I just heard we lost another great within our industry.
Tony Arnold, the man who singled handedly brought Helios back from the grave has passed.
He was a true gentleman, who lived and breathed this biz, every damn day.
What wonderful stories he used to tell me about recording in the UK in the early 60's, 70's, 80's, and on.
Amazing stuff.
It was a true privilege to know the man.
RIP my friend, I'm gonna really miss those long TransAtlantic phone calls...
Sad news.
I had an interesting back and forth email exchange with him about 20 years ago when I owned some original Helios 69 modules. Some of his Raindirk stuff was fantastic too,.
RIP Tony. Big fan of Helios and the threads here on Gearslutz which he posted in are some of my favourite reads. He seemed like a genuine and kind person.
So sad. From the age of 16 when I first went to his studio in Parkstone, Poole, to record in the 1970s, Tony was my musical guru, mentor and lifelong inspiration. His legacy will live forever through the thousands of people he inspired, made laugh and educated. Rest in Peace, you master of men, and thank you Tone.
I had not heard from the great Tony in a while, so I thought there might have been sad news. I wanted to let him know my aunt who he grew up with in Kinson in Bournemouth, had died a couple of weeks ago. He was a real nice man & when we last met in 2011, gave some music from the great Rory Gallagher. I know it was a long while ago now that he passed on & this is a bit late, but yes RIP Tony. Glen.
I last talked with Tony in May of 2017 when he wanted me to serve as a middle man on a guitar transaction. He was selling one of his precious vintage Gibson guitars and I felt it must have signaled a turning point in his life. We had been friends since I hosted him using my studio in Texas for 6 weeks back in β87. I learned so much audio from him even after having been in the studio business for over ten years! He had such great passion and experience. In six weeks he pushed me to a new level.
Damn it! I hate growing old! RIP my friend.
Last edited by dbbubba; 21st December 2019 at 05:52 PM..
This year, in the fall, I made a pilgrimage to pay my respects at the site of Tony's first studio in Parkstone, 'Arny's Shack', where I first met him, recorded with him and started learning so much from him. I was very happy to find (I haven't been there for decades) that it is still a music studio. I think he would be pleased too. Obviously the strength of the music vibes (and anyone who knew him knew how much 'vibes' meant to him in recording music) that he left behind were too strong to let the premises be used for anything else.
A truly sad loss. Arny was one of a kind. He recorded 2 albums for me "Rother Valley - Country Reflections" AS002 and "Moonshine - 100% Moonshine" AS050.
He sold me his 6-string Glen Campbell Ovation and his 12-string Ovation. He never would part with his gut-string. He lives on in his music. Derek Brown.
Ohhh I lost contact with him during his hospital stay, his wife wrote to me back then,
I did not know it was this serious.
I tried to write him many times since....
Now I know why he did not write back π