Steve Mackay dead at 66

Steve Mackay

September 25, 1949-October 11, 2015

Saxophonist Steve Mackay has passed away. While the cause of death is not known, Mackay was rushed to Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California a month ago. At that time, Mackay was in critical condition as he had been battling sepsis. Mackay was 66 years old.

Mackay is probably best known for his work with Detriot proto-punk rockers the Stooges. Mackay appeared on the band's sophomore effort- 1970's Fun House. Mackay would rejoin the group when the band reunited with Iggy Pop and Ron and Scott Asheton in 2003. The Stooges would crank out two more studio albums with 2007's The Weirdness and 2013's Ready to Die. In 2009, Ron Asheton passed away. The band recruited Raw Power guitarist James Williamson to take over for Ron and continued to perform. Just last year in 2014, Scott Asheton passed away- leaving Pop as the sole surviving original member of the band. Since then, the band has been on hiatus- although Pop has performed some solo gigs earlier this year. Outside of the Stooges, Mackay worked with other artists such as the Violent Femmes and Snakefinger. Mackay was also able to release a few solo albums, his last being 2010's Sometimes Like This I Talk. 

Iggy Pop has released a statement on his Facebook page about Mackay's passing saying:

"Steve was a classic '60s American guy, full of generosity and love for anyone he met. Every time he put his sax to his lips and honked, he lightened my road and brightened the whole world. He was a credit to his group and his generation. To know him was to love him."

It's sad to hear of Steve's passing. I was not aware of him being in the hospital. He was a great musician. Fun House is my favorite album from the Stooges and he really spiced up the whole second side of that album ("1970," "Fun House," "LA Blues").

Rest in peace, Mr. MacKay.