Alan Merrill, Singer/Songwriter, Passed Away at the Age of 69

Sad News in the Music Industry

Songwriter Alan Merrill passed away on March 29, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19. It is reported that prior to the 69-year-old’s death, he had cold-like symptoms for 10 days. When Merrill woke up on Saturday, March 28, he was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York with breathing complications and a fever. Once there, he was placed on a ventilator. One of his daughters was at the hospital when his vitals started to deteriorate.

The Situation in the Hospital

She contacted her sister, Laura Merrill and other family members to inform them that the hospital would allow them two minutes to say their final goodbyes. When Laura arrived she saw her stepmother coming back from seeing Merrill. The stepmother relayed to Laura that his vital signs were improving. Laura went in to see her father and “comforted him and told him that his whole family loved him.”

Not wanting to expose anyone to the virus, Merrill’s daughter walked home from the hospital. Upon her arrival home, she received a call informing her that her father passed away while being transferred to the ICU. The hospital also informed the family that he had tested positive for COVID-19.

The Songwriters Early Years

Merrill’s name at birth was Allan Preston Sachs. He was born on Feb. 19, 1951, in Bronx, New York. In his early teens, Merrill started playing with a few bands in Greenwich Village. Wanting to become a professional, he moved to Tokyo where he joined a band called, The Lead, in 1968. When the band dismantled in the early ’70s, he tried his hand with a few solo albums, “Merrill 1,” and “Alone in Tokoyo.”

The young star was considered the biggest foreign pop star that the country of Japan had ever seen at that time. He made several guest appearances on local soap operas and a few other various shows as well as commercials. Growing tired of being viewed as a “teen pop idol,” he formed a Japanese-American glam rock band, Lead Collins. After he had a disagreement with the manager, Merrill moved from Tokyo to London.

His Career in the U.K.

Upon moving to London, he created his next band, The Arrows. He was the lead singer and bassist of the group,  and their single “Touch Too Much” put them in the Top 10 United Kingdom music list. He was also a host on a weekly U.K. TV series, “The Arrows Show,” in 1976 through 1977. The Arrows hit, “I Love Rock N’ Roll,” was heard by Joan Jett in 1975. A few years later, Jett’s band performed the song. Merrill’s band, The Arrows, disbanded in 1977 when punk rock swept throughout the U.K.

Merrill returned to the United States and performed with Steve Gould, Mick, and David Dowle; together they recorded “Runner,” in 1978. By 1980, the group had split apart, leaving Merrill available to play with other musicians.

Back to His Life in the United States

Merrill married Cathhe Dahmen in the late 1970s; they had two children together. Dahmen passed away in 1997. The music star performed with other well-known artists, Meat Loaf, Rick Derringer, Freddie Scott, Britney Spears, and several others.

He is survived by his two daughters and various other family and friends. May he rest in peace.

By Sheena Robertson

Sources:

Its Biography: Who is Alan Merrill? Bio, Wiki, Age, Wife, Children, Death (COVID-19)
Best Classic Bands: Alan Merrill, ‘I Love Rock ‘N Roll’ Writer, Dies at 69
IMDB: Alan Merrill
USA TODAY: ‘I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ songwriter Alan Merrill dies of coronavirus; Joan Jett mourns
CBS: Alan Merrill, “I Love Rock and Roll” songwriter, dies of coronavirus complications
CNN: ‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ songwriter Alan Merrill dies after coronavirus diagnosis

Image Courtesy of Giuseppe Milo’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License