JEFFERSON AIRPLANE - JEFFERSON AIRPLANE DRUMMER DIES

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE drummer SPENCER DRYDON has died of cancer at the age of 66.

Drydon, who retired from performing 10 years ago, died at his California home on Tuesday (11JAN05).

A benefit concert was held for Dryden last year (04) after a fire destroyed his home and all his possessions. The musician was facing heart surgery, one of two hip replacements and had just been diagnosed with stomach cancer at the time.

Dryden, who was inducted into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME in 1996, told the SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE newspaper last May (04), "I'm gone. I'm out of it. I've left the building."

He leaves three ex-wives and three sons, JEFFREY, JES and JACKSON.