'Ikey' Owens' Cause Of Death Released

16 October 2014 | 2:37 pm | Staff Writer

News of the 38-year-old's passing broke yesterday

Medical officials have determined the cause of death for musician Isaiah 'Ikey' Owens — best known as Jack White's keyboardist and a long-serving member of The Mars Volta — who passed away on Tuesday (US time) at the age of 38.

In a statement posted to both Third Man Records' and White's Facebook pages, representatives conveyed that coroners had ruled Owens had passed away about 4am the morning of October 14 following a heart attack, and intimated that — despite the presence of "a small amount of marijuana" in Owens' room — drugs did not play a factor in his death.

"The coroner has determined that Ikey Owens died from a heart attack the morning of October 14th at approximately 4am," the post read. "The only drugs found in his room were a small amount of marijuana.

"Ikey, born Isaiah Randolph Owens, was a Grammy Award-winning artist best known for his work with Jack White, The Mars Volta, De Facto and Free Moral Agents, among others. He was a beloved member of the music community as well as his hometown of Long Beach, CA."

Don't miss a beat with our FREE daily newsletter

In honour of the legend, check out this live performance of Owens inimitably wrangling sounds from an organ you didn't even know they could make.