Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous to Receive Tribute Album Featuring the Flaming Lips, Mark Lanegan, Mercury Rev

BY Alex HudsonPublished Nov 11, 2013

Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous took his own life back in 2010, and soon, the songwriter will be honoured with a tribute album featuring a pile of notable names. Last Box of Sparklers - A Tribute to Mark Linkous is being funded by an Indiegogo campaign.

The album is being put together by producers Dave Fridmann (MGMT, the Flaming Lips) and Mark Fuller, plus non-profit organization Box of Stars. In keeping with Box of Stars' mandate, it aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, and any profits will go towards promoting the cause.

Fridmann and Fuller began working on the Linkous tribute before linking up with Box of Stars, who had a plan of where the money should go. Among the artists who have already recorded covers for the double album are the Flaming Lips, Mark Lanegan, Phantogram, Mercury Rev, David Lowery (of Camper Van Beethoven), Cowboy Junkies, Califone, and more. Additional covers will be recorded by the Joy Formidable, Portugal. The Man, and Grandaddy's Jason Lytle.

Some of the artists will also be contributing to a PSA campaign about mental illness. Box of Stars' website and YouTube channel will serve as a home for musicians talking about their own experiences with mental health challenges; Eric Slick of Dr. Dog is apparently the first to record a PSA.

The album is being released on double CD and double vinyl. Other perks include T-shirts, hoodies, signed music from Mercury Rev, one of Flaming Lips' frog-shaped audio recorders (plus one of the band's early demos on 7-inch), a few signed instruments, various membership packages with Box of Stars, and more.

Check out the Indiegogo campaign, and contribute if you're so inclined, here. As of press time, it has already reached more than a third of its $50,000 goal. Watch a video about the project below.

Latest Coverage