Alan Myers (drummer)

Alan Myers
Background information
Born 1955
Akron, Ohio
Died June 24, 2013
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s) Musician, electrical contractor
Instruments Drums, percussion
Years active 1976–2013
Associated acts Devo, Swahili Blonde, Skyline Electric
Notable instruments
Gretsch Drums, Yamaha Drums, Synare 3, Linn LM-1, Fairlight CMI

Alan Myers (1955 – June 24, 2013) was an American drummer. He was the third and most prominent drummer of the band Devo.

Devo

Myers joined Devo in 1976 and replaced Jim Mothersbaugh. He left between 1986 and 1987 after the album Shout. According to the book We Are Devo, Myers cited a lack of creative fulfillment as his reason for leaving the group, something he had felt since Devo's move to Los Angeles in the late 70s. He was replaced by David Kendrick of Sparks. Among all of Devo's drummers, he is the one most associated with the band.[1]

Post-Devo

After he left Devo, he recorded a demo with Babooshka, a band that was his girlfriend Greta Ionita's idea, using live drums as well as electronic percussion similar to his last two albums with Devo. As of 2005, Myers remained active in the Los Angeles music scene. He also played drums with the Asian-themed pop band Jean Paul Yamamoto.[2] Since its founding in 2005, Myers's band Skyline Electric played monthly shows in art galleries and clubs in Los Angeles. The line up at the time of Myers death included his wife, Christine (Sugiyama) Myers, and an assortment of other experimental musicians.[3] In 2010, Myers began playing in the live ensemble of Swahili Blonde with his daughter, Laena Geronimo (Myers-Ionita).[4]

Death

Myers died of stomach cancer[5][6] in Los Angeles, California on June 24, 2013. He was 58 years old. News reports at the time of his death incorrectly cited brain cancer as the cause.[7][8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Former DEVO drummer Alan Myers loses cancer battle". uberrock.co.uk. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  2. ↑ Jean Paul Yamamoto, Lun*na Menoh's J.P.Y. page, Retrieved January 25, 2011
  3. ↑ Skyline Electric MySpace.com, Retrieved September 12, 2007
  4. ↑ Devo whipping up first album since 1990 Reuters, Retrieved March 10, 2009
  5. ↑ "Alan Myers Obituary". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Alan Myers Obituary". Drum Magazine. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. ↑ "Alan Myers, Devo Drummer on 'Whip It,' Dead at 58". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
  8. ↑ Roberts, Randall (26 June 2013). "Alan Myers, longtime Devo drummer, has died". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Devo drummer Alan Myers dies of brain cancer". Associated Press. June 26, 2013.

External links

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