"I can't believe it - Dale was like family, we were very close - we went through a lot together," said keyboardist Verden Allen. "I got a call from our manager Pete Purnell this morning and he told me. Dale was a nice, well-spoken man and a brilliant drummer, it's unbelievable that he's gone."

Griffin was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at the age of 58 and was living in a care home near Brecon. The drummer last performed with Moot The Hoople during a series of five 40th anniversary shows in 2009. Griffin played during the show's encores while Pretenders sticksman Martin Chambers handled the main set.