Charlie Colin, a founding member and bassist for the rock band Train, has died at the age of 58. His sister, Carolyn Stephens, confirmed his passing on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Colin had slipped and fallen in a shower while house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium. The exact date of his death remains unknown as his body was found only when his friend returned home.
Colin, who hailed from Southern California, developed his love for music early in life. He went on to study at the esteemed Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Post-graduation, he joined the band “Apostles” with Jimmy Stafford, a guitarist, and Rob Hotchkiss, a singer. After the band dissolved, Colin spent a year in Singapore penning jingles, showcasing his adaptability and dedication to music.
In the early 1990s, Colin, along with Hotchkiss and Stafford, moved to San Francisco, California, and formed Train with singer Pat Monahan. Colin added drummer Scott Underwood to the lineup, solidifying the band’s membership. This marked the start of Train’s rise to fame.
Train’s inaugural album, launched in 1998, included the popular single “Meet Virginia,” which made it into the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up album, “Drops of Jupiter,” released in 2001, propelled them to stardom. The album’s title track, which featured contributions from Chuck Leavell, a session pianist for the Rolling Stones, and string orchestrator Paul Buckmaster, won two Grammy Awards, including Best Rock Song. Pat Monahan wrote the song as a tribute to his late mother, adding a personal touch that resonated deeply with fans.
Despite the band’s success, Colin’s time with Train was not smooth sailing. He departed from the band in 2003 due to issues related to substance abuse. Reflecting on this difficult time, Monahan stated, “Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain, and how he dealt with it was very painful for everyone else around him.”
After his departure from Train, Colin continued to be active in the music industry. He formed a new band, Painbirds, with Hotchkiss in 2015 and later teamed up with Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray and Joel and Scott Owen of the PawnShop Kings to create the Side Deal in 2017. Colin’s commitment to music was unwavering, and he left a lasting impact on numerous projects.
Beyond band performances, Colin served as the musical director for the Newport Beach Film Festival. Todd Quartararo, the festival’s co-founder, remembered Colin as a “special part of the Newport Beach Film Festival family” whose “heart, compassion, and creativity will surely be missed”.
In his final months, Colin resided in Brussels, a city he had come to adore, referring to it as “officially my favorite city” in an Instagram post in March.
Train paid tribute to Colin on social media, stating, “Meeting Charlie Colin was love at first sight. He was incredibly sweet and strikingly handsome. Forming a band seemed like the only logical step. His distinctive bass playing and guitar skills gained us recognition in San Francisco and beyond. He will always hold a special place in my heart. Despite efforts to bring him closer, he followed his own path. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm those angels.”
Colin is survived by his parents, sister, and niece. His contribution to the world of music and the memories of those who knew him will continue to live on.
