Van Conner, the bassist for grunge-era Washington rock heroes Screaming Trees, has died. His brother and bandmate Gary Lee Conner shared the news on Facebook, writing, “Van Conner bassist and song writer of Screaming Trees died last night of an extended illness at 55 It was pneumonia that got him in the end. He was one of the closest friends I ever had and I loved him immensely. I will miss him forever and ever and ever…” His death comes less than a year after the passing of Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan.