Martin Rushent, Producer of Human League's 'Dare,' Dead at 63
Hugely influential British music producer Martin Rushent has died aged 63. As of now, the cause of death has not been revealed.
Rushent, famous for creating his own unique programming sound, helped create the early-1980s electro keyboard sound, epitomised by the Human League's 1.5-million-selling Christmas smash hit 'Don't You Want Me' from the 1981 'Dare' album.
Speaking to Spinner last year about the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the landmark album, Rushent proudly explained, "I've done a lot of good things that I really like, but making 'Dare' was quite a unique experience and we were on a mission, you know? We were trying to make most of this primitive gear work most of the time. Trying to get it to stay together and play together. It was like climbing f---ing Everest!"
"Had somebody said to me then, 'Do you realise that in 30 years' time people will still be talking about this record, it will still be selling and it will be hailed as a marker in the sand? That generation after generation of young kids will go for it and get into it and emulate it and dance to it?' I'd have said 'You're f---ing mad!' But that's what's happened. It's amazing, it's really quite amazing."
Rushent's musical legacy went beyond 'Dare.' The engineer who started work for the United Artists label in the early 70s -- shaping music by the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Shirley Bassey and T.Rex -- he is also credited with creating the early punk sound.
He produced the first demos for Joy Division, early singles by Buzzcocks; including 1978's 'Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've), the Stranglers first three
|
|
|
