Ethan James

Who was Ethan James?

Ethan James was a musician, record producer, and recording engineer best known for his work on the Minutemen's seminal album Double Nickels on the Dime. He also produced and engineered albums for such acts as Black Flag, The Bangles, Rain Parade, Dos, and many others. Many of these recordings were undertaken at Radio Tokyo Studio, the recording facility he founded in the early 1980s.

Under his real name, he was a member of the heavy metal band Blue Cheer not long after they released their hit cover of "Summertime Blues". He was considered a master of the hurdy gurdy, a medieval instrument, and was also noted for playing the symphonium. He returned to performing in 1989. He performed with the San Francisco Mozart Festival Orchestra, among others.

James died of complications from liver cancer in San Francisco at the age of 56.