Traffic Drummer Jim Capaldi Dies of Cancer

01/28/2005 3:18 PM, Reuters
Jeremy Lovell

Rock drummer Jim Capaldi , whose driving rock rhythms helped make Traffic a household name in the 1960s and 70s, died Friday after a brief fight with stomach cancer, his publicist said.

The 60-year-old Capaldi, born in England of Italian immigrant parents, died in his sleep at the London Clinic in the early hours with his wife and family at his bedside.

Capaldi, who formed Traffic with Steve Winwood , Dave Mason and the late Chris Wood in 1967, also had an illustrious solo career.

"Steve rang me when he heard this morning. He is very upset. They were very close and had plans to record and tour again. He was praying Jim would recover from his illness," Winwood's manager Mick Newton told Reuters.

Traffic was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2004, just five months before Capaldi was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

When Traffic broke up in 1974 after releasing 11 albums -- including the hit debut "Mr. Fantasy" and the FM staple "John Barleycorn Must Die" -- Capaldi had already recorded the solo work "Oh! How We Danced," which was cut in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

By the 1990s, Capaldi was working on his 12th album when Winwood -- who also scored major solo successes -- called him back to collaborate on a new album.

One thing led to another and Traffic reformed in 1993 followed by a major five-month tour of the United States in 1994, including appearing at Woodstock and playing alongside The Grateful Dead.

In 1998, Capaldi teamed up with fellow Traffic founder Mason to tour again.

In 1975 he married Brazilian-born Aninha and spent much time with her helping the street children of her native country.

Reuters/VNU