Multi-InstuMentist Virtuoso, the British had participated in the development of the mythical progressive rock album in the Court of the Crimson, before leaving King Crimson. He died of cancer at 75 years.
Le Monde with AFP
The British musician Ian McDonald, co-founder of the first 1970s’ progressive rock band, King Crimson, died on Wednesday, February 9 in New York, cancer suites, 75 years old.
“I have the deep sadness to announce that my father died yesterday of cancer. He was incredibly courageous, never lost his kindness and his sense of humor, even when that Become a hard, “said his son Max, in a post published Friday on the Global Mobile Discipline (DGM) website, the King Crimson music label. According to the American magazine Rolling Stone, who had relayed the death Thursday night by the voice of a spokesman for the artist, Ian McDonald “died peacefully on 9 February 2022 at home in New York, surrounded by his family “.
Founder of progressive rock
With Robert Fripp (only still active original member of the group), the brothers Michael and Peter Giles, Peter Sinfield and Greg Lake (death him of cancer in December 2016), Ian McDonald was co-founder and author -Compose of King Crimson, progressive rock training that knew a world success in 1969 with the album in the Court of the Crimson King and its opening title 21st Century Schizoid Man. This album is considered the founding act of the progressive rock, a mix of rock tinged with classical music and jazz. The British Yes, Genesis, but also the training Star Pink Floyd, are the most famous progressive rock groups.
According to DGM, “Ian’s contribution to King Crimson was both deep and invaluable”. Multi-instrumentalist, he knew how to play saxophone, piano, flute and guitar. Born in 1946 in England, Ian McDonald served five years in the British army, especially as a jazz musician, a decisive genre in creating King Crimson. “We did not have anything so”, testifies in Rolling Stone the GEARISTE from Genesis Steve Hackett, who attended the first concerts of King Crimson: “A kind of sensitivity of Free-Jazz but with a rock sensitivity”.
After the success of the first album and a tour, he reproached Robert Fripp to train the band in a direction too dark, and abruptly dropped him with the drummer Michael Giles. Both handed down an ephemeral duet, McDonald and Giles, who will only come out an album in 1971. After a brief return to King Crimson for their seventh album Red, in 1974, he created the Foreigner group with guitarist Mick. Jones in 1976. He also distinguished himself as a studio musician, playing the saxophone on the T-Rex tube, Get in ON, in 1971.
RF: My Condolences to Max, Family and Friends. Fly Well, Brother Ian.
https://t.co/dqphvlimwv https://t.co/kwao3mwrch //p>- Rfripp_official (@robert fripp)
Ian McDonald reappeared publicly in the 2000s, with the remediation of his group of origin. On Twitter, his old Comparse Robert Fripp has offered his condolences to the family, accompanied by a “good flight, brother Ian”.