Steve Brown (record producer)

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Steve Brown (born 16 January 1955, Edgware, north London, England) started his career in the music industry with Elton John, joining the band as drummer Nigel Olsen's personal road manager. Steve, on occasions, met Gus Dudgeon Elton’s producer and was given the opportunity to sit in on mixing sessions at Trident studios London. This lead to Steve applying for a studio job at Phonogram (now Universal) and on the 25th September 1972 started work, alongside ex-schoolfriend Steve Lillywhite at Phonogram's Marble Arch studios. Steve was quickly promoted to Recording Engineer and worked with artists such as Roy Wood's Wizzard, Thin Lizzy, Status Quo, Dire Straits and many more . . (please see [www.stevebrown.info]).

Phonogram A&R managers Nigel Grainge, Chris Briggs and Alan Cowderoy fed Steve with minor productions until he hit with ABC's "Tears are not Enough". This lead to recognition from artist George Michael and Steve went on to produce George Michael's debut Wham! Album an international best seller.

Inundated with demands to produce pop music for all the other major labels Brown took a back seat not understanding why he should produce the competition to his already spectacular 80s pop act. Brown set off to seek a hit rock act.

Having engineered some of Britain’s finest heavy guitar acts Brown found it very difficult to get back into the world of rock as a producer of the hottest pop act in the world. He approaches many of his old contacts but none of them would trust him with their production. One afternoon while hanging out in the offices of agent John Giddings Brown happened upon a demo of a band called The Southern Death Cult. He slipped the tape surreptitiously into his pocket and made for the studio. TBC