Sad news has reached Backseat Mafia today that DH (Darren Henley) Peligro, drummer with the Dead Kennedys for 40 years, was found dead in his home in Los Angeles on 28th Oct. Police statement says that he died after sustaining a head trauma after an accidental fall. The band had only just returned from a short tour of Europe and were due to play Punk In The Park Festival in Orange County, California next weekend.
He joined the band in 1981, replacing original drummer, Ted and his first recorded work with the band was on the In God We Trust EP and continued hitting the skins through 3 classic albums, Plastic Surgery Disasters, Frankenchrist, and Bedtime for Democracy before the band split up in 1986. He gigged with Red Hot Chili Peppers for awhile in 1988, before being fired due to ongoing substance abuse issues.
Dead Kennedys reformed in 2001, without original singer Jello Biafra, with Peligro joining founding members East Bay Ray and Klaus Flouride. He stayed with the band until 2008 before deciding to take a break but was back a year later and present until his untimely death. What his death means for the future of the band is not known at the time if reporting, but he will be sorely missed and Social Media has been awash with tributes pouring in from all quarters.
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