Doug Hopkins

Career

Hopkins was born in Seattle, Washington, and raised in Tempe, Arizona. He graduated from Tempe's McClintock High School in 1979, and two years later, while attending Arizona State University, he formed his first rock band with Bill Leen. Hopkins was the guitarist and Leen the bassist, although neither knew how to play the instruments. He graduated from Arizona State in 1985 with a degree in sociology. By 1987, the two played well enough to start the Gin Blossoms, and in 1988, Jesse Valenzuela (Hopkins' skateboarding friend) and Phillip Rhodes signed on as the band's second guitarist and drummer, respectively. Robin Wilson, the band's eventual lead singer, joined in 1988 as well.

Hopkins had suffered from chronic depression since childhood and had been battling alcoholism for several years. However, in 1990, the Gin Blossoms were one of the hottest local bands in Tempe and the surrounding areas, and they signed a contract with A&M Records. He was resistant to signing to a major label, feeling like its property, and reacted with stubbornness and more drinking. When the band recorded its debut album New Miserable Experience in February 1992, it was reported that Hopkins was unable to stand during his recording sessions. Faced with the prospect of firing Hopkins or being dropped by A&M, the band terminated Hopkins. Doused in aftershave and mouthwash to cover the effects of his days-long drinking binge, he was flown back to Arizona. He was replaced by Scott Johnson. The band then withheld $15,000 owed to Hopkins until he agreed to sign over half of his publishing royalties. Hopkins was also required to relinquish his mechanical royalties to Johnson, his replacement. Hopkins reluctantly agreed to these demands because of his dire financial situation. While New Miserable Experience did not make a strong debut, it went on to become a multi-platinum album.

After he returned to Tempe, Hopkins started another band, The Chimeras, with brothers Lawrence and Mark Zubia. Hopkins' role in the band came to an abrupt end during a show one night, when, after a less-than-fantastic solo, he quit. It would be the last band he ever played with in public as a member, though he appeared on stage with Dead Hot Workshop and Hans Olson in Tucson shortly before his death. The Chimeras later changed their name to The Pistoleros, upon signing a short-lived recording contract. The first several singles released by the Gin Blossoms, and the only mainstream hit released by the Pistoleros prior to being dropped by their label, were penned by Hopkins.

As the Gin Blossoms experienced mounting success performing songs he had written, Hopkins became increasingly despondent. Though he had always dreamed of having a gold record, when he received one (for the song "Hey Jealousy"), he hung it up for two weeks before taking it down and then destroying it. Nine days later, during an intake consultation in the detox unit of Phoenix's St. Luke's Hospital, Hopkins snuck out and bought a .38 caliber pistol. The next day, December 5, 1993, Hopkins committed suicide.

In 1994, Larry Rudolph of the New York firm of Rudolph & Beer, which represented the Hopkins estate, announced that 18 of his songs were found and were open for a recording deal. Around 2000, award-winning documentarian Mark Stanoch secured the rights to Hopkins’ music and story for a biopic potentially starring Ethan Hawke, but plans stalled.