Legendary drummer Viv Prince dead at 84
(Credits: National Archives / Joop van Bilsen / Anefo) Fri 12 September 2025 15:29, UK Viv Prince, drummer with the British invasion band The Pretty Things, has died aged 84.Jack White confirmed news of Prince’s death, writing on Instagram: “I’ve received word through my friend John Baker who knew the man well, that the great Viv Prince has just passed on.”The rocker then touched upon the impact of Prince’s musical legacy, adding, “Viv was an incredible drummer, wild and full of abandon. He played for the band The Pretty Things, and he influenced many other musicians like Keith Moon.”White continued: “I was lucky enough to meet Viv some years ago who was working on his farm in Portugal at the time. He was an inspired and eccentric rock and roller and maybe I’ll have to put together a team to work on a documentary about this man one day. Safe travels into the sweet beyond Viv, you were one of the real ones.”Prince, who was born in Loughborough in 1941, began playing professionally in the early 1960s, performing in a variety of bands, including The Jazz Cardinals, before embarking upon a successful career as a session musician.His talent caught the attention of a variety of acts, including The Kinks, who sought his services in 1964, but it was The Pretty Things that were successful in making Prince a member. While he only played on two records by the band, Prince had a sizeable impact. Keith Moon was a regular at their shows and meticulously studied Prince, who he viewed as his drumming hero. Prince also deputised for Moon at a The Who concert in 1965.The Pretty Things’ Dick Taylor said of Prince’s exit from the band to Classic Rock in 2021: “The final straw with Viv came at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. He refused to play because the pub across the road wouldn’t serve him. What he hadn’t twigged was that it was attached to the hotel he’d been in the night before, causing mayhem with The Kinks. In the end Phil said: ‘You’d better just go home.’ He was a wonderful drummer, but…”While he continued to play in a number of groups in the years shortly after his departure from The Pretty Things, he left the music industry many decades ago. His former band honoured him in 1999 with the song, ‘Vivian Prince’.No cause of death has been provided.Related TopicsThe Far Out Music NewsletterAll the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.Straight to your inbox.
