Founding Member Of Train Charlie Colin Slips In Shower and Died At 58

Charlie Colin, the founding bassist of the popular rock group Train, passed away at the age of 58. His mother informed TMZ that he had passed away. Colin was house-sitting for a friend in Brussels, Belgium when he slipped into the bathtub and died. When the homeowners returned, they discovered his death, but it’s still unclear when the tragedy happened.

After Charlie Colin’s family moved to Southern California, he was born in Virginia. He attended Newport Harbor High School before continuing his education at the University of Southern California. To further his musical career, Colin relocated to Boston to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music.

After relocating to San Francisco in the early 1990s, Colin got to know drummer Scott Underwood, guitarists Rob Hotchkiss and Jimmy Stafford, and vocalist Patrick Monahan. In 1994, they came together to form the band Train. The trio gained popularity fast with their 1998 self-titled first album, which included the smash song “Meet Virginia.”

With the release of their 2001 album Drops of Jupiter, Train’s profile skyrocketed. The title song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 after becoming a tremendous sensation. The trio won for Best Rock Song and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist (or vocalists) after receiving five Grammy nominations as a result of the song’s success.

Why Did Charlie Colin Leave Train?

Colin’s last album with Train was 2003’s My Private Nation, which included another hit, “Calling All Angels,” co-written by the bassist. However, just four months after the album’s release, Colin was dismissed from the band due to ongoing substance addiction issues.

Lead vocalist Patrick Monahan later reflected on the decision to part ways with Colin, stating, “Charlie is one incredible bass player, but he was in a lot of pain, and the way he was dealing with it was very painful for everyone else around him.”

After leaving Train, Colin continued his musical journey, collaborating with various artists across the rock and pop genres. In a 2022 podcast interview, he opened up about his departure from Train and his subsequent career. Colin explained:

“When I left Train, I went out because my ego and my identity were all at stake and I was thinking about that too much.
“I went out and played with all these hard rock bands. I went on a tour with Slipknot. You can imagine the guys wearing masks and stuff. These are the hardest rock bands in the world.”

Colin shared that his ability to adapt to different musical styles stemmed from finding “something within me to connect with the people I’m playing with and be of use, add value to [the music] in any way.”

Fans and other musicians alike were profoundly impacted by Charlie Colin’s efforts in the music industry, especially his part in Train’s early success. Even while the rock community laments his premature death, his talent and love of music will live on.