Jefferson Airplaneís Spencer Dryden Dies at 66

On January 11th, Spencer Dryden, drummer for Jefferson Airplane, died at his California home after a year long battle with colon cancer. Dryden was a member of the classic line-up of Jefferson Airplane, during the years of 1966-1970. The band's second drummer chronlogically, Dryden provided the beat for many of JA's best loved albums like 'Surrealistic Pillow', and appeared with them at the Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock, and the Alamont.

It was after becoming fascinated with the world of jazz that Dryden decided to try his hand at being a sticksman. He was born into an artistic family, with a British actor for a father and a dancer for a mother, and Dryden's father shared his love of jazz music. Dryden was a well-seasoned musician by the time he was recruited into Jefferson Airplane and went on to help make it one of the most popular bands of the 60s.

After falling-out with Jefferson Airplane in 1970, Dryden continued to thrive in the music scene. In addition to other forays, Dryden was a member of The New Riders Of The Purple Sage, a sideproject of The Grateful Dead, for seven years. How Dryden felt about Jefferson Airplane following his departure is another question; he did not participate in the reunion tour in 1989, but he was there when JA was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, as well as attended a DVD release party for the band in September 2004, which was his last public appearance.