Former W.A.S.P./L.A. GUNS Drummer Steve Riley Dead At 67

Steve Riley, former drummer of W.A.S.P. and L.A. GUNS, has died at age 67.

The glam rock website Metal Sludge broke the news of the drummer’s death, writing “According to a source close to the [LA Guns] camp, Riley passed away on October 26 after he had been suffering various health issues which landed him in the hospital in recent days (he died of pneumonia).”

Reports announced that Riley’s passing was confirmed by his longtime friend Jason Green, who shared a new video on his Waste Some Time With Jason Green YouTube channel.

Riley played on several W.A.S.P. albums and toured with Blackie Lawless’ shock rock band throughout the mid 80s. During this period, he also played on Keel’s second album, 1985’s The Right To Rock.

After being fired from W.A.S.P. by Blackie Lawless, Riley hooked up with L.A. Guns and played on the band’s most commercially successful albums. After a legal dispute, Riley formed his own version of the LA hard rock band, known as Riley’s L.A. Guns. The band released a new single, The Dark Horse, on Golden Robot Records just last month, and were due to release their second album next year.