American musician Alan Merrill, who co-wrote and recorded the original version of I Love Rock 'n' Roll with his band the Arrows in 1975, has died of coronavirus. Merrill was 69.

His daughter, Laura Merrill, posted a statement on Facebook about his death, saying, "the coronavirus took my father this morning," adding that she was "given two minutes to say my goodbyes before I was rushed out".

Alan Merrill died in New York over the weekend. Credit:Neil Kitson/Redferns

Joan Jett, with her band the Blackhearts, had a huge hit with I Love Rock 'n' Roll in 1982 and she paid tribute to Merrill on social media.

"I've just learned of the awful news that Alan Merrill has passed," Jett said in a statement on Twitter. "My thoughts and love go to his family, friends and music community as a whole.