Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and Rainbow producer Martin Birch dies
David Coverdale confirms the sad news
Last updated 6th Aug 2021
Esteemed producer and sound engineer Martin Birch, who helmed some of the greatest albums in the history of rock music, has died aged 71.
David Coverdale, who worked with Martin Birch with Whitesnake and Deep Purple, broke the sad news of Birch’s passing last night (9th August).
He wrote on Twitter: "It is with a very heavy heart I've just had verified my very dear friend and producer Martin Birch has passed away. Martin was a huge part of my life ... helping me from the first time we met through until Slide It In. .. My thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and fans."
Born in Woking, Surrey two days after Christmas in 1948, Martin Birch had his big break in 1969 when he worked as an audio engineer on Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Then Play On’, Deep Purple’s live album ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’ and Jeff Beck’s ‘Beck-Ola’.
He formed a close bond with Deep Purple in particular, engineering eleven albums including ‘Burn’, ‘Machine Head’ and ‘Fireball’, and co-producing four of those records. On 1970’s ‘Deep Purple in Rock’, the band dedicated ‘Hard Lovin’ Man’ to Birch on the sleeve notes, calling him a “catalyst.”
Birch also worked with Jon Lord, Paice Ashton Lord and Roger Glover on their offshoot projects, plus Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow – most notably producing their seminal 1976 masterpiece ‘Rainbow Rising’.
Martin Birch had a very close affiliation with former Deep Purple vocalist David Coverdale when he formed his new band Whitesnake in the late 1970s. He created studio alchemy with Whitesnake from the 1978 EP ‘Snakebite’ through to 1984 album ‘Slide It In’.
Having worked with Ronnie James Dio with Rainbow, Black Sabbath enlisted Birch at the turn of the 1980s for their first two albums with their new vocalist; ‘Heaven and Hell’ and ‘Mob Rules’. Throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s, he worked with an array of artists including Wishbone Ash, Peter Green, The Groundhogs, Blue Öyster Cult, Cozy Powell, Canned Heat and Faces.
However, alongside Deep Purple, Martin Birch is perhaps best remembered for his pivotal studio work with Iron Maiden.
Birch produced, engineered and mixed eight studio albums for Iron Maiden from 1981’s ‘Killers’ right through to 1992’s ‘Fear of the Dark’, which was Birch’s swansong album before he retired from music, leaving an incredible body of work behind him.
A number of rock stars have paid homage to Martin Birch since news of his passing broke last night.
Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler wrote: “Really sad to hear of the passing of Martin Birch. Brilliant producer. Had the pleasure of working with him on the Black Sabbath albums #HeavenandHell and #MobRules. Condolences to Vera and family. #RIPMartin”
Ronnie James Dio’s wife, Wendy Dio, said: "My thoughts & prayers go out to his wife Vera & his daughter Haley. He was a genius producer & a very dear friend of Ronnie’s. May he RIP"
Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante commented: “RIP #martinbirch, he produced the Sounds to Most of our lives #tones #producer”
Blackmore’s Night singer Candice Night shared a series of photos of Martin Birch in the studio with Rainbow, and said on behalf of herself and Ritchie Blackmore: “So sorry to hear of Martin Birch passing on. Great producer, great times. Our condolences are with his family. RIP”
Steel Panther's Stix Zadinia simply wrote: "Thank you Martin Birch. You made my life better. RIP to one of the best."
RIP Martin Birch.