Gerhardt "Jerry" Fuchs
January 1st, 1974 - November 6th, 2009
35 years old

(Entertainment Weekly) – Thirty-four-year-old Gerhardt “Jerry” Fuchs, a beloved fixture of both the New York and Athens, Georgia, rock scenes who played with LCD Soundsystem, !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk), Turing Machine, MSTRKRFT, and The Juan MacLean, died Saturday night in a fall after attempting to crawl out of a broken elevator shaft at a benefit party in Brooklyn. Fuchs, who also freelanced at Entertainment Weekly, was a house drummer of sorts for progressive record label DFA, as wel ... more»

James "Jim" Forbes Chapin
July 23rd, 1919 - July 4th, 2009
91 years old

Jim Chapin (July 23, 1919 - July 4, 2009)     Jim Chapin, legendary jazz drummer and educator, died on July 4, 2009 in Florida. He was a few weeks shy of 90 years old. Mr. Chapin was born in New York City in 1919. His father was James Ormsbee Chapin, an artist of the American Scene school of painting and his mother was Abigail Forbes Chapin, a teacher and writer. Mr. Chapin did not begin playing the drums until he was 18 years old, aft ... more»

Louie Bellson
July 6th, 1924 - January 14th, 2009
85 years old

    Duke Ellington called him "the world's greatest drummer," and that he was...member of the "BIG THREE": Louie Bellson - Gene Krupa - Buddy Rich. He was a composer, arranger, bandleader, tireless jazz educator, pioneered the use of two bass drums, and in terms of the speed of his hands and feet and the wonderful, percussive "ideas" he conveys on the drums, stands next to only Buddy Rich a ... more»

Mitch Mitchel
July 9th, 1947 - November 12th, 2008
61 years old

John "Mitch" Mitchell (9 July 1947 – 12 November 2008) was an English drummer, best known for his work in The Jimi Hendrix Experience. A child actor, Mitch was largely self taught, though he received some lessons when he worked in Jim Marshall’s (the Amp man) music store. Mitch did some free lance work before settling in with Georgie Fame and the Blue Fames. One of the great UK jazz inflected R&B bands. After 18 months George f ... more»

Buddy Miles
September 5th, 1945 - February 26th, 2008
63 years old

    George Miles, 5 September 1945, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. A teenage prodigy, this powerful, if inflexible, drummer was a veteran of several touring revues prior to his spell with soul singer Wilson Pickett. In 1967, Miles joined the Electric Flag at the behest of guitarist Mike Bloomfield, whose subsequent departure left the drummer in control. Although the band collapsed in the wake of a disappointing second album, Miles retained its hor ... more»

Mark Schommer
December 19th, 1970 - December 6th, 2007
36 years old

Mark Schommer was the original drummer/percussionist for the Minneapolis base Irish Pub Rock band The Serfs. He was never on any major label or recording, but he was loved by all his family and friends. He began playing drums in Junior High School and continued to play in marching band through High School. Mark played many gigs, both good and bad, with The Serfs. He was the bands rock. Always keeping each member on there toes, and bring them down a notch or two when they needed it. He hated The ... more»