Train Bassist Charlie Colin Dies at 58

Charlie Colin, the bassist and founding member of the Grammy Award-winning band Train, has passed away at the age of 58. Colin died after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels.

Charlie Colin, the bassist and founding member of the popular rock band Train, has passed away at the age of 58. Colin's sister, Carolyn Stephens, confirmed his death to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

According to TMZ, Colin died after slipping and falling in the shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels. His mother revealed that he was in Brussels teaching a master class at a conservatory and was finishing music for an upcoming film.

Colin grew up in Southern California but attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he began playing bass in the group Apostles with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and singer Rob Hotchkiss. After the band dissolved, Colin, Stafford, and Hotchkiss relocated to San Francisco in the early 1990s and formed Train with singer Pat Monahan.

Train achieved immense success with hits such as "Meet Virginia," "Drops of Jupiter," "Hey, Soul Sister," and "Marry Me." However, in 2003, Colin left the band after struggling with substance abuse issues.

In 2017, Monahan told NBC San Diego that Colin's departure was a difficult decision for the band. "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 said.

Upon learning of Colin's death, Train shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. "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," the caption read. "His unique bass playing and beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond."

Fans expressed their condolences on social media, with one follower commenting, "Charlie was my musical hero. His playing inspired me to become a musician." Another wrote, "What an incredible loss to his family and the music world. Rest in Paradise."

At the time of his death, Colin was living in Belgium as an artist and serving as the musical director of the NBFilm festival.

Charlie Colin was a talented musician and a cherished member of the Train family. His legacy will continue to inspire music lovers for generations to come.