Passes
Modern Drummer is the world’s most widely read drum magazine, is dedicated entirely to the art of drumming and caters to the needs of amateur, semi-pro, and professional drummers.
Dick DiCenso Passes
We at Modern Drummer were saddened to hear of the passing of Dick DiCenso, the father of renowned drummer Dave DiCenso and the founder of Dick DiCenso’s Drum Shop, which was founded in 1982 and for twenty-three years served the…
Remo Inc. Founder Remo Belli Passes
The staff of Modern Drummer magazine is extremely saddened to learn of the passing of Remo Belli, founder of the world-renowned drumhead and percussion manufacturer that bares his name. We’ll make more information available as soon as it becomes…
’70s-Era David Bowie Drummer Dennis Davis Passes
Longtime David Bowie drummer Dennis Davis passed away yesterday. Davis appeared on a string of Bowie studio albums in the ’70s, beginning with Young Americans in 1975 and ending with 1980’s Scary Monsters. The run of recordings, which also includes…
Idris Muhammad Dies at Age 74
The funk and jazz drummer Idris Muhammad, who hailed from New Orleans and spent his recent years playing with pianist Ahmad Jamal, passed away this week at age seventy-four. Muhammad’s friend Dan Williams, who's worked with the New Orleans Jazz &…
Steve Weiss: 1943-2014
The entire percussion community suffered a loss this past April 21, when Steve Weiss, founder of the Pennsylvania-based percussion retail business that bore his name, lost his long battle with prostate cancer. In high school Weiss studied with Philadelphia Orchestra…
Session Percussionist Joe Lala Passes
Joe Lala, a busy session percussionist credited with having played on dozens of gold and platinum records, died on March 18 after a battle with cancer. Lala was born on November 3, 1947, in Florida, where he co-founded the band…
Stooges Drummer Scott Asheton Passes
By Robert Matheu Modern Drummer learned of the death this past weekend of Scott Asheton, drummer with the seminal Ann Arbor, Michigan, band the Stooges; his passing was noted in several media reports and on Stooges singer Iggy Pop’s Facebook…
Ricky Lawson Passes
Ricky Lawson, the veteran drummer who worked with Michael Jackson, Steely Dan, the Yellowjackets, Phil Collins, Quincy Jones, and Earth, Wind & Fire, among other top artists, has passed away. Look for a full tribute to Ricky in an upcoming…
Renowned Fusion Drummer Ronald Shannon Jackson Passes
Ronald Shannon Jackson died at his home in Fort Worth, Texas, this past October 19. Jackson was a renowned drummer, composer, and bandleader who supported some of the giants of avant-garde jazz, including Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, and Albert Ayler.…
Nashville Studio Great Tommy Wells Passes
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Nashville studio great Tommy Wells this week. In honor of Tommy, we’re presenting a portion of his first Modern Drummer feature, from August 1990. “As a session player you take…
Drummer Joseph M. LaCaze Passes
Joseph M. LaCaze, New Orleans native and drummer for the band EyeHateGod, Mystick Krewe of Clearlight, and Outlaw Order, and who was known for performing ceremonial voodoo drumming in numerous solo experimental electronics projects, passed away on August 23 in…
Famed Afro-Caribbean Drummer Steve Berrios Passes
Steve Berrios in 1994, standing at the corner of Broadway and 52nd Street in New York City, where the original Birdland club once stood Modern Drummer is sad to announce that Steve Berrios died this past week at the…
Alan Myers of Devo Passes
Alan Myers, the drummer with iconic new wave band Devo during the group’s peak period, died this week following a battle with cancer. Myers appeared on Devo’s first six albums, Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!, Duty…
Jefferson Airplane/Starship Drummer Joey Covington Dies
Joey Covington, who was a member of the legendary West Coast band Jefferson Airplane, died in a car crash this past Tuesday. He was sixty-seven years old. Covington became a professional drummer as a young teenager, taking gigs in, among…
