"Troublesome Production: Dave Meegan Battles Equipment Malfunctions to Complete Marillion's Afraid Of Sunlight Album"
Dave Meegan, the producer and mixer behind some of Marillion's most iconic albums, has shared insights into his working relationship with the British rock band.
Meegan's journey with Marillion began in 1983, when he served as the tape op for their album "Fugazi." This marked the start of a creative partnership that would span over two decades.
One of Meegan's most challenging projects was the production of Marillion's album "Brave," which was released during a period when the band was fronted by Steve Hogarth. The work on "Brave" was particularly demanding due to an anxious EMI A&R man who was eager to see quick and cheap results.
Meegan faced numerous technical issues during the recording and mixing of the album's problematic song, Out Of This World. The song was plagued by dropouts, disks failing, and equipment malfunctions. Despite these setbacks, Meegan's perseverance resulted in some tracks that would never have happened without that experience.
The album "Brave" was a great experiment, but Meegan believes it was certainly not to be repeated. In contrast, his work on the album "Afraid Of Sunlight," completed in a thrifty three months, was a more satisfying experience.
Initially, Meegan did not think Marillion and the team had fully delivered with the 1995 album Afraid Of Sunlight. However, over time he came to love the release while still being glad he hadn't liked it at first. Meegan believes his realization of how good Afraid Of Sunlight was after the remastering in 1999 allowed him to stop working on a creative high.
Meegan pushed to include both tracks Afraid Of Sunrise and Afraid Of Sunlight on the album, believing that using the same lyric part across both songs ties the album together. This decision proved to be a successful one, as the tracks have become fan favourites.
Meegan's work with Marillion helped the band develop a method of working that they still use today. This method involves jamming, writing, and distilling recorded elements into songs. Meegan describes Marillion as "jazz" musicians after the Brave tour, due to their improvisational approach and ability to adapt to new situations.
After completing work on Afraid Of Sunlight, Meegan decided to step away from the music industry. He has a diagnosis of autism, which he believes helped him in his work with Marillion. However, he felt that his unique perspective was no longer needed, and he chose to retire from the music industry.
Meegan's contributions to Marillion's discography are undeniable. He produced the albums "Brave," "Afraid Of Sunlight," "Anoraknophobia," "Marbles," and mixed "This Strange Engine." His work with the band helped shape their sound and cement their place in the annals of British rock history.
