Richard Andrew, Underground Lovers Drummer, Dies Aged 58

Richard Andrew, the drummer for award-winning Australian Underground Lovers, died Wednesday (Oct. 30). He was 58 years old.

News of Andrews’ passing was shared by both his family and his bandmates, who both took to social media to confirm the news. Andrews himself had taken to social media just one week earlier to reveal he had been diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer.

“Our beautiful Richard John Andrew died at around 5.25am, this morning” the musician’s family wrote. “His death, as he was in life, was epic. He left this world, face to face with his wife, Nicolette, as she sang their song ‘Do You Realise’ by The Flaming Lips. We are all heartbroken though relieve that our sweet prince is finally free.”

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our charming beautiful force of nature Richard John Andrew,” Underground Lovers echoed on social media. “We are numb with grief and sadness. He passed peacefully in his sleep at home this morning with his wife Nicolette at his side.”

Andrew first rose to fame as a member of the Underground Lovers in 1988. He joined the group as their drummer shortly before they changed their name from the initial GBVB after founding members Glenn Bennie and Vincent Giarrusso.

Throughout his initial tenure with the group, Andrew was on hand to share in their sole ARIA Award win for Best New Talent in 1992, and performed on three of the group’s studio albums, including 1994’s Dream It Down, which peaked at No. 55 on the national charts.

Leaving the group ahead following the release of Dream It Down, Andrew went on to perform with a number of different bands in Australia, including kinderland, Red Textas, Registered Nurse, and others.

Though Underground Lovers would initially disband in 2002, Andrew took part in their reunion in 2009, going to perform on albums such as 2013’s Weekend, 2017’s Staring At You Staring At Me, and 2019’s A Left Turn.

In his post on social media announcing his diagnosis last week, Andrew shared a dictated message reflecting on his imminent passing.

“I am completely reconciled to whatever the future is, however, that future is probably quite limited and I’m in the process of preparing to pop this mortal coil and return to the trees, as it were,” he wrote. “I cannot overstate enough what an honour and a privilege it has been to know you all over the last 58 years, and to have lived the most incredible, incredible life.”