Ian McLagan, former keyboardist to the Rolling Stones and Small Faces, has died aged 69. The musician, who performed with some of the biggest artists of all time, passed away in his “adopted home of Austin,” his family announced on his website yesterday of “complications from a stroke”.
Ian's Small Faces and later Faces bandmate, Kenney Jones lead tributes to the star, saying: “I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know this goes for Ronnie (Wood) and Rod (Stewart) also."
During his phenomenal career as a session musician, McLagan played alongside an eclectic bunch of performers including Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and featured on albums such as the Rolling Stones' Some Girl, Lucinda Williams' Car Wheels On a Gravel Road and John Mayer's Battle Studies.
Born in Hounslow, Middlesex in 1945, McLagan joined the Small Faces in 1965 as a replacement for Jimmy Winston and toured with the band for four years starring on some of their biggest hits including Sha La La La Lee, All or Nothing and Afterglow Of Your Love, lifted from their chart-topping album Ogden's Nut Gone Flake.
He remained in the iconic rock act as they changed their name to simply Faces, recruiting Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood for their later formation. He also recorded several solo albums throughout the years including 1979's Troublemaker, Bump The Night in 1980 ad this year he released his final album United States.
Ian McLagan passes away at 69 (Twitter)
McLagan was due to hit the road with singer songwriter Nick Lowe for a string of American dates for Lowe's Quality Holiday Revue, including a show at the First Avenue club in Minneapolis last night.
God bless Bobby 🙏 and Mac 🙏
— Ronnie Wood (@ronniewood) December 3, 2014
His death comes just a day after Rolling Stones saxophone Bobby Keys passed away on Tuesday of cirrhosis in Franklin, Tennessee. Ronnie Wood paid tribute to both musicians on Twitter, posting: “God bless Bobby and Mac”.
Our thoughts go out to Ian's family at this time.
