Van Conner Cause Of Death

Van Conner, the renowned bassist and co-founder of the influential hard-rock group Screaming Trees alongside his brother, Gary Lee, and singer Mark Lanegan, has died. Conner died on Jan. 17, 2023. He was 55 years.

What happened to Van Conner? How did Van Conner die? What was Van Conner’s cause of death? In a Facebook post dated Jan. 18, Gary Lee mentioned that his brother died the previous day after a long illness and pneumonia.

Gary Lee’s Facebook post read:

“Van Conner bassist and songwriter of Screaming Trees died last night of an extended illness at 55.”

“It was pneumonia that got him in the end. He was one of the closest friends I ever had and I loved him immensely. I will miss him forever and ever and ever.”

Screaming Trees was formed in 1984 by The Conner Brothers, vocalist Mark Lanegan — who died at age 57 in February 2022 — and drummer Mark Pickerel after connecting in high school over their shared tasted in punk and classic rock music.

The band’s first EP was recorded in 1985, a year after its formation.

By 1986, the group’s first studio set Clairvoyance was released through Velvetone Records and helped the band to secure a recording contract through SST Records.

However, it wasn’t until 1992 — and the arrival of the Seattle grunge scene — that Screaming Trees started experiencing economic success.

The band’s 1992 album, Sweet Oblivion, peaked at No. 141 on the all-genre Billboard 200, with singles “Nearly Lost You” and “Dollar Bill” peaking on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart at Nos. 12 and 40, respectively.

Aside Screaming Trees, Van Conner formed and fronted Solomon Grundy, releasing an album with the band in 1990.

Following Screaming Trees’ breakup in 2000, Van formed bands VALIS and Ox, and also worked as a session musician.