Tributes are flowing for Rick “Soldier” Will, the three-time Grammy Award nominated producer and sound engineer who died last weekend from a suspected heart attack. According to unconfirmed reports, he was 52.
A native of Milford, Ohio, Will put down roots in Sydney, Australia, where he worked with many greats in the rock music scene, from Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel, Boy & Bear and others.
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Across a studio career spanning four decades, Will had credits on more than 350 records with the cream of rock and blues, including Nine Inch Nails, Thom Yorke, No Doubt, Ben Harper, T Bone Burnett and Incubus, the latter partnership earning a Grammy nomination in 2020 for “Morning View” (Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical).
Legendary Cold Chisel frontman Jimmy Barnes worked with Will on Heat, Two Fires, and Last Wave of Summer. The late music maker was “one of the best sound engineers and the most gentle, sweet guys you’d ever meet,” Barnes recalls.
U.K.-based metal band Skindred recount Rick as “an incredibly talented musician, producer, mixer and engineer. Most importantly he was our friend,” while ARIA Award-winning Australian band Boy & Bear thanked the Will for “the love, talent and humour” he brought to their EP, With Emperor Antarctica.
“Rick was humble,” comments Michael Taylor, Managing Director of Universal Music Australia, in a statement to Billboard. “Many people he worked with didn’t know they were in a room with one of the best engineers in the business – multiple Grammy nominations, ARIA awards, multi-platinum records. And Rick preferred it this way – it kept the team approach and the super positive attitude he wanted in the studio when working…that anything is possible.”
Will leaves behind two sons, Oskar and Olly.
RIP Rick Will. We made beautiful records together. Rick engineered on Heat, Two Fires, Last Wave of Summer. He was one of the best sound engineers and the most gentle, sweet guys you’d ever meet. Rest well my friend pic.twitter.com/VzLNekTIVw
— Jimmy Barnes (@JimmyBarnes) January 24, 2021
Vale Rick Will. A great producer/engineer who played a key role in The Last Wave Of Summer and Ringside.
Respect! pic.twitter.com/KiMbpjwCoR— Cold Chisel (@coldchisel) January 26, 2021
RIP Rick Will. Rick was an incredibly talented Musician, Producer, Mixer and engineer. Most importantly he was our friend. He mixed both Babylon and Roots Rock Riot for us. The music he made will live on forever and our hearts go out to his family and friends. Rest in Power x pic.twitter.com/jYYONVgxCu
— Skindred (@Skindredmusic) January 24, 2021
Vale Rick Will, a good hearted, kind man. I had a studio across the hall from Rick when I was making Sea Of Approval and shared with me studio wisdom, anecdotes and a swag of cracked plugins- but most of all he gave genuine kindness. I am very sad to hear of his passing. https://t.co/UE5zwWgwjw
— Andy Bull (@Andy_Bull) January 26, 2021
