Written by: Alex Green

Randall Lee Gibson IV, who played drums for Boston’s Scruffy The Cat, has died.

Gibson, who passed away unexpectedly on Thursday (Jan 27), was 58.

Inspired to play drums after seeing Ringo Starr on TV at age seven, Gibson was also a huge fan of Buddy Rich and part of his kit was built as an homage to Rich himself.

Scruffy The Cat were a touring machine, playing tirelessly from 1983-1990. The band played with everyone from Los Lobos to Yo La Tengo to the Replacements.

A drummer who played with muscle and heart, Gibson appeared on all of the band’s albums, including Tiny Days (1987) and Moons Of Jupiter (1988).

Gibson’s former bandmate Stona Fitch wrote in tribute on his Facebook page: “RIP Randall Lee Gibson IV, bandmate, fellow frycook, and friend through it all.”