Dale Griffin dies: Mott the Hoople drummer dead at 67

Dale Griffin, the drummer and co-founder of the British glam-rock band Mott the Hoople, died Sunday after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 67.

His record label, Angel Air, confirmed the news.

Born in Ross-on-Wye, England, about 100 miles west of London, Griffin took an interest in music at an early age and performed in local bands including the Silence, Charles Kingsley Creation, the Doc Thomas Group, and the Shakedown Sound. He also earned the nickname “Buffin.”

Griffin and his bandmates scored a record deal and moved to London in 1969, where they worked with producer Guy Stevens. It was Stevens who christened them Mott the Hoople, after a novel by Willard Manus.

The group scored their biggest hit with “All the Young Dudes,” which was written and produced by David Bowie. Their other songs included “Roll Away the Stone” and “All the Way From Memphis.”

Mott the Hoople broke up in the mid-’70s, and Griffin went on to work as a producer for BBC live music sessions. The band reunited in 2009 for their 40th anniversary, but Griffin was already ill, though he did participate in encores.

Griffin is survived by his longtime partner Jean Smith.