Isaiah Ikey Owens, Jack White keyboardist, dies aged 38 | Pop and rock

Isaiah ‘Ikey’ Owens, Jack White keyboardist, dies aged 38

Musician known for his work with Jack White’s band, as well as the Mars Volta and Long Beach Dub Allstars, has died

Isaiah “Ikey” Owens, musician and member of Jack White’s band, has died, aged 38.

Owens was found in his hotel room in Mexico on Tuesday 14 October. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. Out of respect for his bandmate, Jack White has cancelled the remaining Mexico tour dates. A statement on Jack White’s website reads:

It is with great sadness that we tell the world of the passing of the incredible musician Isaiah “Ikey” Owens. He will be missed and loved forever by his family, friends, bandmates and fans.

As well as his work with Jack White, Owens also played with and produced for numerous other artists throughout his career. He performed as a member of Long Beach Dub Allstars and worked alongside Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodríguez-López in their dub reggae band De Facto and later, the Mars Volta. Zavala paid his respects to Owens on Twitter:

Aside from his work with other bands, Owens recorded solo material under the moniker Free Moral Agents. He became part of Jack White’s backing band the Buzzards, playing keyboards, organ and piano on White’s second solo album, Lazaretto, and was in the middle of a Mexico tour of the same album at the time of his death. Flea, bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers also posted his tribute to Owens: “ikey beautiful ikey oh man love what a beautiful dude”.

White’s statement ended: “We will all miss you Ikey. You were and are an incredible artist.”

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