Howie Epstein
Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical artist
Howard Norman Epstein (July 21, 1955 – February 23, 2003)<ref name= "spotlight">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was an American musician best known as a bassist with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Early lifeEdit
Epstein was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.<ref name= "spotlight" /> He grew up in a musical household. Epstein's father, Sam, was a top local record producer who worked with various rock and roll and soul groups in the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name= "spotlight" /> Epstein graduated from Nicolet High School in Glendale, Wisconsin.<ref name="breaker" /> He was Jewish.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
CareerEdit
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Howie played mostly rhythm guitar or mandolin and sang in a number of both rock and roll and country Milwaukee bands<ref name= "spotlight" /> that were regionally popular, including MHB Experience, Egz, Winks, Forearm Smash, and The Craze. When he felt he had gone as far as he could go in Milwaukee, Epstein decided to move to New York City, but before he could pack his gear, he was lured to the West Coast by a drummer friend to play bass in a new band that singer-songwriter John Hiatt was forming in Los Angeles. He stuck with Hiatt for two years and two albums (Slug Line and Two Bit Monsters).<ref name= "spotlight" /><ref name="RS-dies">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
The HeartbreakersEdit
While playing on a Del Shannon album that Tom Petty was producing (Drop Down and Get Me), Epstein impressed Petty with his ability. Consequently, when Ron Blair, who had been bassist with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers since the band's inception in 1976, announced that he was quitting due to burnout, Epstein was recruited to replace him.<ref name= "spotlight" /> Epstein joined the band in late 1981.<ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Epstein found a natural style, which he said emphasized "simplicity, playing in the pocket, getting into a steady groove. I've always considered myself a good team player and that's the way that the Heartbreakers operate. Everyone listens to what everyone else is doing musically."<ref name= "spotlight" /> On September 1, 1982, Epstein made his live debut at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California, on the tour to promote the album, Long After Dark.<ref name="RS-dies" />
In 1990, Petty made the following comments about Epstein:
In 2002, Epstein was fired from the band due to his substance addiction. He was replaced with the returning Ron Blair.<ref name="auto"/> He made his final appearance with the Heartbreakers when the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2002.<ref name="RS-dies" /> In later interviews, Petty admitted that Epstein's behavior had become unpredictable: "He was just degenerating on us to the point where we thought keeping Howie in the band was actually doing him more harm than getting rid of him. His personal problems were vast and serious".<ref name= "spotlight" />
CollaborationsEdit
Epstein played bass on recordings by Eric Andersen, Bob Dylan,<ref name="NYT" /> Carlene Carter, Johnny Cash, John Hiatt, Stevie Nicks, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, John Prine, Linda Ronstadt, Del Shannon, The Textones, The Village People and Warren Zevon.
Epstein earned acclaim as a songwriter and a producer. Epstein produced two albums for John Prine, 1991's The Missing Years, which won a Grammy Award<ref name="NYT" /> for Best Contemporary Folk Recording, and Lost Dogs and Mixed Blessings.<ref name="RS-dies" />
Personal life and deathEdit
Epstein formed a creative and personal partnership with Carlene Carter, the daughter of country music stars June Carter Cash and Carl Smith and stepdaughter of country music star Johnny Cash, following her divorce from the English singer-songwriter Nick Lowe. Epstein produced Carter's hit album I Fell in Love (1990) and co-authored the title track with his longtime collaborator, Milwaukee songwriter Perry M. Lamek. Epstein and Carter were romantically involved as well.<ref name="breaker">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 2001, Epstein and Carter were "arrested in New Mexico with black tar heroin and a large amount of drug paraphernalia". At Petty's urging, Epstein later entered a drug rehabilitation center.<ref name="breaker" />
On February 23, 2003, Epstein died from complications related to drug use.<ref name="NYT" /><ref name="roth">Template:Cite news</ref> MTV News reported that Epstein's death was caused by a heroin overdose. He was 47. Investigators were told Epstein had been using heroin. On the day of his death, Epstein was driven to St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico, by his girlfriend, who described him as "under distress".<ref name="NYT">Template:Cite news</ref> Epstein was taking antibiotics for an illness and had recently suffered from influenza, stomach problems, and an abscess on his leg, friends said.<ref name="roth" />
In response to Epstein's death, Petty wrote the following in an article for Rolling Stone: "...there's a great sadness, because Howie was never not a Heartbreaker. He just got to where he couldn't do it anymore... It's like you got a tree dying in the backyard. And you're kind of used to the idea that it's dying. But you look out there one day and they cut it down. And you just can't imagine that beautiful tree isn't there anymore."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Epstein was survived by his brothers, Craig and Bradley Epstein, and by his daughter, Jamie Leffler.<ref name="roth" /> He was interred at Second Home Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin.<ref name= "spotlight" />
NotesEdit
External linksEdit
Template:Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Template:2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame