Natasha Shneider, who played keyboards and sang with the band Eleven and collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age and Chris Cornell, died of cancer yesterday. “She was a brilliant, beautiful, and ballsy woman who will be missed deeply by all those who knew her. Send your loving thoughts her way in the universe,” wrote frequent collaborator Troy Van Leeuwen. Shneider and her husband Alain Johannes founded Eleven with former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons in 1990, and the band recorded five albums and toured with Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Queens Of The Stone Age–all groups that members of Eleven would eventually collaborate with or join. Shneider’s colorful career also included playing a cosmonaut in 2010: The Year We Make Contact and recording a song for the Catwoman soundtrack. Some clips from her career below.

“Broken Box” with Queens Of The Stone Age. Shneider and Johannes both performed on the album Lullabies To Paralyze and the following tour. The duo also appear on The Desert Sessions 7&8).

Eleven’s “Reach Out,” the closest to a radio hit the band achieved. You may recognize it from Beavis & Butt-Head.

Shneider’s genre-defying “Who’s In Control,” for Catwoman.

A memorial fund in Shneider’s name has been set up to help cover her medical costs. Shneider was 52.

Rock musician Natasha Shneider dies of cancer [Reuters]
Natasha Shneider Memorial Fund [Official Site]
We love you, Natasha! Rest In Peace [MySpace]
Eleven – Reach Out [YouTube]
Queens Of The Stone Age – Broken Box (Eurockéennes 2005) [YouTube]