Todd Nance, founding member of Widespread, dies in Athens

Was band's first drummer

Todd Nance has died. The drummer and founding member of the Athens-based band Widespread Panic was 57 years old.

From WSB TV…

Nance, drummer and a founding member of Widespread Panic, died Wednesday from complications of a chronic illness, according to the band’s Facebook page.

Nance died in Athens, Georgia, according to the post.

Widespread Panic, which developed a large, faithful following, is known for its blues-based music with long, improvisational passages and progressive percussions that attracted fans of ``jam″ bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish.

In 2014, Nance took a hiatus from the band and then left the band in 2016.