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Saturday, January 15, 2005

R.I.P: Spencer Dryden 

The New York Times announced yesterday the death of Spencer Dryden, drummer for the legendary Jefferson Airplane (and also the New Riders of the Purple Sage).

He was heard on hits like "Somebody to Love" and "White Rabbit" and on the group's other albums, including "After Bathing at Baxter's," "Bless Its Pointed Little Head," "Crown of Creation" and "Volunteers."

A benefit concert last year featuring Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and Warren Haynes of Gov't Mule raised $36,000 for Mr. Dryden, who had two hip replacement operations and was facing heart surgery at the time. His Petaluma home and all his possessions had been destroyed in a fire in September 2003. He learned he had stomach cancer last year.


The death certificate lists cancer as the cause of death.

TRIVIA UPDATE: Apparently, Dryden was the nephew of Charlie Chaplin. I didn't have the foggiest.