Metallica’s Sound Engineer To Host Seminar And Q&A at Glyndŵr University

Metallica’s live sound engineer is to lead a seminar at Glyndŵr University discussing his 30-year career on the road with the American heavy metal band.

‘Big’ Mick Hughes, who has worked for the group since 1984, will host ‘Mixing Metallica’ at the Wrexham institution from 1pm to 4pm on Friday December 4th.

The event will see him discuss his career, his long-running relationship with Metallica and his innovative approach to mixing, developed working as front-of house engineer at more than 1,500 of the band’s shows.

The seminar is part of Meyer Sound’s Education series and has been brought to Wrexham with the help of Glyndŵr University graduate John Owen Jones.

John, who studied studio recording and performance technology, now runs a live production rental company and has established a relationship with the company, which manufactures professional audio equipment.

John said: “Big Mick Hughes is a world renowned figure in the audio engineering industry and we’re very lucky to be able to welcome him here to Wrexham.

“He brings with him a huge amount of knowledge and expertise from his work with Metallica through to his experience of mixing Led Zeppelin’s 2007 reunion concert in London.”

Other bands and artists Mick Hughes has worked with include UB40, Queens of the Stone Age and Def Leppard.

His talk is expected to last three hours, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

The Wrexham seminar is one of only three UK seminars being led by Mick Hughes, following Oxford and Liverpool earlier the same week.

“The event will be particularly useful for students and audio engineering professionals,” added John. “But anyone with an interest in hearing about Mick’s career is welcome to attend.”

Other Meyer Sound events hosted by Glyndŵr University in the past include talks by Luciano Pavarotti’s sound director, John Pellowe and one time Pink Floyd’s front of house engineer, Buford Jones.

‘Big Mick Hughes – Mixing Metallica’ takes place in the Nick Whitehead Theatre, Glyndŵr University Wrexham, on Friday December 4. The seminar is free to attend and starts at 1pm, estimated to finish around 5pm.


To reserve a place, please visit the Meyer Sound website.