Hilly Boy Michaels, the drummer for the band Sparks, has died. His bandmates, Ron and Russell Mael, confirmed his passing in a tribute shared on social media.
Michaels was the drummer for Sparks during their 1976 album "Big Beat" era and remained connected to the band. The cause of death has not been released.
In their tribute, Ron and Russell Mael expressed their sadness and offered condolences to Michaels' friends and family. Fans have also shared their grief, remembering Michaels as a unique individual and a skilled musician, highlighting his work on songs like "Calling All Girls." Before joining Sparks, Michaels began his professional music career with the band Joy.
He was a session drummer when he was hired to record the "Big Beat" album and was subsequently invited to join Sparks for their North American tour. He also appeared with the band in the film "Rollercoaster." Michaels' musical career included collaborations with various artists such as The Cherry Vanilla Band, Ellen Foley, John Mellencamp, and Ronnie Wood.
He also released two solo albums, "Calling All Girls" in 1980 and "Lumia" in 1981. Later in his career, he worked as a producer and in marketing and development.
He had also been in a relationship with Marianne Faithfull.
