R.I.P. Ian McLagan and Bobby Keyes

Two of the best sidemen for Faces and The Rolling Stones passed away in the last two days. Bobby Keyes, saxophonist, was 70 and Ian McLagan, keyboardist, was 69.

Keys was still a teenager when he played sax for Buddy Holly in the 1950s. He later performed with John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker, in addition to the Stones. Some of his best work can be heard on the songs “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” “Live With Me,” “Brown Sugar” and “Emotional Rescue.”

An English keyboard player, McLagan was a master of the Hammond B3 organ. He was an integral member of two great British bands, The Small Faces and The Faces. He also played with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, and Bonnie Raitt. He can be heard on the Rod Stewart’s classics “Maggie May” and “You Wear It Well” and The Rolling Stones’ “Miss You” and “Some Girls”.

Personally, this is very sad news for me, as I was a fan of both men. Plus I’m still shocked by the death of Neil Young’s bass player Rick Rosas last month. Rick replaced Crazy Horse bassist Billy Talbot, who suffered a mild stroke in June…

(Photographers: Unknown)