RICHIE HAYWARD, co-founder and drummer for the great L.A. band Little Feat, has died after a long battle with liver disease. He was 64. Hayward played drums in the seminal band throughout its entire career. In the late ’60s, he played with original Little Feat frontman Lowell George in the band’s precursor The Factory. George and Hayward co-founded Little Feat in 1969, along with Bill Payne and Roy Estrada. They established a distinctive style of improvisational music that mixed elements of blues, rock boogie and funk. Hayward was also an accomplished sideman and played on recordings by such diverse artists as Eric Clapton, Warren Zevon, Robert Palmer, Tom Waits, Taj Mahal, Travis Tritt, Barbra Streisand, John Cale, Buddy Guy, Arlo Guthrie, Carly Simon and Bob Seger. Little Feat went on hiatus in 1978 and officially parted ways a year later after George died of an accidental overdose. Hayward helped reform the band in 1987 and continued to play with the group until last year, when health concerns prevented him touring. Hayward lived in British Columbia until his death. His last public performance was a sit-in with Little Feat at the Vancouver Island MusicFest on July 11. (8/13a)