I met Mike on a Tinnitus board. I was newly afflicted with Tinnitus and was looking for support and answers on how to cope with this. Ringing , noise, in the ears. We are all told by specialist, "just learn to live with it". Mike can attest to being told this too. 
Mike was in the music industry for years and his ears where his career for the sound he had to hear to make him the genious he was in the music industry. Sadly this more then likely gave him extreme tinnitus. It is something very hard to cope with, although Mike was one who learned to live with it as we all do and drown it out to make the music he made sound so incredibly superior.

I was a no body from Ontario Canada.  I was searching for help out of sheer fear of what was newly going on with me. At first I thought I was going to go crazy with it. Nothing can get rid of it and it takes a long time to get used to it. Peace is something us Tinnitus sufferers never ever get again. Mike was who he was, larger then life in who he was and what he did, and I was just someone in Canada who was a hair stylist. On the Tinnitus Board Mike replyed to many of my posts in genuine empathy toward what I was going through. He gave me answers and hope that I will learn to live with it. We formed a friendship over this Tinnitus through the board and I could tell what a great guy he was. Not only was music his passion but his concern over people even us no bodies ;)
In the early days, Mike helped me hang on and was an inspiration being in his industry and being able to over come the Tinnitus he had.

We were worlds apart however in the time I knew Mike, I was blessed by knowing him. It has sadden me beyond finding out recently of his passing. I am shocked, sadden, and wondering "why?"
Perhaps if I still was in contact with him, I too could have talked him into sticking around the way he did me years ago.

I wish I had answers as this is quite shocking and I am so removed from his circle of friends that I may never really know what happened.. I genuinly cared about him as the person he was. A kind soul.
If I could get some answers as to what he was going through or what demons he was fighting it sure would give me closure. Mike shared a lot with me in our conversations about Tinnitus and just life itself.I could tell he would be a true friend to anyone who knew him.
I can be reached at bethannekeep@yahoo.ca   Should anyone be able to give me closure on this dear fellow.
Thank You and Mike, now you have total peace :)
Rest my friend.
Bethanne Keep 

As a kid I was completely enamored with this guy. I had no idea what it was he actually did or why I gravitated to the albums he made. Later as I pursued this line of work more seriously I began to discover what I loved about it. Years later we became "on-line buddies" and talked endlessly about music and studio stuff. Totally blew my mind! Not only was I talking to a peer in this profession but he happened to be one of MY heroes!!

Fast forward to January 2007 and he mysteriously appeared at my studio after a NAMM show. The first thing I said was "I've made a career of ripping-off your style". He thought it was hilarious and took it as a compliment. We became fast friends and spoke pretty much every day since, either by phone of text.

He just called me last Thursday night and was really excited about a project we were to begin soon. He said he had to head back to Nashville to finish a few overdubs and incidentals with Keith Urban then back to LA to work on our project. It's all just confusing. A little too close to home. He was someone who always treated me as an equal. Never condescending. Always humble and self-effacing to a fault. Made me feel like we had parallel careers, when often I'd have to remind him "But dude, you're...umm...YOU!" What always stood out to me was this fire and passion he had for making music. It reminded me of that feeling I had when I first began pursing this life. It was a very childlike innocence that was amazing to witness. He was the farthest thing from jaded or curmudgeonly. It was like every album was his first!! Such a tragic loss. I will miss him terribly.

Mike had an amazing ability to concentrate intensely when working.  If I would make a comment during a mix, he would stop playback, look at me with his slightly annoyed look, answer the question and then start back on the mix with no distractions.  I can picture it now.

We were in New York working on an album and every week I would get my clothes to a fluff and fold place.  He just threw his away and bought new socks, etc., every week.   We just talked about this a few weeks ago...  Sigh.

I still order the dishes at Indian restaurants that he recommended.

As trivial as the last two items appear, they are important to me at this time.