Ian McLagan, a keyboardist with rock groups the Small Faces and the Faces, died on Wednesday. He was 69 years old.
McLagan, who also performed with the Rolling Stones, was rushed to an Austin, Texas hospital in critical condition after reportedly suffering a massive stroke, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
Jon Notarthomas, the bassist for McLagan’s The Bump Band, told Paste Magazine that he was “quite stunned” by McLagan’s death.
“There was no indication. He was healthier and more enthusiastic about the tour. He was touring with Nick Lowe. We’re all just dumbfounded,” Notarthomas said. “Mac always said ‘a retired musician is a corpse.’ This is a big loss to the Austin music scene. He’ll be missed.”
A statement on the musician’s website also confirmed the sad news.
McLagan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 with the Small Faces and Faces. He joined the Small Faces in 1965 and they scored hits with “Tin Soldier” and “Itchycoo Park.” In 1969, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood joined and the group was renamed the Faces. Before they broke up in 1975, they had hits with “Stay With Me” and “Cindy Incidentally.”
McLagen played keys on the Stones’ “Miss You” and also worked with Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry and Bruce Springsteen. He also published an autobiography in 2000 called All The Rage.
This is the second loss for the Stones family this week. Bobby Keys, the saxophonist on several classic songs, died at age 70.