LEGENDARY RUSH, QUEENSRŸCHE PRODUCER PETER COLLINS HAS PASSED AWAY

Legendary Producer Peter Collins has passed away at age 73.

Rush posted of Collins' passing on their Instagram page, saying: "Peter Collins was our beloved producer for 4 albums. First on Power Windows ('85),then Hold Your Fire('87),Counterparts ('93) and Test For Echo ('96). We loved seeing him in Nashville when we came through on tour. He had a mischievous, beaming smile and great sense of humour. He will be so missed…. RIP Mr. Big".

Rush bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee added: "So sad to hear of the passing of Peter Collins. A dear, dear friend and producer of 4 different Rush albums. During periods in the 80's and 90's we had some incredible musical adventures together, in various studios across the globe. He truly was our Mr. Big… with his ever present cigar and constant good humour. After hitting the record button, I can still hear him say 'OK boys, from the topping … no stopping!'

"We love ya B, rest in peace and thank you from the bottom of our hearts."

In 1991, he produced Alice Cooper's Hey Stoopid album, which peaked at No. 47 on the Billboard 200 and was the follow-up to the Desmond Child produced Trash album. He also produced the albums Queensrÿche Operation: Mindcrime, Empire (No. 7 on the Billboard 200) and Hear in the Now Frontier. For a time, Collins was referred to as "Mr Big".

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