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Today’s Music News: Isaiah Owens, Jack White keyboardist, dies at 38

by Staff

October 15, 2014

Isaiah "Ikey" Owens, keyboardist in Jack White's current band and a frequent player with the Mars Volta, has died of a heart attack at age 38. Owens was in Puebla, Mexico, on tour with White. White has canceled all remaining Mexico tour dates in the wake of the news. "We will all miss you Ikey," said White in a statement. "You were and are an incredible artist." (Pitchfork)

In a bombshell that shook the music industry on Tuesday, Kesha has sued producer Dr. Luke for emotional abuse and sexual assault, alleging that the producer raped her after rendering her unconscious with drugs. In response, Dr. Luke immediately filed a countersuit for defamation, calling the charges completely fabricated. Dr. Luke has been one of the most commercially successful music producers of the current century, producing hits for artists including Kelly ClarksonKaty PerryPink, Miley CyrusAvril LavigneFlo Rida, and Taio Cruz. (Rolling Stone)

"Now, everybody's a bootlegger, but not as cute," said Iggy Pop as he delivered the BBC's annual John Peel Lecture. Speaking on the subject of "free music in a capitalist society," Iggy Pop was critical of U2's iTunes "giveaway" but sympathetic to Thom Yorke selling music via BitTorrent. "Sure, BitTorrent is a pirate's friend," he said, "but all pirates want to go legit." (Rolling Stone)

After Ariel Pink slammed Madonna's last two decades of work while declaring that he'd been tapped by Madonna's label to write new songs for the pop icon, Pink was slammed back by artists including Grimes ("Ariel Pink's delusional misogyny is emblematic of the kind of bulls--t everyone woman in this industry faces daily"), James Brooks of Elite Gymnastics ("UGHHHH Ariel Pink is the f---ing WORST"), and Waxahatchee, while the Black Lips expressed doubt as to whether Pink's comments were misogynistic. (Pitchfork)

Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL will be musical guests on the Nov. 1 episode of Saturday Night Live, with Chris Rock hosting. It will be Prince's third gig as an SNL music guest, and his first since 2006. (Local Current) Meanwhile, Tory Burch told Billboard that she loved the way Prince looks wearing her caftan.

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