Iconic Producer Michael Wagener (Metallica, Ozzy, Skid Row) Retires

If you read MetalSucks, then you almost certainly own some music on which Michael Wagener worked. The legendary German producer, mixer, and engineer was the original guitarist for Accept, and went to amass one of the most impressive resumés in hard rock and metal: he mixed Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Megadeth’s So Far, So Good… So What!, Ozzy Osbourne’s No More Tears, and Poison’s Look What the Cat Dragged In; produced and mixed Skid Row’s first two (i.e., best) albums; produced and/or mixed the first three Dokken albums; produced Extreme’s best album, Pornograffitti; and produced and/or mixed albums by Alice Cooper, Testament, King’s X, Overkill, W.A.S.P., HammerFall… the list goes on and on (and on and on and on). Shit, he even worked on Janet Jackson’s “Black Cat,” which remains one of the best hair metal songs ever made by a non-hair metal artist.

“Yeah yeah, we know who Michael Wagener is,” I hear you say. “What about him?”

Right. Well. Yesterday, April 25, Mr. Wagener turned 72… and he celebrated his birthday by announcing that he’s getting out of the game:

“Hello everybody.

“I have now been active in the music business for over 50 years and I think it’s time to retire and get out and catch up on some vacations. I have sold the studio and Double Trouble Productions does no longer exist as an official company.

“I had an amazing time and met a ton of wonderful people and I am thankful for having been able to work with such great musicians and create such wonderful music.

“Now it’s time to see some more of the world.

“This site will eventually disappear. No more mixes, productions and workshops. The studio has been sold and except for some guitars, amps and minimal studio gear there is not much left here.

“I want to thank you all for allowing me to live a great life and to do what I love. I am looking at a future of lots of traveling; it has been a great trip so far.”

Wagener certainly carved out a legacy for himself; if anyone deserves to sit back, relax, and enjoy their autumnal years, it’s him. Make sure you honor the man’s incredible body of work by rocking out to some of his incredible body of work by rocking out to some of his discography today. Here, I’ll get the ball rolling…