Thommy Price

Thommy Price, the powerhouse drummer who drove hits for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Billy Idol, and Scandal, died on October 10, 2025. He was 68.

Price's death was announced by his wife, Stefunny, in a statement shared on social media. The post described him as a devoted husband, proud father, and "powerhouse drummer and songwriter." No cause of death has been made public.

Born Thomas Price on December 9, 1956, in New York City, he began touring as a teenage drummer. He developed a crisp style that became his signature as he emphasized the song over any flashy flourishes.

Price joined Scandal in the early 1980s and played on the band's Top 10 single "The Warrior." His work with Scandal raised his profile and led to wider session and touring opportunities.

By the mid-1980s, Price was working with Billy Idol, contributing to the sessions around Idol's breakout era and touring behind those albums. Idol later praised Price as "a fantastic musician & drummer."

In 1986, Price became a mainstay of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, appearing on eight studio albums through 2016. Band tributes remembered him as "a drummer's drummer" whose work anchored their sound for decades.

Beyond those marquee gigs, Price recorded or performed with Debbie Harry, Roger Daltrey, Blue Öyster Cult, The Psychedelic Furs, The Waterboys, and more. He became a sought-after session drummer for his song-first approach to drumming.

Price also wrote and recorded his own music, including singing and playing guitar. With longtime friend Kasim Sulton, he formed Price/Sulton and released the CBS album "Lights On" in 1986. He later released the solo EP "Sex, Drums & Rock 'n' Roll."

In recent years, Price remained an in-demand collaborator, contributing to projects by former bandmates and friends, including a 2025 track with ex-Blackheart Ricky Byrd.

He is survived by his wife, Stefunny Price, and their daughter, Brooklyn. Tributes from bandmates and fans emphasized his warmth, humor, and the generous spirit behind the backbeat.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: John Kisch Archive/Getty Images)