Dan Achen — producer, musician, friend, father — passed away after suffering a heart attack on March 15, 2010.
CHARTattack was the first to post a bunch of reasons Dan Achen was awesome… and there are so many more. Check out Eleven Reasons Dan Achen Was Cool.
Amanda Zelina (aka The Coppertone) wrote a heartfelt blog post about Dan. Read it here: myspace.com/thecoppertone.
UPDATE: Dan’s obituary and funeral details can be found here.
We love you Dan.
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Dan.. You made a huge difference in my life. R.I.P.
I worked at Catherine North as an engineer a few times. Dan was a great guy, genuinely enthusiastic about music and the people making it. I’ll miss you Dan, you’re gone way too soon.
I am saddened to hear of Dan’s passing. I had the opportunity to work with Dan on Jack Callous’ album, Medicine Avenue at Catherine North.
Dan was a great guitar player, had a wonderful ear, but most of all, a gentleman and he will be missed. Please let me know if a memorial will be planned in Dan’s honor.
Thanks,
Adam Beres
Welland, ON
i’m glad we had the opportunity to work with dan on our last album. we’ll miss you!
forever in my thoughts…….
I wish to express my heartfelt condolences to Dan’s family and friends. His passing is a great loss for the musical community of Hamilton.
Dan, you made me realise what i want to do with my life and which direction to go in. The impact you made on me was huge.
I’ll miss you.
Good bye Dan
Dan, I am so sorry we didn’t finish our last project together. Being in your presence was always so motivational. You opened my eyes to a new way to make music. I will forever miss you. Goodnight Dan.
I was so shocked and saddened to hear of Dan’s passing. I had the pleasure of meeting him on quite a few occassions and he was such a nice, sincere man. He was a great role model for so many and had an incredible impact on the Hamilton music scene. I know it’s early still, but I hope to hear of a tribute or benefit show to be held in his honour. If anyone is looking to set something like this up and needs help in organizing, please let me know as I’d be happy to do anything I can.
Dan was a great friend and Producer, I admired his passion towards the Studio, vintage guitars and his boy.
My sincere condolences to his family
Gone to soon my friend…
Dan and I worked very closely for some time from the start to finish on an album. He brought out things from me I didn’t know were there. Dan mastered creating The Catherine North Sound. Most definately heard things that normal humans do not. I don’t believe you will ever leave that studio Dan, you will always be there and a huge part of my life forever.
My heart goes out to your wonderful boy Riley, the apple of your eye.
you are so missed
CAN’T BELIVE THE SAD NEWS, TOTAL SHOCK !!
WE ONLY MET YOU LAST YEAR DAN WHILST WORKING IN YOUR MAGNIFICENT STUDIO, YOU WERE A TOP FELLA’ AND MADE US FEEL MOST WELCOME, WE’VE ALWAYS STAYED IN CONTACT IN SOME WAY OR FORM AND WE FELT LIKE WE’D KNOWN YOU FOR YEARS, YOU PLAYED SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN FINDING US A REPLACEMENT IN FRONT MAN MIKEY D, AND WE WILL ALWAYS BE ETERNALLY GREATFUL, WE WILL GENUINELY MISS YOUR PRESCENCE MY FRIEND.
CONDOLANCES TO DAN’S FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
PEACE & LOVE
THE HIPPYMAFIA. XXX
Dan…thanks for the Thai food, and all the advice. You’ll be missed.
We here at MONEY ON THE DEAD all grieve Dan Achen’s passing.
He produced our first album and was a constant source of
encouragement to us.
Thank you Dan and peace!!
I first met Dan when I was learning to play guitar. He helped me get my first job at Rogers which we worked together. We used to skip off work and jam and talk about vintage guitars He was a great guy and will be missed. God is with him now……… and forever.
Thanks Dan for the memories.
Matt Dopko
Words cannot convey our sense of deep loss.
Dan – Thanks for taking Andreas under your musical wings for such a brief period of time. The loss is immeasurable. It seems we were just getting to know you beyond simply, “Riley’s Dad”.
Andreas & Riley had the best club house ever!
Jeff
So long to a wonderful man. Hoping to find details on funeral arrangements. God bless Judy and Riley.
It’s very sad to hear of Dan’s passing. I worked with Dan back in the ole days of the Guitar Clinic. Dan obviosuly had a passion for music and the drive to seek out “the sound”. I will always remember how Dan had the time to help out my punk band with producing some demo tracks probably 15+ years ago for the original Hamilton Music Scene compilation.
My deepest condolences to Judy and Riley.
I had the privilege of interning at Catherine North studios a couple of years ago. Dan was a great guy. He was always willing to work around the hectic schedule of my day job to let me come in and work on projects in his fantastic studio. Only a great guy would go out of their way to do that. I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity he gave me and to have known him.
You taught me a lot Dan. Thank you so much. I will never forget you.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
A prayer(inspired by a Junkhouse tune which has been used to pay tribute to Dan Achen’s loss and legacy) . . .
Dear Dan, dear landlord, dear friend,
I have gone through a few phases of grief since your passing including denial, anger and fear. I remain somewhat serene and peaceful with the idea that you are right here listening when I speak to you in my “prayers” without judging me or anything. Dan, I hardly knew you but it feels like I knew you for a long time and your departure is having a huge impact on me. Strangely, your passing feels like the beginning of a relationship rather than the end to one. As I begin to discover your “universe”, your “temple”(Catherine North Studio) and your “musicians”, the ones who were inspired/guided by you, the ones who loved you, I choose to transform your loss into “my gain”. I ask that you take me under your “angelic wings” and accompany me as I move forward with those musical projects/dreams I told you about. . . May your loved ones who survive you find a way to keep your spirit alive and find the strength and courage to transform the loss of you , and find ways to make your spirit and legacy live on . . .
I met Dan only once 2 summers ago when I was out east from Edmonton. I was searching for not only a top notch studio, but a great staff with the abilty to connect with a band like no other, for an upcoming EP project we were gearing up to record. Dan was THAT producer. No other I had met with seemed to fit. Unfortunately we never made the record in Hamilton due to our band spliting at the last second, however I always hoped to work alongside him eventually. Your time came too soon and I wish we had the chance to make a magical record together.
Take care friend and rest in peace.
Even though i didn’t know Dan for very long, I’m grateful for the few days i got to. He was really an amazing and passionate guy that i really looked up to and overall a really cool person to talk to. In my eyes he lived an amazing life.
I was very lucky to have the privilege of recording with Dan on a few different occasions! Dan’s knowledge of sound and gear was highly professional. The workmanship and quality of my final product proved one thing to me,……he really loved music!
A great ear for music may be lost, but his work is archived for ever!
Inside and Drifter will miss you Dan!
Woah!!! Didnt know about this! Dan showed me around the studio a bunch of times, as I got some drums tracked to 2 inch. Super great guy. He will be missed. But you know hes up there surrounded by API and loving life! Thanks for making my Twitchcraft single, better than it could have been on its own.
we jammed in 1979 in a friends basement in regina sask all the time plus played hockey together we were the 3D line Dan Dave Dale.they were fun times. miss you Dan.
Happy Birthday today Dan. All of your friends and relatives miss you, your “craziness” and your energy and single minded vision to make Catherine North Studios the very best place for emerging stars to record their music.
Rest easy Bro.
Norm