Fred Drake was an American musician best known as a founding member of earthlings?

Earthlings?

Earthlings? are a psychedelic rock band based in Joshua Tree, California. The band includes members from Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Sessions, Eagles of Death Metal, Kyuss, Masters of Reality, Goatsnake, The Twilight Singers, Gutter Twins, Yellow#5, Legal Weapon, Sea Hags, Modifiers, Orquesta...

. Drake is also renowned for having been co-owner (along with Dave Catching) of Rancho De La Luna

Rancho De La Luna

Rancho De La Luna is a recording studio in Joshua Tree, California that was founded in 1993 by Fred Drake. David Catching became Fred Drake's partner at the Rancho in 1994...

, the setting for the collaborative musical project The Desert Sessions

The Desert Sessions

The Desert Sessions are a musical collective series, founded by Josh Homme in 1997. Artists such as Brant Bjork, PJ Harvey, Jeordie White The Desert Sessions are a musical collective series, founded by Josh Homme in 1997. Artists such as Brant Bjork, PJ Harvey, Jeordie White The Desert Sessions are...

, in which he took part.

Fred recorded with a wide variety of musicians including; Daniel Lanois

Daniel Lanois

Daniel Lanois born September 19, 1951 in Hull, Quebec) is a Canadian record producer, guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He has released a number of albums of his own work and has produced albums for a wide variety of artists, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Emmylou Harris, Willie...

, Josh Homme, Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age

Queens of the Stone Age is an American rock band from Palm Desert, California, United States, formed in 1997. The band's line-up has always included founding member Josh Homme , with the current line-up including longtime members Troy Van Leeuwen and Joey Castillo , alongside Michael Shuman and...

, Victoria Williams

Victoria Williams

Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...

, Dave Grohl

Dave Grohl

David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, and singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter for Foo Fighters; the former drummer for Nirvana and Scream; and the current drummer for Them Crooked Vultures...

, Ted Quinn, Pete Stahl, Wool

Wool

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....

, Dean Ween

Dean Ween

Dean Ween is the stage name of Michael "Mickey" Melchiondo, Jr., American guitarist and half of the alternative rock group Ween.-Biography:...

 and many others.

Fred has three released solo works: Sky Party, Twice Shy

Twice Shy

Twice Shy may refer to:*...Twice Shy, a 1989 album by Great White*"Twice Shy" , a 2003 episode in Season 4 of Farscape*Twice Shy , a 1981 novel by Dick Francis...

 and Shy Party.

He is credited with influencing the "desert sound" which has great depth and direction, taking advantage of stereo and quadraphonic effects as well as 32 track digital recording. Fred lived in Joshua Tree, California

Joshua Tree, California

Joshua Tree is a census-designated place in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 7,414 at the 2010 census, up from 4,207 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Joshua Tree is located in the Mojave Desert at ....

, Hollywood, Texas, and London. He died of lung cancer in 2002.

External links

Obituary at Rancho De La Luna http://www.ranchodelaluna.com/fred/fred.htm