Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has reacted to the deaths of two iconic drummers: Hal Blaine and Victor McElhaney.
“The world just lost two beautiful drummers. Hal Blaine, who played immaculately on countless hits, an inspiration to many, died at the age of 90, and Victor McElhaney, a jazz drummer, teacher and student, who was shot down at the age of 21 before he got the chance to do all he was capable of. God bless both their souls, and all you drummers out there please lay down some deep grooves in their honor. Peace and love to all.”
Hal Blaine was an American drummer and session musician. Blaine was one of the most recorded studio drummers in the history of the music industry, claiming over 35,000 sessions, and 6,000 singles. His drumming is featured on 40 number 1 hits by a range of popular artists from the Byrds to Frank Sinatra, as well as on film and television soundtracks.
Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Blaine moved with his family to California in 1943. He began playing jazz and big band music before taking up session work, specialising in rock ‘n’ roll. He became one of the key players in Phil Spector’s de facto house band, later known as “The Wrecking Crew”, after Blaine’s 1990 memoirs of the group. His opening drum shots on the Ronettes’ single “Be My Baby” (1963) made the song instantly recognizable, and his defining work on it won him many accolades. His signature hit singles include the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson, and the Byrds’ Mr. Tambourine Man.
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