Alan Merrill (1951–2020) wrote both the music and the lyrics of ‘I Love Rock ’n’ Roll’ while living in London, and sang lead on The Arrows’ original. He shared the writing credit with bandmate Jake Hooker (1953–2014), the group’s guitarist, reportedly to settle a debt. They are the figures the song’s fame obscures most completely: not the famous performer, but the writers whose composition outlived the band that first cut it.