Thommy Price, the acclaimed drummer known for his decades-long work with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Billy Idol, died at the age of 68 on Friday (October 10), as confirmed by his wife, Stefunny. Price played with Joan Jett from 1987 to 2017, and she paid tribute to Price on Instagram: “We lost a member of the Blackheart family- the one of a kind Thommy Price. Thommy was a legendary drummer who was a Blackheart for 4 decades. He was a drummer’s drummer and admired by so many. Our hearts are heavy.” Idol also honored Price on social media: “Thommy was a fantastic musician and drummer who, in 1983, put his definitive stamp on my Rebel Yell album. He helped us to bring it to an incredible finish and toured with us on the Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile tours. Thommy was a friend as well as musical compatriot who brought immense talent and heart to everything he did. And I will miss him.”
Born in Brooklyn in 1956, Price also performed with bands like Scandal and Mink DeVille, and contributed to recordings by Roger Daltrey, The Waterboys, Blue Oyster Cult, The Psychedelic Furs, Ronnie Spector, and Debbie Harry. His wife described him as “a devoted husband and proud father and powerhouse drummer and songwriter.” No cause of death has been disclosed at this time. In addition to his wife, Price is also survived by his daughter Brooklyn. (NME)
