John Leimseider — a 1970 Staples High School graduate, who went on to play with Iron Butterfly, then became one of the world’s leading electronic instrument and equipment technicians — has died. He was 66.
At Staples, Leimseider was a member of the legendary band Smoke. They still get together, and play at class reunions.
This story was posted on the CBC website. Leimseider worked in Calgary as the National Music Centre’s electronics technician since 2002. The CBC story quotes the NMC:
He was an incredibly kind, talented and gifted person. He was one of the world’s most sought-after electronic instrument and equipment technicians who had serviced instruments for many of the most celebrated musicians of our time. Throughout his 40-year career, he was a mentor to countless technicians, engineers and musicians.
John Leimseider (Photo/Allison Dempster for CBC)
According to the CBC, in 2015, Leimseider restored a legendary mobile recording studio that was owned by The Rolling Stones.
Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac and David Bowie, and many other artists, made music with the recording equipment.
Leimseider spent decades as a musician in Los Angeles. In the late ’70s and early ’80s he was a keyboard player for the psychedelic rock band Iron Butterfly.
He also recently restored The Original New Timbral Orchestra — one of the world’s largest analog synthesizers — for the NMC.
Leimseider is survived by his wife Laura, his son Noah and daughter Zoë.
(For the full CBC story, click here. Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
