RESPECTED musician Marc Maitland has died at the age of 49.

Mr Maitland, who was also known as Mates, died at home on February 22.

He was born on January 21, 1970, on the Isle of Wight and attended St Mary's RC Primary, ABK Middle and Ryde High schools.

His greatest passion was music and in 1990 he formed AM Gems along with his mates Simon Way, Ian Davison (now a partner in Strings Music Venue in Newport) and Nij Lynk who currently plays in local bands including Ska'd For Life, X Directory and 3 Minute Heroes.

In 1994 he was living in South London when he and Nij teamed up with Lloyd Chambers to form the melodic punk band Blocko. The band played numerous venues in the UK and toured the States, Japan, Ireland and other countries, until the arrival of Marc's daughter Ethel in 2006.

He returned to the Island in 2009 to be near his daughter but continued to make music with Weeks, and The No Marks.

His latest project was a long distance collaboration with local musician Liam Hodges and two other musicians countrywide, collectively calling themselves City Miles.

Marc was singer and songwriter and designed the artwork for their album Social Upheaval, which is being released posthumously on March 27.

Marc leaves behind his daughter Ethel, his sister Daisy and his mum Liz.

The funeral service will be held at the Isle of Wight Crematorium at 3pm on Friday, March 29, and will be followed by a musical celebration of his life at the Pavilion Bar, Ryde.

There will also be a memorial evening at Strings, on a date to be announced.