Griffin, center, with Mott the Hoople
The BBC reports that Dale “Buffin” Griffin, Mott the Hoople drummer and one of the group’s founding members, died in his sleep on Sunday (1/17). He was 67.
Mott the Hoople’s best-known album is 1972’s classic All the Young Dudes which was produced by the late David Bowie (who also wrote the title track). Singer Ian Hunter reformed Mott the Hoople in 2009, the same year that Griffin was diagnosed with Alzheimers. Griffin was too ill to perform the reunion tour but did join them for encores at their five-night run at Hammersmith-Apollo.
Griffin was also a producer, having formed a company with fellow Mott member Overend Watts, making records with The Cult and Hanoi Rocks, and then became an engineer/producer at the BBC, where he was behind the desks for many John Peel Sessions between 1981 – 1994, including ones by Pulp, The Fall, Nirvana, and many more.
Dale, you’ll be missed. Watch a video of Mott the Hoople performing “All the Young Dudes” in Los Angeles in 1973.
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