Iron Maiden pay tribute to Martin Birch
The legendary producer died on Sunday aged 71
Last updated 6th Aug 2021
Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson and Steve Harris, and manager Rod Smallwood, have all paid tribute to legendary producer Martin Birch, who died on Sunday (9th August) aged 71.
Alongside engineering and producing seminal albums for Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Wishbone Ash, Peter Green, The Groundhogs and Blue Öyster Cult to name but a few, Martin Birch worked with Iron Maiden for 11 years producing every studio album from 1981’s ‘Killers’ through to 1992’s ‘Fear of the Dark’ together with the live releases ‘Live After Death’ and ‘Maiden England 88’.
In a statement on Iron Maiden’s official website posted last night (10th August), bassist and sole constant member Steve Harris hailed Martin Birch as “absolutely brilliant.”
Steve added: “He wasn’t just a producer, he was a hands-on engineer too, so he knew how to get a great sound. He was also fantastic at motivating people; he just had a knack of getting the best out of you.
“He was also a really nice man, great fun with a terrific sense of humour and that made him easy to work with. We all got along with him really well and the whole band is very saddened by today’s news.”
Bruce Dickinson added: “To me, Martin was a mentor who completely transformed my singing: he was a psychotherapist and in his own words a juggler who could mirror exactly what a band was. That was his special talent as a producer. He was not a puppeteer, he did not manipulate the sound of the band, he just reflected it in the best possible way.
“Apart from all of that he was a wonderful, warm & funny human being. Martin & I shared a passion for martial arts – he for karate and me for fencing which gave us another bond too. I’m so very sad to hear this news, it’s incredible that he has passed away at such a young age for a man who was so full of life.”
Iron Maiden manager Rod Smallwood commented: “He was a fantastic guy who always shared a mutual respect with the band. He never, ever, let us down in the studio. He was a true gentleman and he will be hugely missed by everyone in the Maiden Family."
Tony Iommi, who worked with Birch in the early 1980s, also paid tribute last night, writing: “So shocked to hear the sad news of Martin Birch’s passing. Martin was a lovely guy and a great producer - he produced Heaven and Hell and The Mob Rules for Sabbath. He will be deeply missed and my thoughts go out to his family. R.I.P.”
Following David Coverdale’s tributes yesterday, former Whitesnake guitarist and songwriter Bernie Marsden also paid poignant tribute on Facebook.
Bernie wrote: “I was so sorry to hear of the passing of my dear friend Martin Birch yesterday.
“Martin and I first worked together with Paice Ashton Lord in 1976, he then produced all the classic Whitesnake recordings and my first solo album. He really was the seventh member of the original Whitesnake line-up.
“But, there was so much more before, Groundhogs, Gary Moore, Deep Purple, later Rainbow, Dio, Iron Maiden and many more, topped - for me - by his wonderful work with solo Peter Green and the original Fleetwood Mac.
“Please check your album collection to see just how much Martin Birch has contributed to the music you love.
“This photo is from my personal collection, taken at Central Studios in London 1979, could be Whitesnake, my first solo album or even Cozy Powell’s album.
“My sincere condolences to his family and all who will remember that smile and giggle. RIP Martin.”
Geezer Butler, Wendy Dio, Charlie Benante and Stix Zadinia are among the other names who have paid homage to Martin Birch since his passing.
After axing all their 2020 shows due to the coronavirus pandemic, Iron Maiden are due to reconvene the Legacy of the Beast Tour in summer 2021.