Russia (bbabo.net), - Keyboardist, saxophonist, flutist and guitarist Ian McDonald has died in the USA at the age of 76. The cause of the musician's death was not disclosed. The official statement only says that the musician "died peacefully surrounded by family at his home in New York."

Shortly before his death, Ian McDonald recalled: "I am very proud that among the two bands of which I became one of the founders was King Crimson"

Yes, the guitarist and frontman of the band, who became the leader of British art rock, avant-garde and psychedelia of the late 60s and early 80s, Robert Fripp, mostly appeared on the ears and on the covers of newspapers and magazines. McDonald was sometimes not even easy to watch on stage - during concerts he moved among different instruments, creating that complex and unpredictable, extremely intricate, not banal, but especially enticing sound palette of King Crimson's music.

And without him, this group, which has become so original and intuitive, constantly discovering and mixing different styles, emotions and halftones, probably would not exist. After all, McDonald masterfully played various instruments and helped Fripp realize his most ambitious, sometimes unimaginable creative ideas.

Avant-garde jazz, elements of hard rock, complex polytonal constructions and influences from almost all areas of musical art - this was King Crimson largely thanks to MacDonald - not only a virtuoso instrumentalist, but also a very erudite person and looking forms of creativity.

In many ways, this is why McDonald left the band in the early 70s - he created his own project with its other ex-member - drummer Mike Giles. Their joint album was released - now a philophonic rarity. He then returned to King Crimson again, at Fripp's request.

But not for long - McDonald was fascinated by the already new music for those times - melodic hard rock, a harbinger of glam metal. Together with guitarist Mick Jones and vocalist Lou Gramm, he created Foreigner in 1976, which soon became the flagship of this style. But he left him after recording the most successful Head Games album in 1979. And then again sometimes collaborated with Fripp, recorded solo tracks, worked as a producer.

It would be nice if records from different years by Ian Maconald were released now under one cover, for example, in the format of a compilation box set. Some of his ideas would come in handy and impress music lovers again.

bbabo.Net