R.E.M and Robbie Williams drummer Bill Rieflin dies

Bill Rieflin, the drummer known for his work with Ministry, KMFDM, R.E.M. and King Crimson, has died aged 59, it has been confirmed.

We Are Ministry broke the news on their official Twitter page, writing: “Today we lost a wonderful artist, tremendous human being and an integral part of Ministry’s developments and success.

“Safe travels my brother on the way to your next universal gig.”

According to social media posts by friends and artists he worked with, Rieflin died after being diagnosed with cancer.

Bill Rieflin has died aged 59, it has been confirmed (Image: Wireimage)

And soon after the news broke, Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic posted on the social media platform.

“So sorry to hear of Bill Rieflin passing away. A straight-up person and an excellent musician.”

The musician’s career spanned more than 30 years, and he first came to prominence in the 1990s for his work mainly as a drummer with many notable groups such as Nine Inch Nails, Swans and Chris Connelly.

The Seattle native worked regularly with R.E.M. following the retirement of Bill Berry in 1997, and was a member of King Crimson until his death.

He has been a regular contributor to band Swans since the 1995 album The Great Annihilator, and played several instruments on all their studio recordings since the band reunited in 2010.

Moving into the mainstream, in 2012, he performed on drums for Robbie Williams’s album Take the Crown. Later that year he produced the single Crush Vaccine for Atomic Bride.

The musician became a regular member of R.E.M following the retirement of Bill Berry in 1997

The versatile multi-instrumentalist took a sabbatical from King Crimson, effective March 6, 2016, “a decision supported by all the Crimson Brothers.”

He later returned in 2018 before taking another indefinite sabbatical in 2019.

Bill was married to painter Francesca Sundsten until her death in 2019.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk

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