In Memoriam

Lissa Wales

Lissa Wales, a photographer whose work appeared in many drum and percussion publications including Percussive Notes, Modern Drummer, Drum! and Rhythm, died Saturday, Oct. 1, 2005, after several months of battling a relapse of acute mylogenous leukemia.

" Although she wasn't a drummer herself, Lissa was very much a part of the percussion community,” said Percussive Notes editor Rick Mattingly, who first met Wales at PASIC '82 in Dallas and worked with her at Modern Drummer and through PAS. "I don't think I ever went to a PASIC clinic or concert without seeing Lissa's blonde hair popping up in front of the stage as she documented hundreds of drummers. Anyone who has seen just about any drum magazine over the past 25 years has to have encountered some of Lissa's photos. Besides the magazine work she did, her photographs appeared in drum ads and catalogs, and she befriended countless drummers when they came through the Phoenix area, where she lived. Lissa was always upbeat and positive, and she will be missed very much by the drum and percussion family."

In September, a benefit concert was held to raise money to help pay Wales' mounting medical bills. Performers included drummers Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Steve Ferrone of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Jimmy DeGrasso of Montrose and Ian Wallace of King Crimson.