Viv Prince, the drummer whose volatile energy and eccentric stage presence helped define early British rock, has died at the age of 84, his family and former bandmates confirmed. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Prince rose to prominence in the 1960s as the drummer for the Pretty Things and later worked with a number of other acts, and his passing prompted tributes from musicians and fans across social media. He was born in Loughborough in 1941 and emerged on the London scene in the early 1960s.
White Stripes frontman Jack White led public remembrances on Friday, posting a photograph of Prince and calling him an "inspired and eccentric rock and roller." In the post, White said he had met Prince while the drummer was living and working on a farm in Portugal and added, "Safe travels into the sweet beyond Viv, you were one of the real ones. -III." Fans responding to online announcements offered their own memories and thanks, with comments citing Prince as a trendsetter and praising his talent.
Prince joined the Pretty Things in 1964 and played on the group's first two studio albums, The Pretty Things and Get the Picture?, contributing to a raw R&B sound that helped them reach the U.K. pop charts with singles such as "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Honey I Need." He became as well known for his off‑the‑wall antics as for his drumming and left the band a year later amid a pattern of unpredictable behaviour.
Guitarist Dick Taylor, speaking to Classic Rock in a later interview, recalled an incident that led to Prince's departure. Taylor said the final straw came at the Twisted Wheel in Manchester when Prince refused to play because a nearby pub would not serve him; he had not realised the pub was attached to the hotel where he had caused a disturbance the night before. Vocalist Phil May told Prince, "You'd better just go home," Taylor remembered, adding, "He was a wonderful drummer, but..."
After leaving the Pretty Things, Prince continued to work with a range of acts in the U.K. rock scene, including periods with The Honeycombs and Hawkwind, and he remained a figure remembered for both his musicianship and his chaotic persona. Accounts of his later life note that he lived for a time in Portugal.
Longtime fans and musicians cited Prince's influence on the look and attitude of British rock during the mid‑1960s. Commenting online, admirers described early Pretty Things records as "something else" and called Prince "amazing" and a "legend."
Representatives for Prince's family did not immediately release plans for memorial services, and no further details on circumstances surrounding his death were available at the time of publication. His work with the Pretty Things and his role in the formative years of British rock continue to draw attention from historians and fellow musicians reflecting on the era.