Neal Langford of The Shins Dead at 50 - Noise11.com
The Shins Oh Inverted World

Neal Langford of The Shins Dead at 50

by Paul Cashmere on July 31, 2023

in News

Neal Langford, a founding member and bass player for The Shins, has died at age 50.

Neal’s death was announced by The Shins record label Sub Pop Records.”Neal Langford was the bass player in The Shins, back when we first started working together in 2000. Before that, he played guitar in Flake/Flake Music. Neal passed on July 21, 2023. He was a sweet, funny guy, and also a hot air balloon pilot. We’re grateful to have known him, to have been his friend, proud to have worked with him, and heartbroken to lose him. And the answer to the offer of a hot air balloon ride should always be yes. RIP Neal, with love from your friends at Sub Pop”.

Neal Langford has a short innings with The Shins, from 2000 to 2003. He only appeared on the debut album ‘Oh, Inverted World’ (2001). While the album only reached no 168 on the Billboard chart, it eventually sold Platinum (one million) when later albums ‘Wincing the Night Away (2007) and ‘Port of Morrow’ (2012) reached two and three in America and fans revisited the early works.

The track ‘Caring is Creeping’ was used in the movie ‘Garden State’.

Langford became a Balloon pilot after leaving the band in 2003. He had a balloon company called IBX Balloon Flights that he started in 2018. In 2012 he started Sad Baby Wolf with former Shins member Marty Crandall.

In a statement on Instagram, James Mercer said,

“Just want to let you guys know one of the best friends I’ve ever had has passed. He was in several bands with me including the Shins. A very important figure in my life you could say. I mean this is the guy who talked me into getting over my shyness and up on the stage. He put me in front of the microphone! He was the catholic school kid who showed me how to sneak into the back of the old El Rey theatre and get a “free” beer. An invaluable person! Who turned me onto Dinosaur Jr. and Interview Magazine and the Cocteau Twins and countless other piles of cool stuff. He would pick me up in his stepdad’s El Camino and we’d listen to his latest mixtape. With our swerve on. Driving when we probably shouldn’t have been. Where we shouldn’t have been. We were like that. A long time ago. There’s too much to the story but I loved him. And I owe him a lot. Neal Langford you were always loved and you always will be”.

Stay updated with your free Noise11.com daily music news email alert. Subscribe to Noise11 Music News here

Be the first to see NOISE.com’s newest interviews and special features on YOUTUBE and updated regularly. See things first SUBSCRIBE here: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11.com

Related Posts

Kim Dracula (supplied)
Kim Dracula and Wednesday 13 To Tour Australia In November

Australia Tik Tok rapper/musician Kim Dracula will tour Australia in November with Wednesday 13.

2 hours ago
Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy Arrested On Weapons Charges

Soulja Boy is in legal trouble again, thanks to an early morning traffic stop.

1 day ago
Hayley Williams of Paramore photo by Ros O'Gorman
Hayley Williams Removes ‘Ego’ Album From Website

Hayley Williams has deleted her surprise solo album Ego from her website.

5 days ago
Drake, Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Drake Officially Cancels Postponed Australian Dates

Drake has officially scrapped his postponed Australia and New Zealand tour dates.

6 days ago
Michael Kiwanuka at Noise11, Photo
Michael Kiwanuka Cancels All Upcoming Shows

Michael Kiwanuka has cancelled all his forthcoming shows due to “continued illness”.

7 days ago
Paramore’s Hayley Williams Releases 17 Surprise Tracks But There Is A Catch

Paramore’s Hayley Williams has quietly surprise‐released 17 brand new solo songs on July 28, 2025 but there is a catch to get them. You have to buy a product from her Good Dye Young brand.

July 29, 2025
Beyonce Cowboy Carter
Fact Checking: Beyoncé Having The Biggest Grossing Country Tour Ever

Beyoncé's last two tours 'Cowboy Carter' and Renaissance' have been two of the biggest grossing tours ever but to claim 'Cowboy Carter' as the biggest Country tour ever? Are they joking?

July 29, 2025