Ian McLagan Keyboardist For Faces Has Died

Ian McLagan the keyboardist for the Small Faces and the Faces has died of complications from a stroke he suffered earlier in the week. He was 69.

“It is with great sadness and eternal admiration that we report the passing of [a] rock and roll icon,” an official statement on his website read.

Known simply as Mac, McLagan played on such memorable Small Faces tracks as Itchycoo Park and Lazy Sunday back in the 1960s, reports BBC.

The band changed its name to the Faces in 1969 when iconic rocker Rod Stewart and Ron Wood came onboard.

McLagan recorded and performed with the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

McLagan was about to embark on a North American tour with his label mate Nick Lowe.

“I am completely devastated by this shocking news and I know this goes for Ronnie and Rod as well,” said Kenney Jones a member of both Small Faces and Faces.

He was a beloved friend to so many people and a true rock ‘n’ roll spirit,” shared McLagan’s manager Jen Kushnick.

While with the Small Faces, McLagan was well known for his dexterity on the Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer electric piano.

While with the Faces in the 1970s, he had hits in the United Kingdom and the United States with such songs as Stay With Me and Cindy Incidentally.

When Rod Stewart decided to go solo and Wood departed to join the Stones the band continued to play as the Small Faces until they disbanded in 1978.

In the end of the 2000s the band got back together with Mike Hucknall taking over for Stewart. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.

The announcement on his official website said that McLagan suffered a stroke on Tuesday and passed away on Wednesday surrounded by his family and friends, reports CNN.

“British rock has lost one of its greatest players,” Singer Billy Bragg tweeted.

“Ian McLagan will not be resting in peace. He’ll be rocking whichever house he chose [sic] to be in. Bless his soul,” was the official comment by the band.

McLagan’s resume was filled with eclectric, soulful and joyous music. His work can be heard on works such as the Some Girls, Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and John Mayer’s Battle Studies.

His death comes at the heels of another Stones sideman Bobby Keys who played the saxophone. Keys passed away on Tuesday.