‘I love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Singer Alan Merrill Dies From The Coronavirus

Alan Merrill, co-writer and singer of the original version of “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” has died at age 69 from COVID-19, according to his daughter, who shared the news on social media.

In her words:

The Coronavirus took my father this morning. I was given 2 minutes to say my goodbyes before I was rushed out. He seemed peaceful and as I left was still a glimmer of hope that he wouldn’t be a ticker on the right-hand side of the CNN/Fox news screen. I walked 50 blocks home still with hope in my heart. The city that I knew was empty. I felt I was the only person here and perhaps in many ways I was. By the time I got in the doors to my apartment, I received the news that he was gone. How could this be? I was just at his show a couple of weeks ago. I had just photographed his portrait for his new album. Texted with him earlier. He played down the ‘cold’ he thought he had.

Merrill spent time in Japan and the U.K. throughout his music career. He formed the band the Arrows, with drummer Paul Varley and guitarist Jake Hooker, in 1974 in London.

They released singles including “Touch Too Much,” “My Last Night With You” and “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” which he wrote with Hooker in 1975.

Although the Arrows split in the ’70s, Merrill later joined the band Runner (with Steve Gould, Mick Feat and Dave Dowle) and worked with artists like Rick Derringer and Meat Loaf.

He released several albums as a solo artist, with 2019’s Radio Zero being the most recent, and was playing live shows in New York up through March of this year.

The Arrows split in the ’70s, Merrill later joined the band Runner with Steve Gould, Mick Feat, Dave Dowle and worked with artists like Rick Derringer and Meat Loaf.

He released several albums as a solo artist, with 2019’s Radio Zero being the most recent, and was playing live shows in New York up through March of this year.