D.H. Peligro, the drummer for the Dead Kennedys, died at the age of 63 following a brain injury induced by an unintentional fall. On October 29, the band went to Instagram to disclose the devastating news, urging fans to respect his family’s privacy.
“D.H. Peligro (Darren Henley) of the Dead Kennedys died in his Los Angeles home yesterday, October 28th. According to police on the site, he died as a result of head damage caused by an unintentional fall. Plans are being finalized and will be revealed in the coming days.”
Peligro joined the Dead Kennedys in February 1981 and appeared on numerous of the band’s albums. He also briefly joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers before rejoining his previous band.
Twitter mourns the untimely death of D.H. Peligro
Following the confirmation of D.H. Peligro’s death by his band, various admirers and contemporaries of the drummer expressed their condolences online. Users uploaded photos of the late drummer and reflected on his contributions to punk music. In a long Instagram message, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea also grieved the death of D.H. Peligro. Flea commented with a monochrome photo of the departed drummer from his earlier days:
“My brother, my beloved buddy I really miss you. I’m sad now, a flood of tears, but I’ll cherish every second of my life. When I first saw you perform with the DKs in 1981, you blew my mind. The strength, the spirit, the daring. So many times of every type, you were my dear buddy. We had so much fun and happiness having each other’s backs. I adore you wholeheartedly. You are a genuine rocker and an important part of rhcp history. D H P, you crazy guy, you joy-bringer, you giant-hearted man, you will live eternally in our hearts. I will always respect you. Rest in Peace and be free of everything that bound you.”
Dead Kennedys’ drummer D.H. Peligro (Darren Henley) passed away in his Los Angeles home yesterday, Oct 28th. He died from trauma to his head from an accidental fall. Arrangements are pending will be announced in the coming days. Thank you for your thoughts and words of comfort pic.twitter.com/PC7sF87f6c
— Dead Kennedys (@DeadKennedys) October 29, 2022
Dead Kennedys – Rawhide , in memory of Darren Henley aka D.H. Peligro passed away on 28 October 2022 pic.twitter.com/3vo2rwC5KY
— Schnitzel (@Schnitzel63) October 30, 2022
D.H. Peligro rejoined the Dead Kennedys In 2001.
D.H. Peligro was born in St. Louis, Missouri on July 9, 1959. In 2018, he told Los Angeles Weekly that as an adolescent, he relocated to San Francisco and played drums for local punk bands, one of which often opened for the Dead Kennedys. The singer said that he was working at a motel when he learned about an opening in the Dead Kennedys.
“Because the drummer had departed and I was available, I auditioned.” Everything else is history.”
Peligro joined the band in 1981 and performed on the band’s EP In God We Trust later that year. He has appeared in a number of studio albums, including Plastic Surgery Disasters (1982), Frankenchrist (1985), Bedtime for Democracy (1986), and Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1988). (1987). After the Dead Kennedys broke in 1986, he temporarily joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers and helped write songs for their fourth album, Mother’s Milk. D.H. Peligro rejoined the Dead Kennedys in 2001 and remained with them until his death. He had a one-year break in 2008 before rejoining the band in 2009.
