RIP Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta
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Topic: RIP Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta
Posted By: Kazza3
Subject: RIP Ikey Owens of The Mars Volta
Date Posted: October 14 2014 at 22:54
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http://jackwhiteiii.com/we-love-you-ikey/" rel="nofollow - Isaiah 'Ikey' Owens, founding member and keyboardist for The Mars Volta and more recently Jack White's live band, among many others, has died overnight, reportedly of a heart attack, aged 38. Much loved by Volta fans as a wonderfully talented and humble person, according to Cedric Bixler-Zavala's emotional speech at an Antemasque show today, Ikey joined De Facto (the band that became Volta) when, at a Long Beach party De Facto were playing, he showed up to the party with a melodica and just got up on stage and played with them. Ikey's classic organ and electric piano was a critical part of The Mars Volta's sound, playing on their first four albums, and live from 2001-2010, being especially important to the sound on the debut Deloused in the Comatorium, and live, where his passionate all-in performances were loved. Ikey's decreasing prominence on later records (with Omar and Marcel also covering keyboards in studio), fan in-jokes about his low volume live, and his eventual failure to be called invited back due to no longer fitting the band's sound (for the 'electronic' Noctourniquet album) caused a great deal of consternation for Volta fans, for whom he was essential to the band, and we missed the early days of a smaller band where his parts were in the foreground. Though of course Volta is no longer together, Ikey had always wanted to rejoin (this now heartbreaking tweet http://https://twitter.com/freemoralagents/status/294279962737922049" rel="nofollow - https://twitter.com/freemoralagents/status/294279962737922049 ) and there had been a general belief, both by fans and to some extent from Cedric and Omar, that The Mars Volta would reform at some point in the future. For most fans, the death of Ikey is the permanent end of The Mars Volta. Ikey also led his own band, Free Moral Agents ( http://buyfma.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - http://buyfma.bandcamp.com/ ), and became quite a prolific producer. Recently, he also joined Jack White's live band, gaining him a lot of widespread recognition. RIP to a phenomenal, passionate humble musician and the most heartfelt hammond player of the 21st century. I still cannot believe that I am writing this.    |
Replies:
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: October 14 2014 at 23:00
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Quite saddening, i read this earlier today and was thinking of making a thread. Great write up man. My favorite work of his was on Amputechture. Killer throughout. ------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: Luna
Date Posted: October 14 2014 at 23:00
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Terrible news. RIP. ------------- https://aprilmaymarch.bandcamp.com/track/the-badger" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 00:46
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Sad. Very sad. RIP ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 02:00
R.I.P ------------- This night wounds time. |
Posted By: sleeper
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 06:12
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Damn, a heart attack at 38! RIP Ikey, a fine contributor to one of my favourite bands. ------------- Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005  |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 06:38
| RIP |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 08:59
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Very sad... Way, way too soon. RIP ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 09:12
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Definitely way to young. I guess he is sort of an unsung hero of the band, as I did not recognize the name. You always hear about Cedric and Omar and even the drummers Theodore and Pridgen, but I can't say that I remember ever seeing mention of the keyboard player or for that matter the bass player. Nonetheless, it is a sad loss. RIP. ------------- 
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Posted By: tboyd1802
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 12:38
| Very sad news indeed... |
Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 13:07
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Very sad. RIP -------------  
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Posted By: Polymorphia
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 13:48
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I'm not a huge TMV fan, but Ikey's keys were the one thing I consistently liked about every album of theirs that he was on. RIP.
------------- https://dreamwindow.bandcamp.com/releases" rel="nofollow - My Music 
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Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 14:35
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RIP. Shockingly young...... ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 16:44
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RIP. Way too young... ------------- 
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Posted By: M@X
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 17:59
 RIP dude------------- Prog On ! |
Posted By: twosteves
Date Posted: October 15 2014 at 19:11
| RIP---way too young indeed---hope it wasn't drug related ----but my friend works in a heart unit of a hospital and it can happen more than you think on a 38 year old. It's all in the genes and or how you take care of yourself. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: October 16 2014 at 01:37
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RIP , far too young as already said I have found The Mars Volta one of the most challenging bands I have ever come across but neverthless they are the epitomy of modern truly progressive rock. I will play Amputecture later as my own little tribute.
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Posted By: Kazza3
Date Posted: October 16 2014 at 04:50
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Combination of genes and weight it unfortunately seems- he had been trying to lose weight for exactly this reason- no drugs. From 4:30 on, watch this great solo from Ikey, it just gets better and better: |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: October 16 2014 at 07:10
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This is so sad. 38!?!?!?!??? My heart goes out to his family. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: odinalcatraz
Date Posted: October 16 2014 at 13:04
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Bloody hell! I am speechless really. ------------- http://www.corvusstone.com |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: October 21 2014 at 09:46
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Wow! I'm shocked....and only 38. Loss of a whale of a talent.
38! Enjoy every sandwich, lads. ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |