Keith LeBlanc, a drummer on a number of early hip-hop releases and a key producer on albums by 9 Inch Nails and extra, has handed away on the age of 70.
The unhappy information was reported by his file label On-U Sound, with no reason behind dying revealed.
LeBlanc helped pioneer the early hip-hop sound as a drummer within the Sugarhill Home Band alongside bassist Doug Wimbish (Dwelling Color) and guitarist Skip “Little Axe” McDonald. The three musicians went on to type the economic hip-hop group Tackhead, who launched 4 albums from 1987 to 2014.
As a producer and mixer, LeBlanc labored with various outstanding artists, together with 9 Inch Nails, Dwelling Color, Peter Gabriel, The Treatment, and Ministry.
He was a significant contributor to NIN’s debut album, Fairly Hate Machine, co-producing standout tracks “Head Like a Gap” and “Down in It,” and engineering or mixing a number of different songs on the LP.
LeBlanc additionally labored as a drummer or programmer with James Brown, R.E.M., The Rolling Stones, The Stone Roses, Annie Lennox, Tina Turner, Bryan Ferry, Depeche Mode, and Sinead O’Connor, amongst others.
As a solo artist, LeBlanc launched seven albums, together with his influential 1986 debut LP, Main Malfunction.
Our condolences exit to Keith LeBlanc’s household and buddies throughout this tough time. Revisit his work beneath, together with a mini documentary on Tackhead.