We are just now getting the news that recording engineer Jeff "Critter" Newell passed away on December 31, 2011. For those who were familiar with Chicago's Wax Trax/industrial scene, Critter was a constant fixture and recognizable face on the scene, engineering albums by Ministry, Skinny Puppy and others.
15 years ago, he relocated to Los Angeles and was most recently noted for producing Blink 182's reunion album, Neighborhoods, after working extensively with Blink 182 frontman Tom DeLonge on his Angels & Airwaves project.
Newell was 45.