Original MISFITS drummer Manny Martinez has died at the age of 69.

Martinez‘s death was confirmed by his friend Zach Rector in a social media post on Saturday (December 16). Zach wrote: “Going to miss you Brother Manny Martinez / A true living legend a student of Buddy Rich I remember Manny telling me Multiple occasions of Buddy bringing up his chops while coming up, & his stories of his family’s notorious bar …An Original MISFITS period. All around stand up guy, talking always about working and the progress on my house I’d call him up & talk alot about carpentry issues & how I should figure out the reconfiguration of my upstairs of this old house of mine that was built in 1872…more than just a musician, artist & carpenter…he was my friend, Rest easy Manny“.

Martinez drummed on the MISFITS‘ first single, 1977’s “Cough/Cool” (and its B-side, the original version of “She”) and performed a handful of shows with the band before his departure in late 1977. The band’s original recording lineup featured Martinez, singer/keyboardist Glenn Danzig, and bassist Jerry Only (then known by his real name, Jerry Caiafa).

Martinez is largely credited for introducing Danzig to Only in early 1977. His recordings with the MISFITS were later featured in the band’s box set, released in 1996.

Thanks: Joel Gausten