Blues Traveler [ tickets ] bassist Bobby Sheehan was found dead in his New Orleans apartment Friday morning (8/20). He was 31. The cause of death was unknown pending an autopsy scheduled for Saturday, according to the New Orleans coroner's office.

In a statement released on Blues Traveler's official website, frontman John Popper said: ''Despite the fact that Bob Sheehan was respected, loved and revered by all who knew him, or knew of his music, he was easily the most underestimated member of the band. The best friend I've had in the world just died and I don't want to talk about it.''

According to the band's statement, Sheehan had begun work on his first solo album, and planned to return to the studio with Blues Traveler in the fall to begin pre-production on the band's sixth studio recording. Sheehan had recently completed a brief tour with guitarist John Mooney.

''Since the band's early days in Princeton, NJ, Sheehan had always been one of the four cornerstones of the highly successful and loved quartet,'' said the band's statement. ''He was there for every tour date, and had performed on all six of the band's albums. He will be missed by the artistic community to which he gave so much.''

Outside of a benefit performance at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco on June 28th, Blues Traveler took a break from touring in 1999. The band was to follow that show with performances July 3rd and 4th at the Denver-area Red Rocks Amphitheatre, though the shows were cancelled after Popper was admitted to a California hospital for complaining of chest pains. Popper underwent angioplasty surgery to clear a blocked artery. The cancellations marked the first time in seven years that the band has not played a 4th of July show at the venue.

Blues Traveler is booked to play New Year's celebration shows Dec. 30 and 31 at the Reno Hilton Amphitheater in Nevada, and Popper's solo band is scheduled to begin a tour on Sept. 1. So far, there's no word as to whether or not the shows will go on as planned.