Jonathan Melvoin
{{short description|American musician (1961–1996)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Refimprove|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jonathan Melvoin
| image = Jonathan Melvoin.jpg
| caption = Melvoin in the music video for the Smashing Pumpkins song "Zero"
| alt = A closeup of Jonathan Melvoin—a middle-aged Caucasian male with short curly brunette hair.
| background = person
| birth_name = Jonathan David Melvoin
| birth_date = {{birth date|1961|12|6|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|7|12|1961|12|6}}
| death_place = New York City, U.S.
| instrument = {{hlist|Keyboards|piano|drums|percussion|vocals}}
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative rock|pop}}
| occupation = Musician
| years_active = 1980s–1996
| label =
| website =
}}
Jonathan David Melvoin (December 6, 1961 – July 12, 1996) was an American musician, active in the 1980s and 1990s.
Early life
He was the son of Constance (née Ives) and Mike Melvoin, keyboardist for the Wrecking Crew, and brother of twins Susannah and Wendy Melvoin of Prince and the Revolution. He first learned to play drums at the age of five.{{cite web |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20141903,00.html |work=People |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116025443/http://people.com/archive/the-night-the-music-died-vol-46-no-5/ |archive-date=2017-11-16 |title=The Night the Music Died |author=People Staff |date=July 29, 1996 }}
Career
Melvoin performed with many punk bands in the 1990s, such as the Dickies. He was also a member of the Family, a Prince side project band that produced the original recording of "Nothing Compares 2 U",{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-07-13-mn-26249-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |title=Heroin Linked to Death on Smashing Pumpkins Tour |first1=John J. |last1=Goldman |first2=Steve |last2=Hochman |date=July 13, 1996 |name-list-style=amp}} "Screams of Passion" and "Mutiny", and made musical contributions to many Wendy & Lisa projects, as well as to Prince and the Revolution's 1985 album Around the World in a Day. He also played drums on "Do U Lie?" from the 1986 Prince and the Revolution album Parade. At the time of his death he was the touring keyboardist for the Smashing Pumpkins during their worldwide tour for the album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
Death
Melvoin died at age 34 as the result of a heroin overdose. Melvoin injected high purity heroin that was intended for snorting. He had previously consumed alcohol, which can lower the body's drug tolerance.{{cite web |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/07/15/Police-Red-Rum-killed-rocker/9851837403200/ |title = Police: 'Red Rum' killed rocker - UPI Archives}} The Smashing Pumpkins were not invited to Melvoin's funeral.{{cite web |url=https://www.starla.org/chrono/1996.html |work=The Smashing Pumpkins Chronology |title=The Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness Era: 1996 |first=Sachin |last=Bansal |year=1998–99}} Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin injected the same heroin that night, but survived to be arrested for possession. Several songs were inspired by Melvoin's death, including the Sarah McLachlan song "Angel", the Wendy & Lisa song "Jonathan" (as Girl Bros.), and Prince's "The Love We Make" from the album Emancipation.{{cite web |url=https://diffuser.fm/prince-the-love-we-make/ |title=Prince Mourns a Drug-Related Loss with 'The Love We Make' |work=Diffuser |first=Jeff |last=Giles |date=November 29, 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- {{Find a Grave|6726052}}
{{Smashing Pumpkins}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melvoin, Jonathan}}
Category:Musicians from Los Angeles
Category:Deaths by heroin overdose in New York (state)
Category:American rock keyboardists
Category:The Smashing Pumpkins members