Isaiah ‘Ikey’ Owens, the celebrated key player for Jack White, has passed away while on tour in Mexico. He was 38.
“It is with great sadness that we tell the world of the passing of the incredible musician Isaiah ‘Ikey’ Owens,” a statement read on Third Man Records’ website. “He will be missed and loved forever by his family, friends, bandmates and fans.”
Owens’ cause of death has not immediately been made available.
The statement added that the remaining tour dates, most through Mexico and Europe until mid-November, would be cancelled.
Owens received early acclaim in the band The Mars Volta, before working as an in-demand session musician for a wide range of bands. He played keyboards for Jack White’s all-male band, The Buzzards, opposite the all-female, The Peacocks band, and had recently been on tour with White for his wide-ranging string of dates supporting White’s acclaimed landmark album, Lazaretto.
Third Man Records’ full statement:
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.
Ikey Owens was an astounding keyboard player in Jack White’s backing band. He also played with Mars Volta, Free Moral Agents, and many other projects.
Out of respect for Ikey, the remaining shows of the Jack White Tour in Mexico have been cancelled.
We will all miss you Ikey. You were and are an incredible artist.
