‘I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll’ Songwriter Alan Merrill Passes Away Due to Covid-19

American musician Alan Merrill – who co-wrote the hit track “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” performed by English band Arrows and popularized by American artist Joan Jett – passed away today after contracting the novel coronavirus. Merrill was 69.

In a Facebook post shared by his daughter Laura, she wrote, “He played down the ‘cold’ he thought he had. You don’t think It’ll happen to you or your strong family. It has.” She added, “Stay home if not for you, for others. For my dad. This thing is real.”

More recently, the likes of American pop star Britney Spears and comedian Weird Al Yankovic have also covered “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” which was first released in 1975. With stints in Japan and the U.K. as actor, singer and songwriter, Merrill was active between the late Sixties right up to 2019, releasing solo albums as well as working on T.V. shows.