Roy Loney (Flamin' Groovies), RIP
Roy Loney, dynamic cofounder on Flamin’ Groovies, died today at age 73 in San Francisco. The sad news came via Flamin’ Groovies Facebook, where the band wrote, “We are all deeply saddened and stunned to learn that our dearest friend and bandmate, Roy Loney, passed away this morning.” His girlfriend, Vivian Altmann, told The San Francisco Chronicle that he died of severe organ failure. “Roy was born on a Friday the 13th and he died on a Friday the 13th,” said Altman. “That is a very rockin’ thing to do.”
Flamin’ Groovies began in 1965 in San Francisco, led by Loney and Cyrl Jordan, and they made three albums — 1969’s Supersnazz, 1970’s Flamingo and 1971’s Teenage Head — before Loney left the group to be replaced by Chris Wilson. Loney went on to be a talent scout for ABC Records, and played in other groups, including Phantom Movers and Fondellas both of which featured fellow former Groovies members Danny Mihm and James Ferrell, and he put out solo records as well. Roy reunited with Cyril Jordan in the late-’00s, including a 2009 tour backed by members of Yo La Tengo and A-Bones. This year Roy toured the U.S. with Jordan and the current lineup of Flamin’ Groovies, but he was forced to drop out of a European tour after being hospitalized from a fall.
Roy, you’ll be missed. Rest in peace.
Read tributes from Steve Van Zandt, Yo La Tengo and more, and listen to Teenage Head, below.
RIP Roy Loney. Legendary Garage Rocker and original lead singer with the Flamin’ Groovies. He will live forever in the Underground Garage.
— 🕉🇺🇦🟦Stevie Van Zandt☮️💙 (@StevieVanZandt) December 13, 2019
— Yo La Tengo (@TheRealYLT) December 14, 2019
Damn. The one and only Roy Loney – co-founder of The Flamin Groovies, leader of The Phantom Movers, the Teenage Monster himself – has died at the age of 73. The sad news confirmed by legendary photographer Robert Bayley. Maybe the most underrated true blue rocker ever. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/QD9zpDed60
— Bob Mehr (@BobMehr) December 13, 2019
I’m having a hard time accepting that the great Roy Loney, Flamin Groovie, Rock n roll singer extraordinaire is gone. I feel honored to have known him, he was a sweetheart.
— Amy Rigby (@AmyRigby) December 13, 2019