Sorry to bring bad news, but I found out that Howie passed away at 11:35 PM Sunday February 23, 2003. Howie was born July 21, 1955 in Milwaukee, WI. He was a kind KIND person who donated alot to the fans and this site. Please click here to see the wonderful pictures Howie sent me to share with fans of the Heartbreakers. Sorry if this sounds stupid, but my favorite "Howie bit" is on "A Bunch of Videos and Some Other Stuff" when the cameraman is chasing Howie around to get him to introduce a video and the cameraman says introduce "A Woman In Love" and Howie yells... "I'm not on that one!" Always loved that. Great sense of humor! Howie, we'll miss you!
Official Statement From Billboard Magazine
Howie Epstein, 47, former bassist for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, died at a hospital in Santa Fe, N.M. late Monday night. Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano says that while the cause of Epstein's death was as yet undetermined, the musician had been transported to the hospital by a female companion who told police that Epstein had been using heroin, and had also been taking prescription antibiotics for an illness.
"We are deeply saddened at the news of Howie's passing," reads a statement from Petty & the Heartbreakers. "It's difficult to put into words how much we loved him and will miss him. The world has lost a great talent and a kind and gently soul. We can only take solace in knowing he is now at peace. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many friends."
Epstein played with the Heartbreakers from 1982, when he replaced original bassist Ron Blair, until last year; at that time, the band said it had parted company with him "because of his ongoing personal problems." In 2001, Epstein and his then-girlfriend, singer Carlene Carter, were arrested in New Mexico after three grams of heroin were found in the couple's car.
Condolences
Cathy Buffington was kind enough to offer to collect Cards to Howie's Family at this address:
The Epstein Family (and/or Jamie)
c/o Tom Petty/Heartbreakers Fan Club
1926 Contra Costa Blvd.,
#237Pleasant Hill, CA 94523-3024
Also, Casa Dega made a great suggestion of making a donation to the Humane Society in Milwaukee in Dingo's name. Here's the info...
If you would be interested in doing this also you can mail your contribution to: Milwaukee Humane Society, 4500 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53208. Please put "Attention Dave" on your envelope. If you are sending a check your check needs to be made out to "Wisconsin Humane Society" but your donation will go to the Milwaukee humane society. Please include with your donation a note as to who your dontion goes to...in this case Howie and Dingo.
Dave is going to contact the funeral home and get Howie's brother's address so they can be notified of our contributions to the humane society.
I have been talking to a very close friend of Howie's and together we are going to build a tribute page. I will send out more info as I get it!
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