Haze had been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for several years, making breathing difficult. Even so, he had fought to keep playing drums, performing regularly with his band, HAZEXPERIENCE, and joining Y&T on stage at the Fillmore in San Francisco in both 2015 and 2016.

 

HAZEXPERIENCE was scheduled to open for Y&T at the Mystic Theatre in Petaluma November 18 and November 19, and had been in the midst of recording an EP of new material.

 

Haze was a founding member and one of the principal songwriters for the Bay Area hard rock band YESTERDAY & TODAY, later known as Y&T. He co-wrote some of their biggest hits, including 'Hurricane', 'Black Tiger', 'Mean Streak', 'Rescue Me', 'Dirty Girl', 'Forever' and MTV staple 'Summertime Girls'.

 

In the early '90s, Haze played drums on DEEP PURPLE vocalist Ian Gillan's solo album 'Toolbox'. Gillan subsequently asked him to join the band, and Haze was part of one of the first rock bands ever to not only perform, but tour, behind the "Iron Curtain," traversing the Soviet Union during the cold war. After that tour, Haze became a permanent member of the Ian Gillan band, continuing with a two-year world tour and performing in 71 countries.

 

In 2002, Haze reunited with Y&T and went back on tour with them throughout the United States until they parted ways in 2006.

 

Haze's final performance took place August 20 with HAZEXPERIENCE at the Quarter Note in Sunnyvale.