Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Chris Feinstein, Bassist for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Dead at 42

Posted by Adam Gold on Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 3:28 PM

click to enlarge chrisfeinstein.jpg

Sad news out of New York today as it has been reported via Jambands.com that veteran Nashville bassist Chris Feinstein (Iodine, Shadow 15, Bedlam) passed away in his Manhattan home early Monday morning at the age of 42. A cause of death has not yet been reported. Feinstein, affectionately known by friends and fans as Spacewolf, is perhaps best known for his recent tenure as bassist for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals. He performed on the albums Easy Tiger, Follow the Lights and Cardinology. Other studio credits include Tim Finn, Daniel Tashian, Fat Joe, Moby and Albert Hammond Jr. If you knew Feinstein then please feel free to share any remembrances you may have.

Check out some archival footage of Iodine after the jump.

Iodine at 328 Performance Hall in 1997 (via YouTube user deenichols).

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bummer. he was really good

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Posted by cash on 12/16/2009 at 3:34 PM

Man. What a shame. Also, can it be said that Iodine was fucking awesome? They used to come up and play in Evansville, IN when I was in high school. I was always blown away by them.

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Posted by Aaron Distler on 12/16/2009 at 4:03 PM

This is very sad. He also played bass for The Questionnaires for a while.

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Posted by Chet on 12/16/2009 at 4:43 PM

Shadow 15 was my first local band love...since then I have always paid attention when I saw the Feinstein name attached to anything. Super nice guys,both of them.I am just heartbroken over this...

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Posted by Tara on 12/16/2009 at 5:05 PM

This news will break a lot of hearts. It does mine. Chris was a sweet soulful guy and someone bandmates always praised, for both his playing and his personality. He was a remarkably good-humored, even-keeled guy for a rock musician.
As a local presence, his longstanding role in the Questionnaires probably should come first in his credits. But he was a key figure on the local rock scene from the mid-1980s on.

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Posted by Macaw on 12/16/2009 at 5:18 PM

Chris was a gentleman. I had the pleasure of spending some time with him early this year, we spoke for hours on end and he had such passion for his family, friends and music.
His soft tone and sweet smile always felt so comforting. He has always had a very sweet and soft spot in my heart and today I am heart broken knowing our paths will never pass again on earth.
Rest in Peace dear friend, you'll be sadly missed.

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Posted by the girl in the corner on 12/16/2009 at 6:30 PM

If you would like to make a donation to help his mother pay for funeral expenses, please send a paypal donation to feinstein.memorial@gmail.com. The memorial service will be held in Nashville, TN. For more details, please send an email.

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Posted by Benn on 12/16/2009 at 6:40 PM

If you would like to make a donation to help his mother pay for funeral expenses, please send a paypal donation to feinstein.memorial@gmail.com. The memorial service will be held in Nashville, TN. For more details, please send an email.

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Posted by Benn on 12/16/2009 at 6:40 PM

Chris was one of the best rock n roll musicians and one of the sweetest people I have ever known. Chris Feinstein had so much soul, you would not believe it. Unless you knew him.

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Posted by Will KIMBROUGH on 12/16/2009 at 9:38 PM

With the Questionnaires:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJAT21UfBX8

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Posted by will kimbrough on 12/16/2009 at 9:44 PM

Oh man, this is such sad news.

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Posted by Emily (for free?) on 12/16/2009 at 9:47 PM

That's bad news especially for musician like me.

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Posted by Talambuhay Sikat ang Pinoy on 12/17/2009 at 12:42 AM

Comment removed.

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Posted by CreamMaster on 12/17/2009 at 2:08 AM

I used to open for Iodine all the time at the Exit In. They are truly one of my favorite bands of all time. Chris was always humble when I bombarded him with the praise he so much deserved. He lived two blocks away from me here in Manhattan. i'm heartbroken.

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Posted by Phil Makes on 12/17/2009 at 4:43 AM

Damn, This is a jolt.

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Posted by Jeff Johnson on 12/17/2009 at 5:32 AM

The (Jerry) House Foundation on WSIX is axing 2 members and Jerry went on and on about how terrible it was--"it sucks" he said. So I called in and suggested a solution: Everyone stays or everyone goes--let's see if Jerry will put his money where his mouth is! Of course, what I said and emailed WSIX will never air or see the light of day.
Merry Christmas all

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Posted by BobO on 12/17/2009 at 7:24 AM

played drums w/ me and the above mentioned,jeff johnson in '84. all of 17yrs. old.one of the nicest guys ever. helluva drummer too!

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Posted by skot nelson on 12/17/2009 at 11:04 PM

I can't vouch for that fundraising thing, but it is also on Chris's FaceBook page, posted by an apparently authentic relative. I too worried it might be a scam, but it may not be.
Will, Jeff, Skot... seems there ought to be a happier occasion to bring together such luminaries of the Rock Block of old. Hope to see you in cheerier times.

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Posted by Tom Wood on 12/17/2009 at 11:16 PM

Comment removed.

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Posted by CreamMaster on 12/18/2009 at 2:25 AM

Hope and prayers to those in pain, never knew him but dug the groove, as Todd Snyder says"the butts were all shakin to the bass guitar"

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Posted by Alkonman on 12/18/2009 at 12:10 PM

info on services:
Visitation will be Sunday, December 20, 2009 from 4 - 8 p.m., at Woodbine Funeral Home, Inc., 3620 Nolensville Road. Graveside service and burial will be Monday, December 21, 2009 at 10 a.m., at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Family & friends will serve as Pallbearers. Memorial celebration will be Monday, December 21st at 11 a.m., at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville. WOODBINE FUNERAL HOME Directors, 615-832-1948

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Posted by Tom Wood on 12/18/2009 at 12:59 PM

Before moving to Nashville in 1989 I saw Chris with
the Questionaires a number of times and looked at
him and them as a major source of inspiration. Chris' gentle
demeanor always made everybody feel good.
Will miss you man.

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Posted by Grimey on 12/18/2009 at 1:24 PM

It would be nice to see the comments section moderated especially when dealing with such a sensitive issue. Someone is very obviously posting here pretending to be Chris' ex-bandmate RA.
It should be removed.

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Posted by Fan on 12/18/2009 at 11:11 PM

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=233667772672
Chris's Memorial group on facebook, with same info about donating for funeral expenses.

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Posted by Andy Piper on 12/19/2009 at 12:06 PM

Why are donations needed for funeral expenses. I can't believe that there is no life insurance. I mean chris was a well paid, successful musician. RIP

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Posted by Jan Kanken on 12/19/2009 at 5:26 PM

Chris and Scott and a couple of other young teenage criminals were the first rock musicians I met in Nashville.
Chris was 13... I was literally walking down Lebanon Rd. in Mt. Juliet wondering what the hell I was doing in TN. He and some friends literally pulled over to see who this very non-Nashville person was seeing that I did not look like a local. I went over to their house and we exchanged punk rock stories and rocked out to The Clash, Psychedelic Furs, early U2, The Jam, etc. He was adorable then as he is now. We were not close the last decade but every time I heard his name I smiled. I am sad today but every photo I see shows him smiling. That's what I will remember. Miss you forever buddy.

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Posted by Scott Borchetta on 12/21/2009 at 10:49 PM

And in Hell he lifted his eyes being in torment...Luke 16

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Posted by Freedbygod on 12/25/2009 at 7:21 PM

a true pioneer.''heaven records'' must be proud......

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Posted by dave rollins on 12/28/2009 at 2:30 AM

I am so sad to be reading this. 1986 & 1987 were such magical years when, on any given night, you usually had an awesome smorgasbord of great bands to go see. Shadow 15 was by far one of my favorites and I still have a beat-up cassette tape that includes "So Far Today" being played on WRVU. After I moved to Memphis in the late '80s, I was tickled to learn Chris had joined up in another of my faves, The Questionnaires.
This one really hits home and I'm so saddened by it. I had a brief online discussion with Scott online, maybe a couple of years or so ago. My thoughts are with the family and all his friends, may your good memories of him comfort you all for a long time to come.
I am grateful for the opportunity to have experienced all the "City Without A Subway"-era Nashville rockers, Chris and so many others. Don't ever doubt that what all you guys and gals did for local music at the time was important. This many years later there's probably still not a day that goes by that I don't find myself humming (or listening to) this song or that one. You're all awesome, as was Chris, and the music and memories will live on...

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Posted by Lynnster on 01/02/2010 at 1:03 PM

Very sad. My heart goes out to family and friends...

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Posted by Graham Perry on 01/16/2010 at 8:13 AM
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