Robbie McIntosh

Who was Robbie McIntosh?

Robert Broderick James 'Robbie' McIntosh was a Scottish drummer from Dundee, who was a founder-member of the Average White Band. His father was American born actor, Bonar Colleano, who had a successful career in films, especially in the U.K. He was not married to Robbie's mother.

Before going on to help found AWB in 1971-72, McIntosh had been a member of the late 1960s band The Senate, with Alex Ligertwood, and then with Brian Auger's Oblivion Express, appearing on the band's early albums, Oblivion Express, Better Land and Second Wind.

McIntosh died of an accidental heroin overdose, at a party following a concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles. According to a contemporary report in Time, McIntosh and fellow band-member Alan Gorrie took what they thought was cocaine, but was in fact heroin. The mistake cost McIntosh his life, while Gorrie was saved by the intervention of fellow party-goer Cher, who kept him conscious long enough to recover. The party host was subsequently indicted for murder by a grand jury.

McIntosh is buried in Barnhill Cemetery, Dundee.