Ian McDonald (musician)

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Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald (2009).jpg
McDonald in 2009
Background information
Born (1946-06-25)25 June 1946[1]
Osterley, Middlesex, England
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.[2][3]
New York City, U.S.
Genres Rock, progressive rock, jazz fusion, hard rock
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Instruments Saxophone, flute, keyboards, guitar
Years active 1968–2022
Associated acts King Crimson
Foreigner

Ian McDonald (25 June 1946 – 9 February 2022) was an English multi-instrumental musician, and a founder member of progressive rock band King Crimson in 1968, and rock band Foreigner in 1976. He also performed as a session musician, predominantly as a saxophonist. McDonald also played keyboards, flute, and guitar.

McDonald began his music career as an army musician, where he learned several instruments and taught himself music theory. He co-founded King Crimson and appeared on their debut album In the Court of the Crimson King (1969) playing Mellotron, keyboards and woodwinds. In the mid-1970s, he moved to New York City where he co-founded Foreigner, appearing on the group's first three albums. He later collaborated with Steve Hackett and played in the King Crimson spin-off group 21st Century Schizoid Band.

Biography

Early life and army

McDonald was born in Osterley, Middlesex. He grew up in a musical family, and regularly listened to records, and taught himself the guitar.[4] His music interests ranged from classical orchestra to dance bands to rock. At 15, he left school and began a five year stint in the British Army as a bandsman.[1] Initially playing the clarinet, he later learned piano, flute and saxophone and taught himself music theory.[5]

King Crimson

After leaving the army, McDonald moved back to London, and began making music with former Fairport Convention singer Judy Dyble. The pair were introduced to Robert Fripp and Michael Giles which led to the formation of King Crimson.[6] McDonald was in the group's first line up that recorded their first album In the Court of the Crimson King.[5] As well as keyboard and woodwind instruments, McDonald played the Mellotron and used it extensively on the album.[7] McDonald and drummer Giles departed and formed a spin-off group that released one album titled McDonald and Giles, which featured an orchestral backing in place of a Mellotron as used with King Crimson.[8][9] He reappeared with King Crimson in 1974, playing on Red, and intended to rejoin the band as a full member but did not get the opportunity to do so as Fripp split the band.[8][10]

In 1997, the release of the King Crimson four CD set Epitaph, consisting of rare live recordings of the 1969 version of King Crimson, renewed interest in the early Crimson material.[11] Out of that interest, the 21st Century Schizoid Band was formed in 2002 and several tours and live albums have followed. The band included former King Crimson members Michael Giles (drums and percussion), Peter Giles (bass), McDonald (sax, flute, keyboards), Mel Collins (alto/tenor sax, flute, keyboards) and also Jakko Jakszyk, who later joined King Crimson, on guitar and lead vocals.[8] After the first tour, Michael Giles was replaced with another former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace.[12]

Foreigner

McDonald moved to New York City in the mid 1970s.[13] He became a founding member of the band Foreigner in 1976, for whom he played guitar as well as his woodwinds and keyboards.[14] Although Foreigner was a more conventional rock band compared to King Crimson, McDonald still made significant contributions to the group's arrangement and production.[15] He left the group following their third album, Head Games, after disagreements with group leader Mick Jones.[16]

Other work

McDonald was a session musician and played on T. Rex's hit "Get It On (Bang a Gong)", where he borrowed Mel Collins' baritone saxophone. He also appeared on Centipede's album Septober Energy.[8] He produced Darryl Way's album Canis Lupus (1973) and Fruupp's Modern Masquerades (1975).[8] In 1999, he released a solo album, Drivers Eyes, which featured John Wetton, Lou Gramm, John Waite and Gary Brooker.[17]

In 1996, McDonald toured with former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett, which was included on the album The Tokyo Tapes. The group included a performance of King Crimson's "The Court of the Crimson King".[18]

McDonald contributed saxophone and flute to several tracks on Judy Dyble's 2009 release Talking With Strangers. The album sees McDonald reunited with former King Crimson bandmate Robert Fripp on the 20-minute "Harpsong".[19]

In 2017, McDonald and singer-guitarist Ted Zurkowski formed the band Honey West, which released an album Bad Old World in 2017.[3]

Death

McDonald died at his home in New York City on 9 February 2022 aged 75, after suffering from cancer.[2][3] A trailer for a King Crimson documentary was released a week before his death, where McDonald apologised to Fripp for leaving the band in 1969.[20]

Selected discography

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See also: King Crimson discography and Foreigner discography

King Crimson

Foreigner

Steve Hackett

Honey West

  • Bad Old World (2017)

Solo

References

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Awde 2008, p. 109.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Awde 2008, pp. 109,114.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Awde 2008, p. 111.
  6. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 116.
  7. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 117.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 119.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 130.
  13. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 125.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Awde 2008, pp. 125–126.
  16. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 127.
  17. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 128.
  18. ↑ Awde 2008, p. 126.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Sources

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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