Northern Irish music legend Mudd Wallace passes away

Hot Press is saddened to learn of the passing of producer Mudd Wallace yesterday, aged 59. A man whose fingerprints are indelibly inked on the music scene in the north, the Randalstown, Co. Antrim-bred legend built up an impressive reputation over the years for being able to turn his hand to any music genre and over the decades has made records with the likes of Van Morrison, the 4 Of Us, Bap Kennedy, Joyrider, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell and the Northern Ireland World Cup Football Team of 1986.

Working from his own Homestead studios in Randalstown from the 1980s to 2002, before opening up new facilities in Conway Mill in west Belfast, Mudd (whose real name was Shaun) was perhaps most renowned as the man who produced Therapy?'s evergreen debut single 'Meat Abstract,' as well as their seminal, critically acclaimed, chart-busting first album Babyteeth, which introduced the band on a global stage in fine fashion.

In a statement on Therapy?'s Facebook page, the trio said of Wallace:

“Very sad to hear of the passing of N.I. music legend Mudd Wallace. He was a huge presence on the local scene and a big part of the fledgling Therapy? recording career (Meat Abstract 7"/Babyteeth). At the time the only local producer to encourage and foster our more esoteric sonic ideas (heavily distorted guitars, growling bass, dance beats, samples, piano, free jazz saxophone, distorted vocals etc) whilst all the time keeping a sense of fun and adventure in the studio. One of a kind, thank-you for sending us down the right sonic path Mudd. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

He will be missed. R.I.P.