Mikey Welsh, former Weezer bass player, was found dead in a Chicago hotel room Saturday afternoon, according to several media reports.

Welsh, 40, was found by hotel staff after he failed to check out of his room at the Raffaello Hotel, authorities said.

He was found unresponsive and on the floor, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Welsh was pronounced dead at the scene by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office and narcotics are suspected as the cause of death, the Tribune reported.

Autopsy results are expected to be available this afternoon.

Welsh was in Chicago to attend Weezer’s performance at Riot Fest today.

Mickey Welsh (Image credit: Jordan Vittitow/Weezer.com)

Fans Remember Welsh

Band members and fans turned to the internet and social networking sites to express their grief over the sudden news.

“It saddens me and the guys in Weezer so much to say that our beautiful, creative, hilarious and sweet friend Mikey Welsh has passed away at the very young age of 40,” read a statement on Weezer’s website.  “A unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist is gone, but we will never forget him. His chapter in the Weezer story (’98 – ’01) was vital, essential, wild, and amazing,” his former band members said as part of a statement on their blog.

Welsh, originally from Burlington, Vt., performed with Weezer from 1998 to 2001.

He reportedly left the group after experiencing a nervous breakdown, according to Weezer’s website.  He later took on a second career as an artist.

Pat Wilson, Brian Bell, Mikey Welsh and Rivers Cuomo of Weezer appear in this photo. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)