Paul O’Neill (photo: Xmastree (CC0))
Paul O’Neill, founder of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, died from an overdose of pills. The tragic cocktail included methadone, codeine, diazepam and doxylamine, according to the report.
One of the most successful producers in history tragically overdosed on prescription drugs, according to autopsy findings released today. Paul O’Neill, creator of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, officially died of ‘intoxication’ involving a lethal mix of pills. That cocktail included methadone, codeine, diazepam and doxylamine, according to the toxicology report.
The autopsy was first tipped by TMZ this morning. In early April of this year, O’Neill’s body was discovered in an Embassy Suites hotel room in Tampa, FL.
The report conflicts with earlier statements about O’Neill’s death. The producer and musician officially passed on April 5th, 2017, with a ‘chronic illness’ cited.
In fairness, the autopsy also mentions a number of ongoing health issues. Those include heart disease, hypertension, and hardening of the arteries. In all likelihood, the lethal concoction of pills placed extreme stress on O’Neill’s system, resulting in the death.
Paul O’Neill’s production and musical career was both prolific and lucrative. His production hand touched mega-groups like Aerosmith, though his greatest success came from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. In between, O’Neill was an integral creative force behind Savatage, some of whose members started Trans-Siberian. Since its founding in 1996, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has sold more than 10 million albums.
O’Neill was 61 when he passed away.
“One of the most successful producers in history tragically overdosed on prescription drugs, according to autopsy findings released today. Paul O’Neill, creator of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, officially died of ‘intoxication’ involving a lethal mix of pills.”
Are these two sentences related? He had a few successes but was hardly in the same league with, say, Phil Ramone or George Martin as one of the most successful producers in history. Why indulge in pointless hyperbole? Anyway, RIP.