Doug Hopkins

Douglas Owen "Doug" Hopkins[1] (April 11, 1961 – December 5, 1993) was an American musician and songwriter. He co-founded the Gin Blossoms, a popular modern rock band of the early 1990s, with Richard Taylor. He was the band's lead guitarist and a principal songwriter.

Doug Hopkins
Birth nameDouglas Owen Hopkins
Born(1961-04-11)April 11, 1961
Seattle, Washington
DiedDecember 5, 1993(1993-12-05) (aged 32)
Tempe, Arizona
GenresPop rock, alternative rock
InstrumentsGuitar, bass guitar
Years active1981–1993
Associated actsGin Blossoms, The Chimeras

Hopkins' writing credits included the hits "Hey Jealousy", "Found Out About You", "Hold Me Down", and "Lost Horizons". Hopkins committed suicide in 1993 after suffering from mental health issues and alcoholism.

Early life and education

Hopkins was born in Seattle, Washington and raised in Tempe, Arizona.[1] He graduated from Tempe's McClintock High School in 1979, and two years later, while attending Arizona State University, formed his first rock band with Bill Leen. Hopkins was the guitarist and Leen the bassist, although neither knew how to play the instruments.[2] Hopkins graduated from Arizona State in 1985 with a degree in sociology.[3]

Career

By 1987, Hopkins and Leen formed the Gin Blossoms, and in 1988, Jesse Valenzuela and Phillip Rhodes signed on as the band's second guitarist and drummer, respectively.[2] Robin Wilson, the band's eventual lead singer, joined in 1988 as well.[4]

Hopkins had suffered from chronic depression since childhood and had been battling alcoholism for several years. However, in 1990, the Gin Blossoms were one of the hottest local bands in Tempe and the surrounding areas, and they signed a contract with A&M Records.[2]

Hopkins was resistant to signing to a major label, feeling like its property, and reacted with stubbornness and more drinking.[5] When the band recorded its second studio album New Miserable Experience in February 1992,[2] it was reported that Hopkins was unable to stand during his recording sessions. Faced with the prospect of firing Hopkins or being dropped by A&M, the band terminated Hopkins. Doused in aftershave and mouthwash to cover the effects of his days-long drinking binge, he was flown back to Arizona.[5]

Hopkins was replaced by Scott Johnson. The band then withheld $15,000 owed to Hopkins until he agreed to sign over half of his publishing royalties. Hopkins was also required to relinquish his mechanical royalties to Johnson, his replacement. Hopkins reluctantly agreed to these demands because of his dire financial situation.[5] While New Miserable Experience did not make a strong debut, it went on to become a multi-platinum album.

After he returned to Tempe, Hopkins started another band, The Chimeras, with brothers Lawrence and Mark Zubia. Hopkins soon quit the band after a live performance went poorly. Shortly before his death, Hopkins appeared on stage with Dead Hot Workshop and Hans Olson in Tucson. The Chimeras later changed their name to The Pistoleros, upon signing a short-lived recording contract. The first several singles released by the Gin Blossoms, and the only mainstream hit released by the Pistoleros prior to being dropped by their label, were penned by Hopkins.

Death

As the Gin Blossoms experienced mounting success performing songs he had written, Hopkins became increasingly despondent.[2] Although he had always dreamed of having a gold record, when he received one (for the song "Hey Jealousy"), he hung it up for two weeks before taking it down and then destroying it. Nine days later, during an intake consultation in the detox unit of Phoenix's St. Luke's Hospital, Hopkins purchased a .38 caliber pistol. The next day, December 5, 1993, Hopkins died by suicide.[5]

In 1994, Larry Rudolph of the New York firm of Rudolph & Beer, which represented the Hopkins estate, announced that 18 of his songs were found and were open for a recording deal.[6] Circa 2000, award-winning documentarian Mark Stanoch secured the rights to Hopkins’ music and story for a biopic potentially starring Ethan Hawke, but plans stalled.[7]

Footnotes
  1. Biography of Doug Hopkins
  2. Dougherty, Steve; Small, Michael (April 4, 1994), "Haunted by success". People. 41 (12):53
  3. "Lost Horizons - A Tribute To Doug Hopkins :: Biography". www.losthorizons.info. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gin-blossoms-mn0000947563/biography
  5. Baird, Robert (February 10, 1994), "Ex-Blossom dies". Rolling Stone. (675):15
  6. Lichtman, Irv (March 12, 1994), "Doug Hopkins songs surface". Billboard. 106 (11):102
  7. (Magnet magazine, 2006, Gin Blossoms: Broken Flowers, http://www.magnetmagazine.com/2006/11/25/gin-blossoms-broken-flowers/)
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