Mazzy Star’s founding member David Roback and lead vocalist Hope Sandoval were friends before they became bandmates. Roback brought Sandoval into the band after Kendra Smith’s departure, and the duo found harmony in creating music. They later became the creative force behind the band. Sandoval was the lyricist, and Roback was the composer of most of the band’s catalog.
They made Mazzy Star’s biggest hit ‘Fade Into You.’ It gained huge success. Roback and Sandoval’s work wasn’t limited to their greatest mainstream success, though. Their collaboration was one of the reasons their fans loved them. This is why it was heartbreaking to hear about Roback’s passing.
David Roback passed away from metastatic cancer on February 24, 2020. He shared the same fate as his former bandmate. Their drummer Keith Mitchell passed on May 14, 2017 from cancer as well. Musicians paid tribute to him after this tragic news, including Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins, Jennifer O’Connor, the New Pornographers’ A. C. Newman, and many more.
One of them was his bandmate and close friend Hope Sandoval. The singer shared a post on her official Facebook account, saying, “It’s been a few days since I lost my dear friend, and I am devastated…” She also didn’t forget to thank all of their fans for sending her support and love, noting, “Thank you all for the love.”
Sandoval’s farewell to her partner in crime didn’t end there. She also shared a poem dedicated to Roback. “What will we do now? / Now that you leave me here / Even though the dark blue sky is still radiant / And filled with the comforting sadness / That holds us together,” penned Sandoval in the first stanza of her poem.
The singer continued, “What will we do now? / As you’ve been embraced anyway / Did I stay behind and not notice? /Did you leave a quiet message somewhere? / And I forgot to hear it? / Good night my beautiful friend / Please come back when the hour is sound.”
The remaining members of Mazzy Star haven’t released new material or announced if they would continue without David Roback.
