Anyone familiar with this late drummers work (he died in 2002)? He was one of my favorite drummers and first influences.

I still think he was ahead of his time. (as was Sweet as a whole). Their music really spans a lot of different sounds and genres and can't be based on their pop hit songs like 'Fox on the Run', 'love is like Oxygen', or Little Willy. If you want to check them out try the Album 'Desolation Boulevard'. They started to get heavy (for '73) on this album. Bordering on metal with some of their riffs. Great classic album!

Edit: Here, you can check out some (poor quality) samples:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000DQX6/qid/002-2939627-4887256

And I still love 'Ballroom Blitz'!

Hmmm, I've never heard that - Are you sure? Mick Tucker and Brian Connelly were the founding members of the band in 1966 (called Sweetshop at the time). I know a lot of early stuff was written by Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman, but Mick's drumming on Desolation Boulevard is pretty unmistakeable. I'd be really shocked to find out that's not him. In fact I remember reading an interview a few years back where Mick broke down his thoughts on each track of Sweet Fanny Adams & Desolation Boulevard and talked about what inspired his drumming. Mick's drumming (particularly his snare work) was sort of a signature to the bands sound.

And I agree, his and Brians passing were really a bummer.

I could be wrong, but that is what I read. It was after they dumped the Chin-Chapman team. Either way they were a great band for the style of rock that they played.

Mick always reminded me of a poor-man's Ian Paice and Andy Scott always reminded me of a poor-man's Ritchie Blackmore.