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Radiohead Pay Tribute to Mark Linkous

8:43 a.m. · March 8, 2010 · by Nick Neyland

The sad passing of Mark Linkous from Sparklehorse this weekend has caused many people to reflect on his outstanding career, and Radiohead are the latest band to offer some thoughts on his untimely demise. Sparklehorse supported Radiohead back in 1996, during which Linkous overdosed and became wheelchair-bound for six months after temporarily losing the use of his legs.

Colin Greenwood paid tribute to Linkous on the official Radiohead website. "I was very sad to hear the news that Mark Linkous has died,” he writes. “He and his band toured with us in Europe, at the start of 'OK Computer', and they were great every night. His first two records were very important to me, and I carried his music from the tour into my life, and my friends' lives too.”

“He was softly spoken, with an old south courtesy I hadn’t heard before: he introduced me to Daniel Johnston's music, and the West Virginian writing of Pinckney Benedict. Mark wrote and played some beautiful music, and we're lucky to have it. Rest in peace." Included above is a version of Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here,” which was performed by Linkous and Radiohead.