Hyde Street Studios

UNUSUAL TASTES

Gluttons for maintenance punishment, the studio acquired a left-handed Trident B-Range console for Studio D. The Trident was found to be a source of constant trouble and expense. Eventually these consoles were replaced with more cooperational equipment, including a 48x48 Amek 2500, a 40x16x34 API and the recently installed Neve 8048 in Studio A. Additionally, Alexander's large collection of vintage tube microphones, tube compressors and other exotic gear gave the studio an edge over local competition.

Under the new ownership, the studio's patrons have included artists Joe Satriani, Blue Oyster Cult, the Dead Kennedys, Leon Redbone, Ronnie Montrose, Chris Isaak and Robert Cray, and producers Sandy Pearlman, Steve Brown, Mak Senasac, Eric Jacobson and this author.
Tom Sharples left the partnership in 1985 to head up R & D for Otari America. Ward and Alexander later divided the studios, with Alexander taking Studio C and Ward keeping the rest of the building and the Hyde Street name.

In 1986 Alexander leased Studio C to Sandy Pearlman, who ran it as Alpha & Omega Studio until 1991. Pearlman used it for his own projects, including those on his short-lived MCA-distributed label Popular Metaphysics, and also sub-leased it to other producers and artists. Ward kept control of his studios, except for a brief sublease of Studio A to a producer who ran it as Power Stroke Studios, catering to early heavy metal and thrash acts.

Today Michael Ward continues to operate Studios A and D while leasing out Studio C to Justin Phelps. A dozen or more other rooms in the building are being leased out to individuals and/or businesses as well, all making music. In fact, the building at 245 Hyde street is still a beehive of activity and has the same dedication to making exceptional sounding recordings as their esteemed predecessor who had so influenced the musical community over 36 years ago.

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