Entertainment

Popular ‘Love Rock ‘N’ Roll’ Songwriter Dies Of Coronavirus

Published

6 years ago

March 30, 2020

Editor

The co-writer and original singer of I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll, Alan Merrill, has died after contracting coronavirus.

His daughter Laura shared the news, saying the 69-year-old had been healthy enough to play shows a few weeks ago.

“He played down the ‘cold’ he thought he had,” she wrote, before warning other families not to be complacent.

“You don’t think It’ll happen to you or your strong family. It has,” she wrote. “Stay home if not for you, for others. For my dad. This thing is real.”

I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll became a global hit for Joan Jett in 1982 and has been covered by artists ranging from Britney Spears to Weird Al Yankovic.

A parody version, I Love Sausage Rolls, was last year’s Christmas number one in the UK, with proceeds going to charity.

Musicians hit by coronavirus

Coronavirus also claimed the life of country singer Joe Diffie over the weekend, while the family of Nashville legend John Prine said he was critically ill on a ventilator and being treated for Covid-19 symptoms.

Prine, an influential singer-songwriter who is known for lyrical, melancholy folk songs like Hello In There and Angel From Montgomery, has previously survived cancer twice.

As news of his condition broke, musicians including Joan Baez, Bette Midler and Kacey Musgraves sent the Grammy Award winner their love and support.

Alan Merrill, who was born Allan Preston Sachs in New York, had a long and varied career as a musician. He signed his first record deal as lead singer of the band The Lead, who had a big hit in Japan with Aoi Bara (Blue Rose).

After releasing two successful solo albums and hosting TV shows and acting in soap operas, he left Japan for the UK in 1974 to form The Arrows, who put a glam rock sheen on classic pop melodies.

The group scored hits with A Touch Too Much and My Last Night With You, and I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll was written by Merrill and guitarist Jake Hooker as “a knee-jerk response to the Rolling Stones’ It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)” in 1975.

Originally issued on the B-side of The Arrows’ single Broken Down Heart, it became a hit after DJs started playing the flip side instead.

Its success led to the band getting a weekly ITV series, with musical guests including Marc Bolan, Slade and The Bay City Rollers – and that was where US singer Joan Jett first heard, and fell in love with, I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll.

In the mid-1970s, Jett tried to convince her band The Runaways to cover it but they refused. When the band broke up, Jett recorded it and spent seven weeks at the top of the Billboard chart.

After his death, she paid tribute to Merrill on Instagram, writing: “My thoughts and love go to his family, friends and music community as a whole. I can still remember watching The Arrows on TV in London and being blown away by the song that screamed hit to me.

“With deep gratitude and sadness, wishing him a safe journey to the other side.”

Merrill later joined Meat Loaf’s band for two albums and played with Rick Derringer.

Writing on Facebook, Meat Loaf said: “Let this be a lesson to all of us, try to stay in touch with the people you really love and care about. Life is very short. Alan I am sorry that I didn’t reach out to you years ago. I love you very much.”

(BBC)

(PHOTO: bbc.com)

Entertainment

How I Spent N340 Million On Weed In Six Years– Ice Prince

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Nigerian singer and rapper, Ice Prince Zamani, has revealed that before quitting smoking, it was draining him financially.

Speaking in a recent episode of the Black Box podcast, the ‘Aboki’ crooner disclosed that between 2020 and 2026, he spent N340 million on weed from just one dealer.

He explained that the figure does not include other suppliers of his in Abuja, Jos, Ghana and London.

“From 2020 to 2026, I have spent N340 million on weed from just one dealer alone, not to even mention my other dealers from Abuja, Ghana, Jos, and London. This is just one dealer, who lives close to me in Lagos,” he stated.

Ice Prince said he quit smoking and alcohol during his weight loss journey and self-discovery process.

He also revealed that he has been celibate for some time now.

Entertainment

‘I Have Lost Interest In Getting Married’ – Regina Daniels

Published

6 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Nollywood actress, Regina Daniels said she is no longer interested in marriage after her messy separation from her estranged husband, Senator Ned Nwoko.

The mother of two, however, said she is still much interested in having more children, vowing that she must have a daughter.

Speaking during a recent livestream with Tiktoker Jarvis, Daniels explained that she wants to her a daughter because she believes daughters care more for their parents during old age.

“I want to have six children and I have two already, two boys. It so crazy but for some reason I have checked my mind out from getting married. But I am going to have a girl and I must have a girl.

“Men will grow, get married and and focus more on building family. But for women she will always remember home,” she added.

Regina Daniels and her estranged husband, Ned Nwoko, got married in 2019, sparking public outrage due to 40-year age gap between the actress, who was only 19 then, and the billionaire politician.

They share two children; all boys.

In late 2025, their marriage hit a highly public crisis following allegations by Nwoko that the actress was struggling with drug and alcohol abuse and requiring rehabilitation.

Regina Daniels swiftly debunked the allegations and accused Nwoko of manipulation, psychological control, and abuse.

Shortly after, she walked away from the marriage and moved into her own house.

Ever since, she has maintained that she is now single.

Entertainment

Cubana Chief Priest Opens Up On Feud With Burna Boy

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Nigerian entrepreneur and socialite, Pascal Chibuike Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, has opened up on his fallout with singer Burna Boy, alleging that the music star publicly attacked him because of his close relationship with Davido.

Speaking during an interview on The Beat 99.9 FM on Wednesday, Cubana Chief Priest said his journey to success began from apprenticeship and years of hard work, adding that fame and financial growth often attract envy and criticism.

“Success comes with a lot of hate. I started my journey from apprenticeship and service and I learnt so much about growth and perseverance. When you start becoming successful, you understand how people treat you.

“I was on my own and Burna Boy came for me, went on his big platform and started tweeting things that are not genuine, things that are not possible, things that have not existed and the attack was straight to my wealth.

“So he wanted to make people look at my wealth, disrespect my wealth, I felt bad and that happened because of my relationship with Davido,” he said.

He further stated that Davido has consistently supported his businesses and personal projects.

“David is always there for me. He opened all my nightclubs, restaurants, everything. He always shows up to support me.

“He’s investing in clubs in Lagos, and I’m making music to prove a point that I can,” he added.