RIP MIKE SHIPLEY

David Goggin

Producer and engineer Mike Shipley, who worked on records by Aerosmith and Def Leppard, has passed away, according to Brave Words.

Shipley, who was born in Australia but moved to England as a teen, has credits on countless records — from rock to metal to country — from the past 30 years. In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles to work with the Cars.

Among his long list of achievements, he produced or engineered Def Leppard’s ‘Pyromania’ and ‘Hysteria,’ Aerosmith’s ‘Just Push Play,’ Van Halen‘s ‘Best of Both Worlds), Scorpions‘ ‘Savage Amusement’ and Winger’s ‘Pull.’

Shipley discussed his craft with Universal Audio a few years back, and noted his career milestones (and technology changes) over the past 30 years — from starting out with the Sex Pistols in the ’70s to working with Pro Tools in the ’00s.

He received a Grammy Award for his work on Alison Krauss & Union Station’s 2011 album ‘Paper Airplane.’

Kip Winger expressed his sympathy on his Facebook page, writing “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.”