Sib Hashian, the former drummer of the rock band Boston, died on March 22, 2017 at the age of 67. He was performing with his band Dirty Water on the Legends of Rock Cruise when he suddenly collapsed on stage. His son Adam revealed that the cause of death was a heart attack and that his father had also been diagnosed with kidney cancer. Here are some details about Sib Hashian’s life, career, and death.
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Early Life and Career with Boston
Sib Hashian was born John Thomas Hashian on August 17, 1949 in Boston, Massachusetts. He was of Armenian and Italian ancestry and grew up in a musical family. He started playing drums at a young age and joined several local bands in his teens.
In 1975, he was chosen by Boston founder and band leader Tom Scholz to replace original drummer Jim Masdea when Epic Records demanded that Masdea be replaced for recording. Hashian played drums on Boston’s self-titled debut album, which sold over 17 million copies and became one of the best-selling albums of all time. He also played on the follow-up album Don’t Look Back, which sold over seven million copies and spawned several hit singles.
However, Hashian left the band during the writing sessions for the next album, Third Stage, which was released in 1986. He later sued Scholz for back royalties and settled out of court.
Other Projects and Ventures
After leaving Boston, Hashian continued to play music with various artists and bands. He played drums on fellow Boston member Barry Goudreau’s solo album in 1980, which featured the rock radio hit “Dreams”. He also played live with Sammy Hagar and more recently with Boston-based Ernie and the Automatics, a band that also included Goudreau on guitar.
Hashian also ventured into other fields, such as owning a chain of tanning salons in Boston and a small record shop. He made his first stage appearance as an actor in 2001 at the Cape Cod Repertory Theater in the world premiere of the play 9-Ball written by his friend Art Devine. He also appeared on Sammy Hagar’s Live: Hallelujah album in 2003 as an unofficial member of The Waboritas.
In 2005, he appeared in R U the Girl as his daughter Lauren was a contestant trying out to win the chance to perform with TLC. In 2012, he began co-hosting Scorch’s PFG-TV, a local TV show in New England.
Personal Life and Family
Hashian lived in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with his wife Suzanne (née Jipp). They had one son, Adam, and two daughters, Aja and Lauren. Lauren is a singer-songwriter who has been in a relationship with Dwayne Johnson since 2007. They have two daughters together and got married in 2019. The Hashian sisters write and produce music together.
Hashian was known for his distinctive afro hairstyle and his energetic drumming style. He was also described as a kind, generous, and funny person by his friends and family.
Final Performance and Death
On March 22, 2017, Hashian was performing with his band Dirty Water on the Legends of Rock Cruise, which featured other classic rock acts such as Lou Gramm, John Cafferty, and The Stompers. The cruise departed from Miami on March 18 and was scheduled to visit Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.
According to witnesses, Hashian collapsed just three songs into the set. CPR was performed by crew members and a doctor who happened to be on board. A defibrillator was also used to try to revive him. However, he could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead shortly after midnight.
His son Adam told TMZ that the cause of death was a heart attack and that his father had recently been diagnosed with kidney cancer. He said that his father had no prior history of heart problems and that he was in good shape.
Hashian’s death shocked and saddened his fans, friends, and former bandmates. His ex-Boston colleagues released a statement saying: “Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Sib Hashian who unexpectedly passed away yesterday. Sib’s high energy drumming on the early Boston albums and tours leaves a legacy that will be remembered by millions.”
