Hole Bassist Died Of Drug Overdose

SEATTLE - Kristen Pfaff, who played bass with the alternative rock band Hole, died of an accidental drug overdose, the King County medical examiner's office said today.

Pfaff, 27, was found dead in the bathtub of her Capitol Hill apartment June 16. She died of "acute opiate intoxication," medical examiner spokesman Bill McClure said. A bag containing drug paraphernalia was found near Pfaff's body.

Asked whether the drug involved was heroin, he said tests did not address that. Use of heroin, an opiate, is rife in some circles of the grunge music scene here, insiders say.

The determination that Pfaff's death was accidental was based on circumstances at the scene, McClure said.