Weezer ex-bassist Mikey Welsh dies of suspected overdose, age 40 (VIDEO)

Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh has died of a suspected overdose, aged 40.

Rafaello Hotel staff found Welsh in his room on Saturday afternoon after he failed to check out as scheduled, Reuters reports. He was unresponsive and not breathing, a hotel spokeswoman told Reuters.

Welsh, who was with Weezer from 1998 to 2001 before leaving after suffering a nervous breakdown, was in Chicago to see his former band perform.

His death comes a few weeks after he posted on Twitter that he dreamt he died in Chicago.

A statement from the band posted on the Weezer website described Welsh as "a unique talent, a deeply loving friend and father, and a great artist."

It began:

"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. 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."

Current bassist Scott Shriner  tweeted: "Really bummed about Mikey. My heart goes out to his family and friends. Such a talent… he made a special mark on the world with his art."

On September 26, Welsh tweeted: "Dreamt I died in Chicago next weekend (heart attack in my sleep). Need to write my will today."

"Correction, weekend after next," he added later.

Welsh was with the band when they released the album "Weezer" (commonly referred to as The Green Album), contained the hits "Island in the Sun" and "Hash Pipe."

He had recently been developing a career as a painter, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.