but it all culminated. We never took a break. Our tour bus essentially parked at the recording studio for our second and third albums. In Philadelphia, we crafted our one-and-a-halfth record… We just kept going. It felt too good to be true. Most bands have a shelf life of a few years.”
However, Colin’s musical journey continued. He collaborated with fellow Train member Rob Hotchkiss to establish the band Painbirds. Additionally, he founded The Side Deal in 2017, comprising Stan Frazier from Sugar Ray, along with Joel and Scott Owen from The PawnShop Kings.
Colin also contributed his talents to renowned rock bands such as Puddle of Mudd and Slipknot.
Colin’s last Instagram update, shared on Mother’s Day, honored his mother, who later heartbreakingly conveyed the news of his passing.
In 2001, Colin showcased his talent alongside Train during their performance on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
Colin pictured alongside the esteemed musician John Mayer some years back.
“When I departed from Train, it was a time when my ego and sense of self were on the line, and I was overly preoccupied with that,” he reminisced during an interview on the Dan Clark podcast in 2022. “I ventured into playing with various hard rock bands. I even toured with Slipknot. You can picture it, these guys with masks and all, among the toughest rock bands out there.”
More recently, Colin had relocated to Brussels, where he was imparting his knowledge through a music master class at a conservatory and composing music for film projects.
Additionally, it seemed Colin was pursuing his artistic endeavors in Belgium.
His final Instagram post, shared on Mother’s Day, was a heartfelt tribute to his mother, who sadly conveyed the devastating news of his passing.
Charlie gracing the stage during a Train concert back in 2003.
In a throwback snap from 2003, Colin captivated the audience alongside Train during their appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Captioning the nostalgic photo, he wrote, “My mom… Jackie O/ yet a tad prettier. A true artist. The loveliest, most intelligent woman. Happy Mother’s Day.”
Formed in San Francisco in 1993, Train soared to mainstream success with their self-titled debut album in 1998, featuring the hit single “Meet Virginia.” However, their breakthrough came with the release of the album “Drops of Jupiter” in 2001, propelled by the chart-topping success of the song “Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me).” This hit single garnered two Grammy Awards in 2002, with the album achieving double platinum status.
Train originated in San Francisco in 1993 and catapulted to mainstream success with their eponymous debut album in 1998, which featured the popular hit “Meet Virginia.”
The artist captured at the John Varvatos Fashion Show in 2017.
Colin was a founding member of Train, joining original members Pat Monahan, Rob Hotchkiss, Jimmy Stafford, and Scott Underwood.
Remaining active to this day, Train has achieved remarkable success, selling over 10 million albums and 30 million tracks globally.
Following a two-year hiatus starting in 2006, the band made a triumphant return in 2009 with their fifth studio album, “Save Me, San Francisco,” which featured the chart-topping single “Hey, Soul Sister.”
Since then, Train has continued to release music, adding six more studio albums to their discography, including their latest release, “AM Gold,” in 2022.
