The rock community is reeling after the death of Thommy Price, the powerhouse drummer best known for his work with Billy Idol and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Price passed away on Friday, October 10th, at the age of 68.
The news was confirmed by his wife, Stefunny, who shared a heartfelt message on Facebook:
βIt is with great sadness that we share the passing of beloved husband, friend, and legendary musician Thommy Price.β
Over the years, Thommy became one of those rare musicians who never demanded the spotlight β but always made the music hit harder. From βI Love Rock βnβ Rollβ to βWhite Wedding,β his drumming could shake stadiums and still feel like it was played just for you. β‘
Both Billy Idol and Joan Jett have paid tribute to their longtime bandmate and friend. Idol called him βa heartbeat of rock and roll β steady, wild, and full of soul.β Jett shared that βThommy wasnβt just a drummer; he was the foundation of every stage we ever set on fire.β π₯
Born in Brooklyn, Price cut his teeth in the New York rock scene before finding fame with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts in the early 1980s. He later toured with Billy Idol, helping define the thunderous live sound that made both artists arena icons. He also played with Scandal, Blue Γyster Cult, and Tommy Shaw (of Styx fame), earning a reputation as one of the most dependable and dynamic drummers in the business.
Fans and fellow musicians have flooded social media with tributes, sharing memories of Priceβs explosive performances and down-to-earth personality. One fan wrote, βHe never played a beat that didnβt have heart. Rest easy, Thommy β the sticks are silent but the rhythm lives on.β π€
From Brooklyn basements to global stages, Thommy Price kept the beat for some of rockβs loudest legends β and heβll be sorely missed.
π―οΈ Rest in power, Thommy.
The rock world wonβt sound the same without you.
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene specialβfrom legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether heβs battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, heβs always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When heβs not writing or interviewing artists, youβll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than musicβtheyβre about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. Thatβs exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. π€
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