Alan Merrill, a New Yorker and my neighbor, was born Allan Preston Sachs in the Bronx, New York. This kind and unassuming man passed away from Coronavirus March 29, at age 69.

Merrill formed the band the Arrows with drummer Paul Varley and guitarist Jake Hooker, in 1974 in London. Arrow singles included “Touch Too Much,” “My Last Night With You” and the classic “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” which he wrote with Hooker in 1975. Merrill was lead vocalist on the Arrows’ original “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll,” but the song hit Number 1 when it was covered by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts in 1982.

After the Arrows split up, Merrill joined the band Runner (with Steve Gould, Mick Feat and Dave Dowle) and worked with many artists, including Rick Derringer and Meat Loaf; he released several albums as a solo artist, including 2019’s Radio Zero and a new album tentatively scheduled for release this April, 2020.

Merrill played live shows in the City regularly until only weeks ago, and plans for a tour of Germany and England with his band the New Arrows were under discussion.

Alan Merrill will be missed, both as a person and a landmark in rock history.

—Suzanne Cadgène