1971 - 2005

Derrick Plourde was born and raised in Goleta/Santa Barbara California. Derrick was an ingenious musician, an innovative drummer, a gifted carpenter and a skilled painter. He coined phrases and nicknames shared among his wide circle of friends, and was appreciated for his offbeat sense of humor. Derrick will be remembered as a son, an uncle, a friend, and most famously as a drummer.

The Musician: To many Derrick will be remembered for his drumming. To those who watched him over the last 20 years he will be remembered as a multi instrumentalist, song writer, teacher, and true musician. To some of us he was beyond any band. Founder of Lagwagon, Bad Astronaut, and member of The Ataris, RKL, Mad Caddies, Jaws, and Threatend Hope, his contribution to punk and rock music was huge. His drumming style raised the bar of punk drumming. Influenced by Bomber of RKL at a young age, Derrick’s tenacity and hardwired need to strive for perfection drove him to one of the genera’s greats. He was an innovator, and his hard work did not go unnoticed. It brought him in standing with the Josh Frese’s and Wackermans early on in his career. Younger drummers like Kid of the Ataris made it their goal to hit his mark. Few have done so but his influence can be heard in thousands of drummers. When I think of Derrick I don’t just hear a drummer, I hear a guitarist and song writer. He wrote man songs that never where recorded, he did not share his lyrics except with close friends. He loved music. He was a fan, a player, and a writer.

The Friend: Derrick has so many friends. His charm and humor drew them in and his tenacity and creativity left them always wanting more. You could never get enough. He was always in high demand. He loved his friends. He was always able to let them know in his own way he loved them, that he respected them, that he needed them. At the core he was loving, loyal, giving, and grateful, and we are so thankful that we had him in our lives.