Classic Rock
Gary McCracken, drummer with Max Webster between 1976 and 1981, died on Tuesday 15 September at 75. No cause has been given.
He played on four of the band’s studio albums and co-wrote and sang lead on “A Million Vacations”, the 1979 single. In 1980 he recorded “Battle Scar” with Rush: the two bands played the track together in the studio, him and Neil Peart on the two drum kits.
Geddy Lee wrote about it on Instagram: “I’ve just learned the very sad news that my old friend, drummer Gary ‘Stixie’ McCracken, has left us. In the late seventies Rush toured the world with Max Webster opening… needless to say we became great friends. When our Paris show got cancelled, Stixie, myself and roadie Sam Charters went anyway, three crazy days of fries, beer and berets. Rest in peace, Stixie… (and Sam). What memories we made.”
Lee Aaron had him in her live band just after Max Webster split up: “I was nineteen and just starting out with my first record. Gary played a Simmons kit as rack toms, those hexagonal electronic pads, which back then were the latest thing. We all thought it was so cool, and having him in the band made us cool too.” The two reunited a couple of years ago, when they were both inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame: “‘Look at us now,’ he joked, and gave me a bear hug.”
Kim Mitchell wrote: “Rest in peace, Gary McCracken… my brother in RAWK!”
McCracken also played with Triumph, Wrabit and Klaatu, and released a solo record, “Audioscapes”, in 2000.
Text by Enric Vilaplana