Tributes paid to recording innovator Rupert Neve, who has died aged 94
His consoles and preamps shaped the sound of recordings across the 20th century.
Image: Gary Miller / Getty
Pioneering audio equipment inventor Rupert Neve has died at the age of 94. His mixing consoles and preamps shaped the sound of recorded music across the 20th century.
Neve’s mixing boards were a huge part of the sound of classic rock in the 1970s. His Neve 8028 was used on records by Fleetwood Mac, the Grateful Dead, Santana, Tom Petty and many more.
His death was confirmed in a statement posted to his website, which stated that “At 94, Rupert remained engaged and passionate about his work, spending most days on a perpetual series of audio electronics projects and continuing to mentor our engineering team on numerous design and development projects.”
The statement also notes his cause of death as “non-Covid pneumonia and heart failure.”
Since the news of his death broke, figures from around the world of music have paid their respects to Neve, including Joe Bonamassa, Joe Perry, Julian Lennon and more.
His legend and genius lives on in uncountable recordings of music in every genre. Amazing how one man can touch so many lives in a good way and yet most people wont know who he is… but we do!!!!! RIP Rupert Neve https://t.co/s2hKMQZMX8
— Joe Perry (@JoePerry) February 13, 2021
R.I.P. Rupert Neve….
Music just wouldn't sound the way it does without your genius!
You brought the Magic…. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/JN2pQTcg8E
— Julian Lennon (@JulianLennon) February 14, 2021
Abbey Road Studios has a long and proud history recording with equipment that bears Rupert Neve’s name, dating back to the EMI Neve console of the mid-1970s, and we are very saddened to hear of his passing. His name will continue to epitomise audio excellence. pic.twitter.com/YcDZhUogAg
— Abbey Road Studios (@AbbeyRoad) February 14, 2021
Very few people can claim to have changed the way we hear music. @Rupert_Neve was one of them.
His pioneering work pushed the art & science of recording, introducing one innovation after another, setting the bar for excellency in sound – the “Neve” sound.
Thank you, Rupert. pic.twitter.com/o4y06a6iU8
— Guitar Center (@guitarcenter) February 13, 2021
Rest in the Sound @Rupert_Neve .
— Garbage (@garbage) February 13, 2021
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