Martin Birch

The veteran producer responsible for working on vitally important albums for bands including Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash, Fleetwood Mac and Blue Öyster Cult has died at the age of 71 of undisclosed causes.

The news was confirmed on Twitter by Whitesnake vocalist David Coverdale, who said: “It is with a very heavy heart I’ve just had in 1973] through until [1984]. My thoughts and prayers go to his family, friends and fans.”