RIP Andrew Loomis of Dead Moon

We were saddened this morning to learn of the death of Andrew Loomis, drummer for the hugely influential Oregon punk rock band Dead Moon. Loomis founded the group in 1987 alongside Fred Cole and his wife Toody Cole. Last year Loomis was diagnosed with lymphoma in his neck. He played his last show in Holland in May 2015, and had been unable to finish the Dead Moon tour or work since. The Portland Mercury reported that while Loomis was cancer free at the time of his death, he had spent much of last year fighting hard, undergoing surgery and radiation treatment for the disease and combatting some other health problems.

Loomis' companion Neva Knott posted the following on the public Dead Moon Fan Club Facebook group overnight:

It is with the heaviest heart I'm writing this. Andrew passed away at 4:50 this afternoon. He took a sudden and sharp, unexpected turn for worse a couple of weeks ago and has been in the hospital since Feb. 25. Tests determined he had a series of mini strokes at home, then developed respiratory problems over this past weekend. This morning he was put on a morphine drip, passed peacefully with his brothers, sister, Ruby Ann Swaner Whitfield, and me with him. We'll throw a wake at Dante's as soon as we can. Ironically, he is still cancer free.

We send our sincere condolences to all Loomis' friends, family and fans.

Here's a great clip of Dead Moon peforming 'Dead Moon Night' some years ago...

Our thought are also with the loved ones of Beatles producer George Martin who passed away yesterday, aged 90.

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