James Oliver Hazley

James Oliver Hazley, 52, of North Hollywood, California, passed away on November 15, 2025. He was born on December 7, 1972, in St. Petersburg, Florida to Thelma Grace Hazley and Henry James Hazley. James lived in many places growing up and made an impression wherever he went. He attended kindergarten at the United Nations School in New York City, where he surprised everyone by picking up French at a young age. He later went to Hillel Elementary in Florida, learning Hebrew, before continuing his education in Los Angeles at Glenwood Elementary, Sun Valley Junior High, and Ulysses S. Grant High School, where he also played football. James stayed close with the friends he made in high school-John Dolmayan, Jeremy Rowe, and Siggi Hale-friendships that lasted his whole life and often led back to making music together. After high school he attended Pierce College, played football, and recorded his first rock opera called "The Dream Machine" on an 8-track machine in the music department. Music was the constant thread in James's life, and he began playing live at the age of 3 years old when he played drums on tour with the Drifters and Domino. From rock, rap, and new wave to goth and indie, he played it all. He taught himself drums, piano, and guitar as a teenager and grew into a gifted multi-instrumentalist and producer. Over the years he played in countless Los Angeles bands, including Green Man, The Transcendents, Cockeyed Ghost, Psychotic Cabaret, Tattooed Millionaires, Nightmare of the Elf, Boy Scouts of Annihilation, Psychotron-X, The Chaste, The Human Value, The Late 70's, Purple Hazley, The Kapp Krew, D'Agua, Peeling Grey, Red Jodidos, LA Argentineans, These Grey Men, and many others. James also produced albums for artists such as Peeling Grey, Programmed for Pleasure, Citizen Savant and Suki Ewers, and co-produced work for These Grey Men. He was in the final mastering stages of the album "From the Ashes" for his own solo Project Refried James at the time of his passing. His talent and curiosity crossed genres, though he always held a special love for The Who, KISS, The Beatles and classic rock. Outside of music, James made memorable appearances as Blanibal on The Eric Andre Show and performed regularly in Karaoke Apocalypse at Zombie Joe's Underground Theatre. He was also a devoted supporter of all Los Angeles sports teams-the Dodgers, Rams, Lakers, and Kings and an avid fan of Star Trek. James is survived by his mother Thelma, his uncle Glen McDaniel, his siblings Darrel Powe, Rocker Meadows, and Katie Vahan, his spiritual mother Dr. Daisy Dunbar-Hamilton and her prayer circle, and his lifelong friends John Dolmayan, Jeremy Rowe, and Siggi Hale. He was preceded in death by his father Henry James Hazley and his uncles Carl and Edward McDaniel. A celebration of James's life will be held on December 7, 2025, from 2:00–4:00 pm In lieu of flowers, donations to help cover funeral and memorial costs may be made here: https://gofund.me/f34c9a65f James's legacy lives on in the people he supported in recovery, the music he made, and the many friends and collaborators he inspired. He will be remembered as a bright, creative, and generous spirit.