Earlier today, longtime Max Creek percussionist Rob Fried passed away. Fried joined Max Creek in 1979 and performed with the veteran jam-act well into the 21st century. Fried appeared on a number of Max Creeks most well-known albums, including 1982s Drink the Stars, 1986s Windows and 1998s Spring Waters. Along with his bandmates, Fried helped popularize the modern jam-festival by hosting Camp Creek and championed a new generation of musicians including Mike Gordon, Derek Trucks and Robert Randolph (the latter two of whom appeared at Camp Creek during their formative years). A message posted on the groups official website states the following:

_At 6 AM this morning, our brother Rob Fried passed into a better life. A great and expressive light has gone out for us in the Max Creek family, as well as for the entire music community. We mourn his passing, and will miss him more than anyone could know. We are grievously aware that a part of us is gone forever, and that life for all of us will never ever be the same. We know that he is in a place where his pain and suffering are gone, where he is at peace, and that he is with the loved ones that he has talked so often about and has missed for so many years.
God bless you, Rob._