Ex-Crowded House drummer dies at 45

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By Alexis L. Loinaz, E! Online

The music world has suffered another tragic loss. Peter Jones, the drummer for Australian pop group Crowded House, died Friday, the band confirmed on its website.

According to Australia's Herald Sun, the rocker had been battling brain cancer. He was 45.

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Crowded House rose to fame in the mid-'80s with such power anthems as "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Something So Strong."

The Liverpool-born Jones, a former schoolteacher, joined the band 1994 and stayed with them until they broke up two years later.

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"We are in mourning today for the death of Peter Jones," the band said in a statement. "We remember him as a warm-hearted, funny and talented man, who was a valuable member of Crowded House. He played with style and spirit. We salute him and send our love and best thoughts to his family and friends."

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Frontman Neil Finn took to Twitter to pay tribute to Jones, writing, "I am very sad to hear tonight that Peter Jones has died...a great man and a wonderful drummer. RIP Pete."

Jones is the second drummer from the band to have passed away. He replaced ex-member Paul Hester, who committed suicide in 2005 after suffering from depression.

Crowded House reunited in 2007, but Jones didn't rejoin them.

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