Joe Shikany, 58, Guitarist popular in Seattle-area bands, killed by falling tree while attending family reunion
ZapRatz
Guitarist Joe Shikany was a familiar face in Seattle-area bands
Joe Shikany, longtime Seattle guitarist, was killed by a falling tree
Monday in Spokane. He was a member of N'SANE, Davanos and Magic Bus,
and had been in popular bands, including Shots and Bighorn, for more
than 30 years.
By Patrick MacDonald
Seattle Times music critic
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Guitarist Joe Shikany played in a number of Seattle bands.
Joe Shikany, who was killed Monday by a falling tree near Spokane, was
one of Seattle's most experienced and respected guitarists and
bassists. He played in a number of Seattle rock bands for more than 35
years, and recently toured internationally as lead guitarist for
singer Paul Rodgers, formerly of Free and Bad Company.
Mr. Shikany was booked this week for performances in Seattle, Bothell
and Shoreline, with three different bands, N'SANE, Davanos and Magic
Bus. He was to have played Tuesday night at the Rimrock on Lake City
Way with N'SANE. Instead, friends and fellow musicians gathered there
that night for an impromptu memorial.
"There were a lot of tears and a lot of hugs," said guitarist Roger
Fisher, formerly of Heart. Mr. Shikany was a member of the Roger
Fisher Band in the early '80s.
"A lot of people dearly loved Joe," Fisher said, "and it was
heartwarming to see much of the Seattle music scene show up in honor
of one fine man."
Mr. Shikany was killed while attending a family reunion on Lake
Sacheen, according to Spokane's KHQ-TV. He was trying to secure a dock
during a storm when he was hit by a windblown tree. Paramedics worked
on him for 90 minutes until his pulse returned. He was then taken to a
hospital, where doctors determined he would not survive. He was 58.
Born Joseph Michael Shikany on Jan. 31, 1950, in Spokane, Mr. Shikany
moved to Seattle in 1972, along with the band Shyanne, his debut
Seattle band.
Mr. Shikany joined the popular Seattle band Bighorn in 1977, seven
years after it was formed. Bighorn released its debut album on
Columbia Records in early 1979.
Later that year, Bighorn renamed themselves the Allies, a new-wave
band, which was even more successful than Bighorn.
In the mid-1980s, the guitarist was in a band called Shots, another
major club act, playing big rooms like Parker's, Pier 70 and
Montana's.
His band Magic Bus was formed in 1992. A '60s cover band that
performed in vintage clothing — bell-bottoms, beads and tie-dye — its
show was complete with go-go dancers and light shows. Mr. Shikany took
the stage name "Inner Peace" when playing with Magic Bus. He channeled
Jimi Hendrix while playing "Purple Haze."
Among other bands in which he was involved at the time of his death
was Spike & the Impalers, created a few years ago by Spike O'Neill,
part of the morning crew on "The Bob Rivers Show" on KZOK-FM.
"There are no words that can begin to describe our loss," O'Neill
wrote in a tribute on www.bobrivers.com. The Web site is filled with
remembrances and tributes to Mr. Shikany from listeners, fellow
musicians and fans. At Mr. Shikany's own Web site, www.joeshikany.com,
there are photos, videos and a biography.
Mr. Shikany is survived by his wife Shauna Za, his sisters Mary
Stachofsky and Sue Whitman, and his brother David Shikany.
His funeral will be in Spokane; arrangements are pending. A
celebration of his life will be held in Seattle next week at a site to
be announced, said Shauna Shikany.
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