From AP news....

Ex-Heartbreakers Bassist Epstein Dies
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SANTA FE, N.M. - Howie Epstein, a former bass player for Tom Petty
and the Heartbreakers, died of what authorities suspect was a drug
overdose. He was 47.

Investigators were told Epstein had been using heroin, said Maj. Ron
Madrid of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department. Epstein was
driven to St. Vincent Hospital by his girlfriend, who described him
as "under distress." He died Sunday.

Epstein was taking antibiotics for an illness, and he had recently
suffered from flu, stomach problems and an abscess on his leg,
friends said.

"Apparently he passed out in the bathroom, and (his girlfriend) drove
him to the hospital," Madrid said.

Epstein has been a respected musician and producer for more than 20
years. In addition to his work with Petty, he played on some of Bob
Dylan's albums in the 1980s and produced a Grammy-award winning album
for folk singer-songwriter John Prine called The Lost Years.

He was singer Carlene Carter's longtime boyfriend, producing two of
her albums, one of which was nominated for a Grammy.

"I'm devastated," said Carter, the stepdaughter of country singer
Johnny Cash and daughter of June Carter Cash (news). "I loved him
very much. My kids thought of Howie as their father.

"We had a good life together for 15 years. We've been apart since May
last year, and all I know is I'm going to miss him very much."

Epstein teamed up with Petty in 1982 and also worked with Roy
Orbison, Del Shannon, John Hiatt, Stevie Nicks and Eric Anderson.

"We are deeply saddened at the news of Howie's passing. It's
difficult to put into words how much we loved him and will miss him.
The world has lost a great talent and a kind and gentle soul,"
according to a statement on Petty's Web site.

Epstein and Carter were arrested in June 2001 in Albuquerque with 2.9
grams of black-tar heroin and drug paraphernalia in a vehicle that
had been reported stolen.

Epstein was not charged in that case. Carter pleaded no contest to a
charge of heroin possession and was sentenced to 18 months probation.

Several months before the plea, she was released into the custody of
her daughter, Tiffany Lowe, in Nashville and has lived there since.

Epstein, who was born in Milwaukee, is survived by a daughter, Jamie
Leffler, 15, in Los Angeles and two brothers in Milwaukee.