Died On This Date (December 31, 2011) Jeff “Critter” Newell / Respected Studio Engineer
themusicsover Jeff Newell
March 26, 1966 – December 31, 2011
Jeff “Critter” Newell was a self-taught recording studio engineer who first built a name for himself when he was working at the influential Chicago Trax Studio which played a pivotal role in the growth of the city’s underground industrial scene. He eventually relocated to Studio City, California. Over the course of his career, Newell worked on releases by the likes of Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Angels & Airwaves, Guns N’ Roses, and Blink-182. Jeff Newell was 45 when he passed away on December 31, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Sandy Skeeter from Sound City Studios for the assist.
DJ AM first came to prominence in the late ’90s rock band, Crazy Town, whose “Butterfly” was a radio hit in 2001. A popular DJ with celebrities, he’s been known to play parties for the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna and Will Smith. In recent years DJ AM was collaborating with Travis Barker of Blink 182. The two survived a horrific private plane crash on September 19, 2008 while four others were killed. In 2005, DJ AM was engaged to Nicole Richie but the engagement was later called off. Adam Goldstein was found dead in his New York apartment on August 28, 2009. The coroner’s report later made public that Goldstein died of acute intoxication, or accidental overdose of various drugs including cocaine, Xanax and OxyContin.
Jerry Finn was a well-respected producer who lent his talents to a who’s who of alternative rock, artists like Blink-182, Green Day, Sum 41, AFI, Rancid, the Offspring, Morrissey, Alkaline Trio and many others. While working on a Morrissey release in July of 2008, Finn suffered a massive brain hemmorage. Never regaining consciousness, he was taken off life support on August 9 and passed away twelve days later. He was just 39.