[Jeff Higgins]

Passed away last week from cancer, only 75 years old. I know, I know - most of you probably have no idea who he was.

Mr. McDonald was a founding member of two of the most important bands in rock'n'roll history. One never made it very big (although they were quite influential), the other became absolutely huge. And they couldn't have been more different - King Crimson and Foreigner. He only played on the first album of the former (he did actually do some studio backup work fro them later as a non-member), and the first three of the latter. His influence on both, however, was monumental. Not many can say they changed the face of rock music. Ian McDonald could, although he never got the credit for it.

On the flute on King Crimson's debut album:



Later, as a non-member, on the sax:



I never really was a big fan of Foreigner, although they were one of the biggest bands going in my latter days in high school and early days in college. I'm pretty sure he played mostly rhythm guitar with them. Far more "mainstream" or "Top 40" sound, so I really wasn't interested. Maybe someone else can add what he did with them.