Friday, 26th July 2013
Screenshot by DefDazz/Darren
Mike Shipley who worked on a number of Def Leppard albums including Hysteria and Adrenalize has passed away.
Mike worked as the main engineer on the albums 'High 'n' Dry', 'Pyromania' and 'Hysteria', before co-producing 'Adrenalize' with the band. He took over production duties from mentor Mutt Lange who he maintained a working relationship and friendship with (see interview links/video below).
Various audio forums/websites have reported news of his death today (with no other details given). Mike was a member of the Gearslutz forum and he made his last post there on 17th June - a reply to a question about the Hysteria drum sound. Follow the links below to read his posts and a Q and A conducted there.
UPDATE - Thomas Dolbly (who played keyboards on Pyromania) has tweeted to say Mike died yesterday (25th) - see tweet below.
Winger singer/bassist Kip Winger made a facebook post about the news - Mike co-produced their 'Pull' album in 1993.
Mike won a Grammy award as Engineer/Mixer for the Alison Krauss & Union Station 2011 album 'Paper Airplane'. One of links below goes to a lengthy 2011 interview about his work on that record.
Watch a 2012 video interview below (first mentioned here in October), Mike's segment starts at 15:20mins in and begins with his work on the 'Pyromania' and 'Hysteria' albums and his partnership with Mutt Lange.
Kip Winger - 26th July 2013 facebook Quote
"I'm very sorry to hear that the great Mike Shipley has died. He was a dear friend. Mike was a kind, generous, funny, supremely talented and skilled person."
"He taught me how to really make a record. I owe the majority of my studio skill to him. In my opinion he was a true genius, a title I rarely give out."
"This is a tragic loss to the world to say the least. I'll miss you Mike."
"R.I.P. Mike Shipley."
Very shocked and sad to hear that Mike Shpley, mix engineer on'The Flat Earth' and 'Steve McQueen' was found dead yesterday.
— Thomas Dolby (@ThomasDolby) July 26, 2013
- News - gearslutz.com
- Q and A - gearslutz.com
- Mike's Forum Posts - gearslutz.com (search for 'shipshape' in 'posts')
- 2011 Interview - soundonsound.com
- Video Source - youtube.com/PensadosPlace
- News Source - facebook.com/Kip-Winger
- Def Leppard - Adrenalize Album Page
- Previous News - 6th October 2012