Dean Fertita will step into the void left by the sudden death of Isaiah ‘Ikey’ Owens earlier this month, Jack White has revealed.
A short statement released by White has confirmed his occasional Dead Weather bandmate will join up on keyboards for remaining 2014 live dates which include a visit to the UK in November.
“Although it is impossible to replace Ikey, the incredibly talented Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather) will be joining the band to play piano and keyboard for all of Jack’s currently announced tour dates,” it reads.
Owens died of a heart attack while on tour with Jack White in Mexico on October 14th. At the time, he was described by White as an ‘astounding keyboard player’. “He also played with Mars Volta, Free Moral Agents, and many other projects,” a press release continued. “Out of respect for Ikey, the remaining shows of the Jack White Tour in Mexico have been cancelled. We will all miss you Ikey. You were and are an incredible artist.”