Drummer and producer Anton Fier was best known as the leader — and sole constant member — of the all-star downtown New York City band the Golden Palominos. Born June 20, 1956 in Cleveland, Ohio, Fier first made his mark as the drummer on the Feelies’ seminal 1980 debut Crazy Rhythms. After leaving the group, he joined the punk-jazz unit the Lounge Lizards before returning home to Cleveland, where he was recruited by the legendary new wave band Pere Ubu for the album Song of the Bailing Man. After exiting Ubu, Fier again relocated to New York, where he founded the first Golden Palominos lineup in 1981, issuing the group’s self-titled debut LP two years later. While the project remained Fier’s primary focus in the years to follow, he also drummed on a wide range of albums from artists including Herbie Hancock, John Zorn, Yoko Ono, Bob Mould and Laurie Anderson; additionally, he produced sessions for performers like Drivin’ N’ Cryin’, the Grapes of Wrath and Joe Henry. In 1994, Fier issued his proper solo debut, Dreamspeed. (via All Music)
 
photo credit: Laura Levine