The first gig I ever went to was Blondie on their Parallel Lines tour. Clem Burke's drumming blew me away... and I was sat up in the balcony!
I was too young to have sent them in their heyday, too disinterested in their reunion years. However, Clem was an amazing drummer. He was effectively old-fashioned, channeling Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich--isn’t Dreaming essentially Sing, Sing, Sing? But it sounded so fresh.
I recommend Kathy Valentine's autobiography, which really shows what an upstanding man he was.
A friend posted this Sly link on our Franks APA Facebook page which you might enjoy. The opening jam is really fun. Sly & Family host Midnight Special. There are other interesting acts too.
Really sad to hear that Ralph Towner passed. So many times his music has been my refuge. When I went to Big Ears back in 2019, I got to hear him perform in this beautiful church... vaulted ceilings, wooden beams, and afternoon sunlight pouring in through stained glass windows. It's a memory that I return to fondly from time to time.
Rob Hirst, drummer of Australian group Midnight Oil.
He was a highly accomplished drummer and wrote some of the group's most insightful and highly regarded songs. He was particularly respected for his thoughtful support of the aboriginal (indigenous) community and their major issues/concerns, as reflected in songs like "Beds are Burning". See details of some of these songs below plus a link to a YouTube video of "Beds are Burning".:
"Beds Are Burning" (1987): Co-written by Hirst, this is the most prominent song regarding Indigenous land rights, explicitly calling for the return of land to Indigenous people ("it belongs to them, let's give it back"). It was inspired by the band's experiences visiting Kintore and Yuendumu.
"The Dead Heart" (1986): Written for the Diesel and Dust album, this song directly addresses the injustice faced by Aboriginal people and was, according to Hirst, inspired by their experiences in the Western Desert.
"Sugar in the Tea" (2024): A newer song by Rob Hirst with Shane Howard and John Schumann, this ballad specifically tells the story of the Pintupi Nine, a group of Indigenous people who lived a traditional life until 1984.
"Warakurna" (1987): Featured on Diesel and Dust, this song tells the story of the Pintupi people moving from the Gibson Desert to a settlement at Papunya, and later choosing to return to their traditional lands at Warakurna.
"Truganini" (1993): A song tackling the history of Indigenous mistreatment, named after the woman considered the last full-blooded Tasmanian Aboriginal person.
Country Joe McDonald of Country Joe and the Fish, the San Francisco Bay Area psychedelic band best known for the anti-war anthem, "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag.", particularly the version sung at Woodstock
R.I.P. Isaac "Ike" Willis (November 12, 1955 - May 16, 2026)
Zappa co-lead singer, rhythm guitarist and more or less band leader 1978-1988. The very Joe of Joe's Garage (but let's not think too much about Thing Fish).
Dave Greenslade (1943 - 2026) an excellent keyboard player who featured in the bands Colosseum and Greenslade as well as brief periods with Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band and IF, amongst others
Thanks peterfrederics I had missed that. Back in the day I saw him play in both Colosseum and Greenslade. I've still got a Colosseum LP, I must sort it out and play it.
Comments
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/clem-burke-dead/
Dave Allen
I recommend Kathy Valentine's autobiography, which really shows what an upstanding man he was.
Jill Sobule
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Derringer
https://abcnews.go.com/world-news-tonight-with-david-muirT/video/rick-derringer-legendary-rock-artist-music-icon-dead-122250050
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/10/sly-stone-cause-of-death-funk-music
A friend posted this Sly link on our Franks APA Facebook page which you might enjoy. The opening jam is really fun. Sly & Family host Midnight Special. There are other interesting acts too.
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beach-boys-brian-wilson-dies-at-82/
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/oct/12/john-lodge-obituary
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-lodge-mn0000236228#biography
https://www.npr.org/2025/10/27/nx-s1-5587549/jack-dejohnette-obituary
Here is one of the most sensitive drum solos ever.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly95x9qe4ko
https://bobweir.net/bobby/
"Sugar Magnolia" from the album "American Beauty". The song that many regard as Bob's greatest.
He was a highly accomplished drummer and wrote some of the group's most insightful and highly regarded songs. He was particularly respected for his thoughtful support of the aboriginal (indigenous) community and their major issues/concerns, as reflected in songs like "Beds are Burning". See details of some of these songs below plus a link to a YouTube video of "Beds are Burning".:
- "Beds Are Burning" (1987): Co-written by Hirst, this is the most prominent song regarding Indigenous land rights, explicitly calling for the return of land to Indigenous people ("it belongs to them, let's give it back"). It was inspired by the band's experiences visiting Kintore and Yuendumu.
- "The Dead Heart" (1986): Written for the Diesel and Dust album, this song directly addresses the injustice faced by Aboriginal people and was, according to Hirst, inspired by their experiences in the Western Desert.
- "Sugar in the Tea" (2024): A newer song by Rob Hirst with Shane Howard and John Schumann, this ballad specifically tells the story of the Pintupi Nine, a group of Indigenous people who lived a traditional life until 1984.
- "Warakurna" (1987): Featured on Diesel and Dust, this song tells the story of the Pintupi people moving from the Gibson Desert to a settlement at Papunya, and later choosing to return to their traditional lands at Warakurna.
- "Truganini" (1993): A song tackling the history of Indigenous mistreatment, named after the woman considered the last full-blooded Tasmanian Aboriginal person.
https://theconversation.com/rob-hirst-was-not-the-figurehead-of-midnight-oil-but-he-was-its-backbone-273913https://pitchfork.com/news/sly-and-robbies-lowell-sly-dunbar-dies-at-73/
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/08/arts/music/country-joe-mcdonald-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Augie Meyers
Zappa co-lead singer, rhythm guitarist and more or less band leader 1978-1988. The very Joe of Joe's Garage (but let's not think too much about Thing Fish).
https://chriswelchonline.com/chris-welch-pays-tribute-to-dave-greenslade-1943-2026/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Beard_(musician)