Thommy Price, drummer for Joan Jett and Billy Idol, dies at 68

Thommy Price, a veteran rock drummer who performed with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Billy Idol and dozens of other artists, died Friday, Oct. 10, his wife announced on social media. He was 68. Price’s wife described him as a devoted husband, proud father and “powerhouse drummer and songwriter,” saying his energy, kindness, humor and rhythm left an indelible mark on those who knew him and on every stage he played.

Price, a Brooklyn native born in 1956, rose to prominence in the 1980s as a sought after session and touring drummer. He played on Billy Idol’s 1983 recordings, including work that helped complete Idol’s Rebel Yell album, and toured with Idol on the Rebel Yell and Whiplash Smile tours. Idol paid tribute to Price in a social media post, writing that Price “put his definitive stamp on my Rebel Yell album” and calling him a friend and musical compatriot.

In 1986 Price joined Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, replacing the band’s founding drummer, and remained a key member through nearly three decades and eight studio albums. He appears on the band’s late 1980s recordings, including the 1988 hit “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts called Price “a...