The Stooges‘ Steve Mackay has died following a reported battle with sepsis. He was 66-years-old.
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, the saxophonist had recently been in critical condition at Seton Medical Center in Daly City, California with the infection.
Stooges frontman Iggy Pop has taken to Facebook to pay tribute to Mackay: “Steve was a classic ’60s American guy, full of generosity and love for anyone he met. Every time he put his sax to his lips and honked, he lightened my road and brightened the whole world. He was a credit to his group and his generation. To know him was to love him.”
Mackay was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He rose to prominence by playing on the The Stooges’1970’s ‘Fun House’ as a session musician – specifically the tracks ‘1970’ and ‘Fun House’ – and performed alongside the group during their subsequent tour. He was later invited to join the band to perform on 2007 LP ‘The Weirdness’ and 2013’s ‘Ready to Die’, and had toured with them in recent years.
As well as performing with the garage rockers, Mackay is also known for his work with Violent Femmes and Commander Cody, among many others.