Legendary Aussie Producer & Sound Engineer Tony Cohen Dies Aged 60

Revered Australian record producer and sound engineer Tony Cohen has died at the age of 60, his brother, Martin, has reported.

In a statement publicised by Triple M presenter Rosemary Walton, the younger Cohen sibling explained that Tony had passed away peacefully at Dandenong Hospital earlier this week.

"Tony lived a hard life with drugs and alcohol playing a big part of his professional career," Cohen's brother wrote. "He did give them up many years ago but always knew that he would eventually pay for his 'sins'.

"As brothers we were like chalk and cheese. But, I loved him and fully respect what he achieved in his career. He was technically brilliant, but also a caring, big-hearted man. He sometimes frustrated me [beyond] belief, but I will miss him for the rest of my days."

The Melbourne-based industry veteran got his start as a sound engineer in the mid-1970s. One of his earliest notable projects was producing the self-titled album for Perth glam-rockers Supernaut before going on to work on The Ferrets' 1976 debut, Dreams Of A Love.

His renown began to grow and, in 1978, he began what would blossom into a decades-long working relationship with Nick Cave, first by working on Door, Door, the debut album by The Birthday Party (then known as The Boys Next Door) before going on to engineer and produce their self-titled sophomore effort in 1980. He also worked with Cave on eight Bad Seeds albums, beginning with 1984's seminal From Her To Eternity.

Other artists Cohen worked with over the years include the likes of Models, Hunters & Collectors, The Go-Betweens, The Beasts Of Bourbon (and Tex Perkins), The Cruel Sea, TISM, Dave Graney, Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, Powderfinger, Paul Kelly, The Blackeyed Susans, Mick Harvey, Kylie Minogue and Frenzal Rhomb, among several others.

You can see a comprehensive list of his credits at Allmusic, to give you an idea of the true scope of his contribution to the Australian music industry.

He won three ARIAs in the mid-1990s — his first, in 1994, for Producer Of The Year thanks to his work on The Cruel Sea's The Honeymoon Is Over; his second two in 1995, for Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year.

Tributes have begun to flow in earnest for the late industry great, including from the likes of Kid Congo Powers, Not Drowning, Waving/My Friend The Chocolate Cake's David Bridie, Leigh Gruppetta (Cooking Vinyl Australia), Irish band Girls Names, TISM and former Birthday Party drummer Phill Calvert, who mused, "I hope there is a giant console heaven with all the outboard gear he could ever wish for. Maybe the big cheque is there too?"

See how Tony Cohen is being remembered, and watch a vintage profile piece by Kerry Negara of SBS, below.

A massive loss to Australian music, the message from Tony Cohen's brother, Martin pic.twitter.com/D63tDSUXyd

— Rosemary Walton (@rosewal) August 2, 2017

Tony Cohen captured soundtracks to our lives growing up and gave them to us for our listening pleasure.
RIP. pic.twitter.com/424GQnuOge

— Tym guitars (@TymGuitars) August 2, 2017

Thanks to Phil Calvert, who played on this, for a reminder of what the cracked genius of Tony Cohen could produce. https://t.co/HnipM27brN

— Bernard Zuel (@BernardZuel) August 2, 2017

Tony Cohen #RIP Glad our last meeting was laughing & making music #friend #producer #nickcaveandthebadseeds #thebutchershop #thegunclub pic.twitter.com/gA3iQ2iH6f

— Kid Congo Powers (@kidcongopowers) August 2, 2017

Vale Tony Cohen.A legend of our industry and producer of many a fine album by many a fine band

— David Bridie (@dbridie) August 2, 2017

Tony Cohen was the funniest bugger. Brilliant producer, wonderful man. His life caught up with him today. RIP. Fond hugs to TC's family.

— Virginia M Moncrieff (@VMMoncrieff) August 2, 2017

FFS… Vale producer Tony Cohen.

RIP matey. x

Where then do TISM fit in?https://t.co/ryWeYtIska

— TISM (@TISM1982) August 2, 2017

Sad to hear of the passing of music engineer/producer legend Tony Cohen. (The Bad Seeds, The Cruel Sea, Paul Kelly, Hunters & Collectors..)

— Adam Dempsey (@Adam_Dempsey) August 2, 2017

FUCK... Tony Cohen... had the honour of working with this LEGEND at Sing Sing in Melbourne... you'll be missed you beautiful fucking genius!

— Daniel Rejmer (@DanielRejmer) August 2, 2017

Just seen Tony Cohen's dead. RIP. Captured the greatest opening to a record ever. An incredible moment in time https://t.co/wJG3zIktQU

— Girls Names (@Girls_Names) August 2, 2017

R.I.P. Tony Cohen. A great producer,engineer and raconteur.
It was a privilege to know him.

— Ian Fraser Johnston (@IanFJohnston) August 2, 2017

RIP Tony Cohen. Such sad news. His body of work leaves an indelible impress on Australian music.

— Leigh Gruppetta (@LeighGruppetta) August 2, 2017