Into Dust

Heard "Fade Into You" drifting from a passing car stereo the other day & immediately thought about the untimely death of David Roback, founding member of Mazzy Star, guitarist & co-writer (along with Hope Sandoval) on said song.

Roback was also leader of the band Rain Parade. In 1983 he left Rain Parade to join Rainy Day, a collective featuring other musicians from the Los Angeles' Paisley Underground. Rainy Days only album was released in 1984. The Dream Syndicate vocalist Kendra Smith was also involved with this release. Roback & Smith went on to form Clay Allison later that year. They changed their name to Opal before the release of their debut album, 1987s Happy Nightmare Baby.

After Kendra Smith (Opal bassist & vocalist) left the group, Hope Sandoval was tapped as Smith's replacement. This new lineup never released any albums under the Opal moniker. They changed the name of the band to Mazzy Star in 1989.

Roback died in Los Angeles on February 24, 2020 from metastatic cancer.

I've posted up all of the Opal I could ever find at one time or another elsewhere, but kinda ignored Mazzy. Listen to some great song writing & fabulous guitar work.

Here's a limited edition release of Fade into You...

Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (plus live tracks),  Capitol Records DPRO 79401, 1994.

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Fade Into You
Into Dust (live)
Ride It On (live)
Ghost Highway (live)
Blue Light (live) (all live tracks from MTV Europe performance)
I’m Gonna Bake My Biscuit
Under My Car
Bells Ring (acoustic version)
Fade Into You (alternate take)

Related News:  Mazzy Star’s first release was issued on Rough Trade (Rough US 77-2 - She Hangs Brightly) along with Rough US 77 - Blue Flower 12" single & Rough Trade singles club 45rev19 - Five String Serenade 7". If you're interested in great things Rough Trade, head over to NSS friend & guest poster Jonder’s fantastic jonderblog. He is presenting the glorious singles releases of Rough Trade. He has posted two installments so far: Part One featuring RT 001 - 011 & RT 012 - 022 followed by Part Two featuring Rough Trade BC (prior releases of Rought Trade bands) & RT 023 - 033. Much more to come. Check this monster out.

Enjoy,
NØ