Ian McLagan and Bobby Keys have died, God help us

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      It's been a tough week for those of us who care about rock 'n' roll, as played the way God intended by heroically dissolute and passionately talented geniuses like Ian McLagan. The former Small Faces and Faces keyboardist passed away today in his adopted home of Austin, Texas, after suffering a stroke. McLagan was 69-years-old. 

      Never had the pleasure, you say? Then stop twatting around watching videos of some idiot standing in front of an iPad making "beats" and check out the clips below for a look at the kind of swagger, panache, and general don't-give-a-fuckiness that seems to be dying with the likes of Mac, God help us.

      McLagan also recorded with the Rolling Stones, who lost one of their greatest ever assets with the passing of Bobby Keys yesterday (December 2) at the age of 70. Keys played with Buddy Holly and Bobby Vee before becoming a near-permanant sideman with the Stones, earning his bones with that sax solo on "Brown Sugar" among other acts of wasted and woolly brilliance.

      In his 2010 autobiography Every Night's a Saturday Night, Keys confessed that his whole approach to the sax was driven by what he couldn't do. McLagan also played from the hip, and that's why their music makes you want to fuck. Surely it's the finest epitaph that either of them deserves.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Doug

      Dec 3, 2014 at 11:33pm

      Very sad day for rock! First it was tough to hear about Bobby and now Mac. Over the years, there have always been rumours of a Faces reunion with Rod on vocals but with Ronnie Lane and now Mac gone, it wouldn't be the same.
      He toured with the Stones on several occasions including the huge 81-82 tour. Check out some Faces vids on Youtube to see how great he and the Faces were.

      James Blatchford

      Dec 4, 2014 at 7:20am

      The song "Son of a Baker" is a revelation to me...really sounds like Big Star, years ahead of Big Star. And speaking of years ahead, the production values of this video/recording are incredible...so much of the footage from that era being quite crappy generally. Thanks, Newt.

      Dan Daviduk

      Dec 4, 2014 at 9:11am

      ...surreal I,d just finished the last chapter of his autobiography "All The Rage" before I went to bed last night and woke up to find he'd passed away. Faces in 1975 at the Coliseum, killer show. Goodby Mac.

      shoegazer

      Dec 4, 2014 at 7:59pm

      Saw the Faces at the Agrodome in,1970,I think,with Redbone as the opening act.Rod was,well,Rod but Ronnie Woods'guitar had some problems as his amp cord(remember those)kept fucking up and his "geetar"would die during times when he should have been wailing.All in all though a very good time.We had spent the beautiful fall day up Burnaby Mountain smoking some hashish and drinking wine beforehand.

      spitjr

      Dec 5, 2014 at 5:37am

      @j blatchford - Yessir! And we won't see the likes of Steve Marriott again either. Love his little snot-wiping move near the end. A truly great rocker!