R.I.P. Hum drummer Bryan St. Pere

Bryan St. Pere, drummer in Champaign, Illinois shoegaze/alternative rock outfit Hum, has died. The band says via their social media channels, “It is with very heavy hearts and tear filled eyes that we share the news that our beloved friend and bandmate, Bryan St. Pere, has passed away. We are devastated and deeply saddened by his sudden, and unexpected passing. Bryan was a dear friend, a loving father, brother, and was an incredible person and musician. We all feel extremely lucky to have shared time and space with him. Peace and love to all who knew Bryan, and those he touched. We will miss him dearly.” St. Pere was 52. A cause of death has not been announced.

St. Pere joined Hum in 1990 and performed on all of the band’s studio albums, up to last year’s excellent Inlet, the band’s first new set of music in over 20 years. He performed live with the group during most of their time together, save for in 2015, when Shiner’s Jason Gerken filled in on tour.

One of St. Pere’s biggest influences was Rush’s Neil Peart, as he explained on an episode of The Trap Set podcast. Members of Hum are said to have asked him to join the band after they heard him playing along with Rush from outside his window at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990.