R.I.P Richie Hayward

Cathy, this is a tough one. I was lucky enough to have gotten to know Richie over the past several years through my connection with Little Feat as a Point of Contact. I too have been a fan since the beginning, have many great stories of times hanging out with "squidman" He was so ill for so long it is a blessing, but it still hurts nonetheless.   There are many tributes and comments on Facebook and other sites that show how much he was loved.

Very sad, indeed. Even if it´s better for Richie. RIP.
Günter

RIP Richard. The Feat like Zappa were my bands since I can remember, bought their first LP's, their last and all inbetween.
Richard was one of the best drummers I've ever seen.
Very, very sad.....................

night before last my son and I had the PS3 on complete shuffle, and about 20 songs in "A Day at the Dog Races" came up. I blinked back more than one tear, Richie is incredible on that one. It hurts, but we know he is in a better place and will not suffer any longer. My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, his close ones, and the Feat family. You will not be forgotten any time soon Richie.

Tres

Shauna's last message.

Hello everyone x

The long journey to finding out the why and the what, became clear to us all yesterday.

Richie had Adult respiratory fibrosis, for many many years.  Left untreated, this disease compromises the lung tissue.  He then got pneumonia last week. Which with his history of lung damage, made him unable to successfully overcome it.

His body, as a response to the pneumonia, developed ARDS, Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, which means for most who get it, automatic life support systems. This would be one condition, he was looking at never being without.

He fought a long battle with liver, and all that comes with that.....and quite successfully managed to get it in pretty good shape, with his name going on the list as he was now ready and able as of Sept 1st.

His additional battle with lung disease however.....he did not manage to win.

He passed away in my arms, at 11:45 am this morning.

There could never be more love between two people x

As I was helping him to continue on his journey, I asked him to let me know every day of my life, that I am not alone...and he is still with me.

I told him to be the wind that blows my dress up at the corner,...or be the wave that splashes me when I don't want to get wet....just be with me, and let me know he is there, and I am not going to be without him.

I told him that our love is stronger than these bodies,...and this life xo And we will be together forever x

I want to thank you all, for your love and rainbows x

It meant the world to us both, on this beautiful journey Richie and I were so blessed to have shared xoxo

Richie Hayward.....you are my champion xoxo

I miss you already xoxo

Incredibly moving....... (where's that cry smilie when you need it?)

Just in case any of you don't follow the Feat on FB (hard to imagine), read this -

Our brother Richie Hayward was the baddest drummer that ever picked up sticks, the rhythm and pulse of Little Feat, and we lost him yesterday, August 12th, to pneumonia and complications from lung disease. Our
prayers are with his widow Shauna, and all those who loved him. May he find peace....

Some of you might like to know more about Richie. He was born February 6, 1946 in Clear Lake, Iowa. He was in a band
called The Factory in Los Angeles whose front man was Lowell George.

Eventually, Lowell joined Frank Zappa, offered him the song “Willin’,” and Frank wisely said, “Go start your own band, son.” The result was Little Feat, and Richie was the first and, until his health took him off the kit in 2009, eternal drummer for Feat. He was the master of space, time, and drums, and he had as much to do with Feat’s sound as Lowell’s voice, Billy Payne’s keys, Paul’s and Fred’s guitars, Kenny’s bass, or
Sam’s percussion.

Don’t just take Feat’s opinion: Richie played with seemingly half the members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at one time or another, an LA session star who was a peer of people like Ry Cooder and Van
Dyke Parks. He recorded and performed with Eric Clapton, James Cotton, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, Robert Plant, Carly Simon, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon, and many, many more.

The world’s a little quieter and a lot less rhythmic today, although heaven’s a lot funkier. We urge everyone to hug your loved ones, light a candle, listen to something righteous, and pledge to give more to the world – because Richie sure did.

When Cathy and I finally got to talk about 'our' loss tonight, she hit the nail on the head by pointing out that the simple reason why Richie's death affected 'us' so deeply today is because the Feat weren't just a band to us in the 70's, they were family.

Günter