Fleetwood Mac, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake & Scorpions producer Keith Olsen dies
Scorpions, Whitesnake and Rick Springfield have led the tributes to prolific rock producer Keith Olsen, who has sadly passed away.
Last updated 11th Mar 2020
Taking to social media last night (Monday 9th March), Scorpions broke the news of Keith Olsen’s death, writing: “We just learned about the passing of our dear friend and producer Keith Olsen.
“Keith produced many iconic albums, including our album ‘Crazy World’. Keith was a wonderful guy, and the making of Crazy World was such an inspiring journey, containing outstanding songs like ‘Wind of Change’ and ‘Send me an Angel’, which had the Keith Olsen touch, on every single note.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to his family .... RIP Keith .... You live on in the Music .... Scorpions.”
Throughout his distinguished career, the Sioux Falls born Keith Olsen worked with a veritable smorgasbord of rock greats including Ozzy Osbourne (‘No Rest For The Wicked’), Eddie Money, Whitesnake ('Whitesnake' and 'Slip of the Tongue'), Rick Springfield, Grateful Dead, Bad Company, Foreigner, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Heart, Lou Gramm, Jethro Tull, Russ Ballard and Sammy Hagar.
However, he was arguably best known for being the link that helped Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks join Fleetwood Mac.
Olsen produced the ‘Buckingham Nicks’ album in 1973, which was a commercial flop upon its release, however the closing track ‘Frozen Love’ caught the ear of Mick Fleetwood when Keith Olsen famously played it through the studio speakers at Sound City in Van Nuys, California.
Liking what he heard, Fleetwood invited Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to join Fleetwood Mac in 1974 and Olsen produced the band’s second self-titled album in 1975.
“He put on a song called 'Frozen Love' from the Buckingham Nicks album, just to demonstrate his own prowess in the studio, and what the studio sounded like,” Buckingham later recalled.
“So Mick is sitting there listening to this song, and uh, one thing led to another and Stevie and I, very shortly, were members of the band."
Olsen worked on over 120 albums over the decades and it’s reported his work earned him 39 Gold, 24 Platinum, and 14 Multi-Platinum album certifications. He also won six Grammy Awards.
Olsen’s website claims that “sales from Keith Olsen’s work exceeds 125 million units at retail, equalling more than a billion dollars in business.”
Paying homage last night, Whitesnake's David Coverdale simply wrote: “Keith Olsen...R.I.P. Dear Friend...”
In a series of posts on Twitter, Rick Springfield said: "My amazing and talented friend Keith Olsen has passed away. Such a gifted producer. And later on a wonderful guy. Ha, ha... he could be a bit of a pistol in the studio but that was part of his talent. Sticking to his guns when some whiny artist (me) would say, "I don’t think that works." He didn't produce all those hits for all those musicians for no reason.
"He had a golden ear and helped so many people reach their potential. I remember playing him my demos and he picked “Jessie’s Girl” out of a batch of 15 songs and said "This is a hit.”
"I doubted him and thought there were better songs in my demo reel. Proof right there of his gift. May God give your spirit the peace and joy and the rest it deserves. You were a star maker in so many ways. God bless your memory my friend.”
A cause of death hasn’t been confirmed. RIP Keith Olsen.