Obituary: Tony Meehan

* Tony Meehan, musician, died age 62.

Drummer Tony Meehan, who helped to drive the propulsive sound of early British rock combo The Shadows, has died in a London hospital after suffering an accident at home, former bandmates said. He was 62.

London-born Meehan was still a teenager when he joined The Drifters, backing band for young crooner Cliff Richard. Changing their name to Cliff Richard and The Shadows, they became the biggest band in British rock'n'roll in the days before Beatlemania. A string of hits included Living Doll and Travellin' Light.

The Shadows also had hits without Richard, including the seminal guitar-heavy instrumental Apache. Richard said Meehan's "innovative drumming was the backbone of the band".