Founding Train Bassist Charlie Colin Found Dead In Belgium

Pat Monahan, Train's frontman, paid tribute to their former bandmate, reminiscing about the time they shared with him.

"When I met Charlie Colin, I fell in love with him. He was THE sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do," he wrote. "His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always have a warm place for him in my heart. I always tried to pull him closer but he had a vision of his own. You’re a legend, Charlie. Go charm the pants off those angels❤️???????? ⭐️"

Colin attended Berklee College of Music where he met guitarist Rob Hotchkiss, and played in the rock band Apostles together throughout the early ’90s. The two later met Pat Monahan and formed Train in 1994 along with guitarist Jimmy Stafford and drummer Scott Underwood.

He would perform on Train's first three albums, 1998's Train, 2001's Drops of Jupiter, and 2003's My Private Nation, before he was kicked out of the band due to substance abuse.

Along with Hotchkiss, Colin formed a new band in 2015 called Painbirds, as well as The Side Deal with Stan Frazier of Sugar Ray. 

According to his mother, Colin had moved to Belgium to teach a music masterclass at a conservatory and working on music for film. He also served as the musical director of the Newport Beach Film Festival.

“Charlie was a special part of the Newport Beach Film Festival family,” said Todd Quartararo, co-founder of the Newport Beach Film Festival, in a statement. “His heart, compassion and creativity will surely be missed.”

When I met Charlie Colin, front left, I fell in love with him. He was THE sweetest guy and what a handsome chap. Let’s make a band that’s the only reasonable thing to do. His unique bass playing a beautiful guitar work helped get folks to notice us in SF and beyond. I’ll always… pic.twitter.com/2Pv7jehagZ

— train (@train) May 22, 2024