Watch CBS News

Former Jefferson Airplane Drummer Joey Covington Killed In Car Crash

PALM SPRINGS (CBS/AP) -- Former Jefferson Airplane drummer Joey Covington has died in a Palm Springs car crash, officials confirmed Wednesday.

A Riverside County coroner's report said the 67-year-old Palm Springs resident wasn't wearing a seat belt when his car hit a retaining wall on South Belardo Road about 5 p.m. Tuesday. He died at the scene.

Police don't believe alcohol or drugs were involved.

A friend, Keith McCormick, said that Covington's wife, Lauren, suspected he had a stroke or heart attack before the accident.

Covington replaced Spencer Dryden as the drummer for the San Francisco rock group from 1970-72. Before that, he was with the Airplane offshoot Hot Tuna and played congas on the 1969 Airplane album "Volunteers."

Covington co-wrote several Airplane songs, including "Pretty as You Feel" and the 1976 tune "With Your Love."

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.