Guitarist Joe Shikany was a familiar face in Seattle-area 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.

Patrick MacDonald: 206-464-2312 or pmacdonald@seattletimes.com

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Information in this article, originally published August 21, 2008, was corrected August 25, 2008. A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Joe Shikany is survived by his parents.