Doug Clifford, legendary drummer and founding member of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR), has passed away at the age of 79.
Known for his iconic swamp rock rhythms that helped define hits like “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising,” Clifford was an integral part of the band’s meteoric rise to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s. CCR became one of the most successful American rock bands, with Clifford’s steady, driving beats at the heart of their sound.
Born on April 24, 1945, in Palo Alto, California, Clifford grew up alongside CCR bandmates John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, and Stu Cook, with whom he co-founded the band in 1967. After the group disbanded in 1972, Clifford continued his musical career, including forming Creedence Clearwater Revisited with Cook in the 1990s. The band performed classic CCR hits for a new generation of fans before retiring in 2020.
Throughout his life, Clifford remained an influential figure in rock music. He was also known for his dedication to preserving unreleased music, famously storing decades’ worth of recordings in his “Cosmo’s Vault,” which he began to release in recent years. His work was not only a tribute to his own enduring legacy but also a gift to his longtime fans. Clifford’s death marks the end of an era, but his contributions to rock music will continue to resonate for generations to come.
