Spencer Dryden was born in New York City, and grew up in Southern California. A nephew of silent film star Charlie Chaplin, he was working as a drummer in Hollywood in 1966 when he was recommended as a replacement for Skip Spence, previous drummer for the Airplane. 

Shortly after he joined the group it became the first San Francisco rock band to receive national attention. He played on some of the Airplane's most memorable albums, including "Surrealistic Pillow," which sold over 1 million copies and featured songs like "Somebody To Love," "White Rabbit," and "Today." He performed with the Airplane at the Monterey Pop Festival, Woodstock, Altamont, the Fillmore Auditorium, and the Fillmore West. 

A jazz drummer and a student of jazz artists, Dryden gave the Airplane part of its special sound. Peter Albin, bass player for another San Francisco rock band of that era, Big Brother and the Holding Company, later played with Dryden in a 1980s band called the Dinosaurs, former members of psychedelic rock bands that played in the Bay Area. Albin, who recently moved from Sonoma County to El Cerrito, said Dryden was a versatile drummer. "At times he was very contemporary and played like a punk rocker or new wave drummer. He kept up with what was happening and always played with the spirit of the music. Spencer was always ready for anything. 

"He was a cool dude," Albin recalled. "He came from the L.A. hipster school -- he always used the word 'man.' He was kind of quiet, but definitely had his opinions." 

Dryden left the Airplane in 1970, and moved on to the country-rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage, working with them until 1978. Later, he played with the Dinosaurs. 

He retired from performing in 1995, and in 1996, along with other Airplane members, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. 

A Sonoma County resident for the past 15 years, in September, 2003, a fire destroyed his home. Several weeks after the fire, he suffered a heart attack. Last year a benefit concert was organized to help pay for hip replacement surgery.

 Married three times, Dryden is survived by sons Jeffrey, Jes and Jackson Dryden, and five grandchildren. Family and friends are planning a memorial concert later this year.

 Source: Petaluma Argus-Courier (w/ thanks to Rick Baker)