Alan Myers (drummer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Myers
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Myers, 2006
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| Also known as | Human Metronome |
| Born | December 29, 1954 Akron, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | June 24, 2013 (aged 58) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1976–2013 |
Alan Myers (December 29, 1954 – June 24, 2013) was a talented American drummer. He played in rock bands for over 30 years. Alan became famous in the late 1970s as the main drummer for the popular new wave band, Devo. He was known for his steady and precise drumming style.
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Early Life
Alan Myers was born in 1954 in Akron, Ohio. He loved music from a young age and played percussion, like drums, since junior high school. He graduated from Firestone High School in 1973. In 1976, he met Bob Mothersbaugh in a café. This meeting led to an audition with Bob and Gerald Casale, who were forming a new band.
Music Career
Joining Devo
Alan Myers joined the band Devo in 1976. He replaced their previous drummer, Jim Mothersbaugh. Devo was formed by Bob Lewis and Gerald Casale. They had an idea about the "devolution" of humans, meaning people were becoming less advanced.
Alan played a regular, acoustic drum kit for the band. After some changes, Alan became part of Devo's most famous lineup. This group included the Casale brothers (Gerald and Bob "Bob 2") and the Mothersbaugh brothers (Mark and Bob "Bob 1"). Alan was the youngest member of the band. He played on Devo's first six studio albums.
In 1981, Alan and Devo also played as the backing band for singer Toni Basil. They helped her record her first album, Word of Mouth. This album included some Devo songs with Toni Basil singing the main parts.
Changes in Devo
As Devo started using drum machines in their songs, Alan became less happy. Drum machines are electronic devices that can create drum sounds. The album New Traditionalists was the first to feature drum machines. Later albums, like Oh, No! It's Devo and Shout, used even more electronic sounds. Shout was made almost entirely with a special digital synthesizer called the Fairlight CMI.
Alan felt his role in the band was getting smaller because of these electronic instruments. He felt he wasn't able to be as creative. Even though Gerald Casale asked him to stay, Alan decided to leave Devo. He is still the drummer most people remember when they think of Devo. In 1987, Devo got a new drummer named David Kendrick.
Other Projects
After leaving Devo, Alan Myers worked as an electrical contractor. However, he still loved music and stayed active in the Los Angeles music scene. He recorded music with a band called Babooshka, which was started by his girlfriend, Greta Ionita. He used both live drums and electronic percussion, similar to his last albums with Devo.
Alan also played drums with an Asian-themed pop band called Jean Paul Yamamoto. In 2005, he started his own band called Skyline Electric. They played shows every month in art galleries and clubs in Los Angeles. His wife, Christine (Sugiyama) Myers, and other experimental musicians were part of this band. In 2010, Alan also started playing with the musical group Swahili Blonde alongside his daughter, Laena Geronimo.
Later Years and Passing
Alan Myers passed away on June 24, 2013, in Los Angeles, California. He was 58 years old and had stomach cancer. His friend, jazz musician Ralph Carney, first shared the news on Facebook. Alan's passing happened just a month before Devo released Something Else for Everybody, an album of songs that hadn't been released before.
Many people shared their sadness about his passing. Gerald Casale from Devo said that Alan was "the most incredible drummer I had the privilege to play with for 10 years. Losing him was like losing an arm." Drummer Josh Freese called Alan "1 of [his] all time favs. An underrated/brilliant drummer." He also called Alan by his nickname, "Human Metronome," because of his very steady drumming.
On June 28, 2013, Alan's band Skyline Electric performed a special tribute concert for him in Los Angeles's Chinatown.
Filmography
- Devo's The Men Who Make the Music (1979, actor, self)
- Devo's The Complete Truth About De-Evolution (2003, actor, self)
Images for kids
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Myers, 2006
