Opinion
Rocker Ian McDonald of King Crimson and Foreigner dies at 75
Ian McDonald, a co-founder of pioneering progressive rock band King Crimson and stadium rock hit-maker Foreigner, has died. He was 75.
A consultant stated McDonald died Wednesday at his house in New York Metropolis. Son Max McDonald stated his father had been affected by most cancers.
“He was extremely courageous and by no means misplaced his kindness or his humorousness, even when the going was tough,” Max McDonald stated in an announcement “My father was a superb, intuitive musician, a delicate soul and an exquisite dad. He’ll dwell on perpetually by his stunning music and the love of his followers.”
Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) acting at a Bosnian profit live performance at Irving Plaza in New York Metropolis Nov. 21, 1995.
( Ebet Roberts/Redferns)
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Born in London in 1946, McDonald fashioned King Crimson in 1968 with fellow musicians who included Greg Lake and Robert Fripp. He performed a number of devices, together with saxophone, flute and vibraphone, on the band’s 1969 debut album, “Within the Court docket of the Crimson King.”
The album is now thought of a landmark in bringing classical influences, epic size and mythic scope to rock ‘n’ roll.
Its affect endures: Kanye West sampled the monitor “twenty first Century Schizoid Man” on his 2010 single “Energy.”
McDonald left King Crimson after that first album, although he later rejoined briefly earlier than Fripp broke up the band in 1974.
In 1976, McDonald fashioned Foreigner with British guitarist Mick Jones and American singer Lou Gramm. He performed on three albums, which all made the U.S. High 10, and yielded hits similar to “Chilly as Ice” and “Feels Just like the First Time” earlier than Jones fired him in 1980.
McDonald was additionally a prolific session musician, enjoying on classics similar to “Get It On” by T Rex.
Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett stated he had admired McDonald “ever since I used to be within the teenagers, after I was completely shocked by the King Crimson present on the Marquee in London.”
“Ian was each a wonderful composer and a tremendous multi-instrumentalist,” Hackett stated. “I’ve all the time been stuffed with admiration for his solo work, in addition to the whole lot he did with Crimson and Foreigner, amongst others.”
