The original lead singer of the garage rock band is confirmed to have passed away at the age of 73 at San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center.
- December 16, 2019
AceShowbiz - Roy Loney, the original lead singer of garage rock group Flamin' Groovies, has died aged 73.
The musician died of severe organ failure at San Francisco's California Pacific Medical Center, his girlfriend Vivian Altmann told the San Francisco Chronicle.
The band confirmed his passing on their Facebook page, writing in a statement, "We are all deeply saddened and stunned to learn that our dearest friend and bandmate, Roy Loney, passed away this morning."
Prior to the group's statement, the sad news was initially announced by his pal, punk rock photographer Roberta Bayley, who revealed the musician had had surgery earlier this week and died on Friday, December 13.
"Very sad news. Roy Loney, the original singer of the legendary Flamin' Groovies has died. Only minutes ago," she shared on her Facebook page. "Roy was a great talent, as a songwriter and performer, and a great friend. He was hospitalised last week, and I spoke to him Wednesday. He was in good spirits. He had a surgery this morning and never came out of it."
She added, "Sorry, I have no other details. Roy will surely be missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him."
Roy scored hits "Love Have Mercy", "The Girl Can't Help It", and "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" with the group through the '60s, before departing amid ongoing tensions in 1971. His most recent project was 2009's "Got Me a Hot One!" with Senor No.
His girlfriend added, "Roy was born on a Friday the 13th and he died on a Friday the 13th. That is a very rockin' thing to do."
