Alan Myers, Devo drummer, dies of brain cancer LOS ANGELES, June 26 (UPI) -- Former Devo drummer Alan Myers has died of brain cancer, friend and U.S. jazz musician Ralph Carney announced on Facebook Wednesday. The New York Daily News said he died Monday, but the newspaper did not say where. His age also was not disclosed. Carney described Myers as the band's "best drummer and one of the first people to teach me about jazz." RE: Alan Myers. I begged him not to quit Devo," the Devo co-founder Gerald Casale said via Twitter. He could not tolerate being replaced by the Fairlight and autocratic machine music. I agreed. I had the privilege to play with him for 10 years. Losing him was like losing an arm. U were born to drum Devo! Myers was a member of Devo until 1987, then continued to play in the Los Angeles music scene with his band, Skyline Electric, until his death, the Daily News said.