Ian McDonald (musician)

Ian McDonald ( born June 25, 1946 in London, England ) is a British musician and multi-instrumentalist. His musical talent ranges from classical to dance music to rock 'n ' roll.

McDonald had played for five years in a military band of the British Army before with Robert Fripp, Greg Lake, Michael Giles and Peter Sinfield founded in 1969, the progressive rock band King Crimson. The influential band's debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King, McDonald was a decisive influence as a musician and songwriter. Due to musical differences he and Giles then left the group and released the album McDonald & Giles. In 1974, McDonald came briefly back to King Crimson, first as a guest musician on the album Red; at a scheduled re-entry but did not get it, because Fripp the band after the album's release disbanded for the time being.

From 1976, McDonald was a member / founder of Foreigner, on their first three albums he worked. The best known in Germany piece from this era of the band was the single Cold as Ice. In addition, McDonald worked as a producer and studio musician and can be heard for example in the hit Get It On by T. Rex. In 1999 he released the solo album Drivers Eyes with several prominent guests, including his ex- bandmates Michael Giles and Lou Gramm. He also contributed a total of 3 songs for the soundtrack of the 1998 video game released only in Japan " guard Röder " on: Day Dream, Catastrophe and Blind Girl.

The published in 1997 4- CD set Epitaph with rare live recordings of the 1969 cast of King Crimson aroused the audience a broad interest in early Crimson material. Then the 21st Century Schizoid was founded in 2002 band and several tours and live albums followed. In the band's former King Crimson members Michael Giles alongside McDonald ( saxophone, flute, keyboards) play (drums, percussion ), Peter Giles (bass ), Mel Collins ( Alt-/Tenorsaxophon, flute, keyboards) and Jakko Jakszyk level 42 (guitar, vocals). After the first tour, Michael Giles was replaced by former King Crimson drummer Ian Wallace.