Bill Rieflin, drummer for Ministry, R.E.M., & King Crimson, dies aged 59

Bill Rieflin, a Seattle-based drummer with an impressive list of associations, has died of cancer aged 59, Ultimate Classic Rock reports. His first big gig was with the industrial band Ministry, without ever becoming an official member of the group. After playing with the Revolting Cocks, an industrial project involving Ministry founder Al Jourgensen, he worked also with Swans (he’s listed as an “honorary Swan”), KMFDM, Pigface, Chris Connelly, Lard, and he also played on one song on Nine Inch Nails’ 'The Fragile'. Via his gig drumming for the Minus 5, Rieflin met R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, who invited him to join R.E.M. as a touring member and studio contributor from 2003 until the band’s breakup in 2011. Rieflin also spent many years performing with the legendary prog band King Crimson, doing stints as both a drummer and a keyboardist for the group. It seems he liked super-groups as well - he drummed for Filthy Friends, band led by Peter Buck and Sleater-Kinney’s Corin Tucker, for Krist Novoselic’s post-Nirvana band Sweet 75 and even drummed on a Robbie Williams album.