John Regan, an acclaimed bassist who played with the likes of Peter Frampton, Ace Frehley, Billy Idol, the Rolling Stones and David Bowie, has died at 71.
An announcement from his wife, Cathy Merring-Regan, was shared Friday on Facebook by a family friend.
“It’s with the best sorrow and sadness that I allow you to all know John passed away this afternoon,” the statement reads. “So many individuals have posted messages of affection and condolences on his phone. I’m attempting to work out the right way to post on any of his [Facebook] pages. I appreciate your whole thoughts and prayers.”
“One in every of his favorite quotes was ‘All that you could take with you is that which you’ve given away,’” she continued. “From reading your messages, I do know he gave much away and a lot love was sent to him. He passed suddenly, but that was his wish.”
“I had heard him over the past few weeks having lengthy conversations with lots of you and also you brought such joy to him. Thanks all to your heartfelt messages,” she concluded.
A explanation for death was not announced. Fellow musicians, meanwhile, shared condolences online.
“There might only be a handful, if that, of people that come into your world and truly enrich your life. I actually have lost one in every of my closest buddies. He definitely enriched my life due to person and the good player he was. John Regan was the perfect of us,” Frampton, 72, wrote in a series of tweets.
“He went out of his method to help people when things weren’t right. It didn’t matter who you were, prince or pauper. I do know there are numerous of you on the market who knew him. He was a friend to all. All the time musically inspiring and one in every of the funniest people on the planet,” he continued.
“My thoughts are together with his wife Cathy, his children, Christopher and Jeness and his grandchildren. I really like you my brother you will likely be missed by so many. rest in peace,” he added.
The Likelihood Theater in Poughkeepsie also issued an announcement. Regan had performed on the venue with Frampton in addition to his band 4 By Fate.
“We’re sad to announce the passing of one in every of our Likelihood family, John Regan. John was an incredible musician, a rockstar, but most of all, he was one in every of the nicest, most humble humans you’ve ever known. John, you will likely be missed by all of us who had the consideration of knowing you. RIP,” reps for the music venue wrote on Facebook.
The longtime Wappingers Falls, NY resident was born on Oct. 28, 1951. Regan had told the Poughkeepsie Journal that his decision to pursue a lifelong music profession began when he first played The Likelihood Theater.
“So many milestones of my life have been on that stage. That’s my home base right there,” Regan said within the 2017 interview.
Besides fidgeting with Frampton, Regan was a member of Frehley’s Comet, with former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley, from 1984 to 1990, recording “Frehley’s Comet” (1987); “Second Sighting” (1988); and “Trouble Walkin’” (1989).
The acclaimed bassist most notably played with Bowie and Mick Jagger on the 1985 single “Dancing within the Street,” and with the Rolling Stones the next yr on “Winning Ugly.”
In 2014, Regan co-founded 4 by Fate, which released its debut album “Relentless” two years later.
“We’re just playing music for the fun of it,” Regan once told the Poughkeepsie Journal of 4 by Fate’s formation. “Everyone wanted to do that to have an excellent time.”
He said the band “just form of happened” — in spite of everything, he admitted, the perfect things in music only occur “whenever you don’t attempt to steer them.” The group, composed of rock n’ roll legends Tod Howarth, Patrick James Gasperini and Rob Affuso, was hell-bent on having fun.
“Everyone has been across the block a few times and that’s how we ended up together, wanting to do that,” said Regan. “The one thing we did agree on was, this must be absolutely joyful.”
Howarth, a former Frehley’s Comet co-frontman, penned a heartfelt note in regards to the last time he interacted together with his “dear friend’ — the morning of his death.
“I began this again and again, I can’t capture every little thing I’m feeling,” he began his Facebook tribute. “By now most all of of John Regan’s passing today.”
“Early this morning he called me however it was a butt dial. Typical over the past decade or so. After I texted him ‘You rang?’ He responded; ‘Not that I do know of’ and said that he hoped he didn’t wake me up. I replied, ‘No worries I used to be about to walk the dog.’
“This is able to be the last time I got to ‘speak’ with my dear friend of 38 years because I never got to call him back before I got a devastating request from a mutual friend to ‘please call.’”
He applauded Regan’s tenured profession and treasured work, calling him a “world class talent and an incredible human being.” Admitting to crying a lot of the day, Howarth mourned one other loss within the music industry and thanked everyone who had already reached out.
“Love you and already miss you John, thanks,” he wrote, saying he and Regan’s family members are “shattered” and “devastated.”
