Widespread Panic guitarist Michael Houser dies after battle with cancer
Sun Aug 11, 8:28 PM ET

ATHENS, Georgia - Michael "Mikey" Houser, guitarist and singer for the rock band Widespread Panic, has died after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 40.



Houser released a statement last month explaining his illness and saying he would not participate in the band's summer tour. His death Saturday was reported in The Athens Banner-Herald and on the band's Web site Sunday.

Houser began playing in 1982 with the band's vocalist, John Bell, while both were attending the University of Georgia. The band formed three years later with bass player Dave Schools, percussionist Domingo Ortiz and keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann.

Widespread Panic, which developed a large, faithful following, is known for its blues-based music with long, improvisational passages and progressive percussions that attracted fans of "jam" bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish.

In a prepared statement released Sunday by Paula Donner, Houser's spokeswoman, the family is encouraging people to make contributions to the Michael Houser Music Fund, a program at Athens Academy.

We'll see you again, Michael.

Acts 24:15"I have hope toward God...that there is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous."

Damn. I JUST bought the Brute CD "Cobalt" yesterday and was groovin' to it all day. They did some great stuff with Vic Chesnutt.

It's too bad. RIP
[This message was edited Sun Aug 11 22:13:43 PDT 2002 by squirrelgrease]

RIP