Kevin Shirley

Kevin Shirley (born 1960), also known as The Caveman, is a South African music producer, engineer, audio mixer, and musician. He has produced music for many artists, including Silverchair, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Angels, and Cold Chisel. As of 2023 he is a musician in Jimmy Barnes' supergroup, releasing a self-titled album in 2023.

Kevin Shirley
Also known as	The Caveman
Born	29 June 1960 (1960-06-29) (age 65) Johannesburg, South Africa
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal,[1] rock & roll
Years active	1970s–present

Early life and education

Kevin John Shirley was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.^[2]

Career

Shirley spent his early years producing and engineering records for South African artists including Robin Auld, Juluka, Jonathan Butler, Lesley Rae Dowling, Steve Louw, and Sweatband, as well as performing and recording with his own band The Council,^[2][3] whose singer was Brian Davidson (from Freedoms Children).^[3]

He moved to Australia in 1986, where he continued working with Australian artists, such as The Hoodoo Gurus, The Angels, Cold Chisel, Girl Monstar, Tina Arena, The Screaming Jets, Baby Animals. After producing Silverchair's debut album Frogstomp, he moved to the United States.

In the US and he produced work for Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Journey, The Black Crowes, Iron Maiden, Rush, and Slayer. He also worked on the retrospective Led Zeppelin DVD. He has produced several albums for American blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa. Shirley produced the Mr. Big album What If....^[4]

In March 2023, Jimmy Barnes announced the formation of supergroup The Barnestormers, featuring Barnes, Chris Cheney, Slim Jim Phantom, Jools Holland, and Kevin Shirley. A self-titled album was released on 26 May 2023.^[5]

Shirley produced Elly-May Barnes' first solo single,^[6] a cover of the Radiohead song "Creep", released on 20 November 2023.^[7] He is described as a "dear friend", and is credited as a musician her first album, No Good, released in April 2024.^[6]

Other groups

Shirley has also produced music for The Black Crowes, Journey, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Rush, Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Dream Theater, Jimmy Barnes, Cold Chisel, Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Springbok Nude Girls, All Night Radio,^[8][9] Steve Louw & Big Sky,^[10][11][12] HIM,^[13] Mr. Big,^[14] and Europe.^[15]

Selected discography

Year	Album details	Role	Source
1984	The Council — Rising Release date: 1984 Label: Mountain Records	Guitarist, production, engineering	[2][3]
1986	All Night Radio — The Killing Floor Release date: November 1986 (South Africa) Release date: May 1987 (Australia) Label: Previous Records	Production, engineering, mixing	[8][9]
1988	Tony Johns — The Way I Live Rock City Promotions PTY. LTD. Confidential Records.	Production, Engineering, mixing
1990	Winston Mankunku Ngozi — Crossroads Label: Pro-Arte Records	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][17]
	The Black Crowes — Shake Your Money Maker Release date: February 1990 Label: Def American	Re-mix for Sho'Nuff boxset	[18]
	Big Sky — Waiting for the Dawn Release date: August 1990 Label: Gallo Records	Production, engineering, composer	[19][11]
	Lime Spiders — Beethoven's Fist Release date: 17 October 1990 Label: Virgin Records	Engineering, production	[20]
1991	Peter Wells — Everything You Like Tries to Kill You Label: Zoo Entertainment	Production, engineering mixing	[16][21]
1992	Baby Animals — Baby Animals Release date: February 1992 Label: Imago	Engineering	[22]
	The Black Crowes — The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion Release date: 12 May 1992 Label: Def American	Re-mix for Sho'Nuff boxset	[23]
1993	Billy Squier — Tell the Truth Release date: 27 April 1993 Label: Capitol	Engineering, mixing	[24]
	Rush — Counterparts Release date: 19 October 1993 Label: Atlantic/Anthem	Engineering	[25]
1994	Olivia Newton-John — Gaia: One Woman's Journey Label: Festival	Mixing	[26]
	Material Issue — Freak City Soundtrack Release date: 8 March 1994 Label: Mercury	Engineering, mixing	[16][27]
1995	Silverchair — Frogstomp Release date: 27 March 1995 Label: Murmur	Production, engineering, mixing	[28]
	Ammonia — Mint 400 Release date: 16 October 1995 Label: Murmur/Epic	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][29]
1996	Hoodoo Gurus — Blue Cave Release date: May 1996 Label: Mushroom/True North/Zoo	Mixing	[30]
	Divinyls — Underworld Release date: 11 November 1996 Label: BMG	Engineering, mixing	[16][31]
	Journey — Trial by Fire Release date: 22 November 1996 Label: Columbia	Production, engineering, mixing	[32]
1997	Aerosmith — Nine Lives Release date: 18 March 1997 Label: Columbia	Production, engineering, mixing	[33]
	Dream Theater — Falling into Infinity Release date: 23 September 1997 Label: EastWest	Production, engineering, mixing	[34]
	Jackyl — Cut the Crap Release date: 14 October 1997 Label: Epic	Mixing	[35]
1998	The Angels — Skin & Bone Release date: March 1998 Label: Liberation Music	Mixing	[36]
	Liquid Tension Experiment — Liquid Tension Experiment Release date: 10 March 1998 Label: Magna Carta	Mixing	[37]
	Journey — Greatest Hits Live Release date: 24 March 1998 Label: Columbia	Production, mixing	[38]
	Rocket from the Crypt — RFTC Release date: 2 June 1998 Label: Interscope	Production, engineering, mixing	[39]
	Cold Chisel — The Last Wave of Summer Release date: 25 August 1998 Label: Mushroom	Mixing	[40]
	Dream Theater — Once in a LIVEtime Release date: 27 October 1998 Label: EastWest	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][41]
1999	The Black Crowes — By Your Side Release date: 12 January 1999 Label: Columbia	Production, engineering, mixing	[42]
	Silverchair — Neon Ballroom Release date: 8 March 1999 Label: Sony/Murmur	Mixing	[43]
	Buck-O-Nine — Libido Release date: 16 March 1999 Label: TVT	Mixing	[44]
	Liquid Tension Experiment — Liquid Tension Experiment 2 Release date: 15 June 1999 Label: Magna Carta	Mixing	[45]
	Amanda Marshall — Tuesday's Child Release date: 22 June 1999 Label: Sony/Epic	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][46]
	doubleDrive — 1000 Yard Stare Release date: 17 August 1999 Label: MCA	Mixing	[47]
	Our Lady Peace — Happiness... Is Not a Fish That You Can Catch Release date: 21 September 1999 Label: Columbia	Mixing	[48]
	Big Sky — Best of the Decade Release date: 4 October 1999 Label: Epic	Production: compilation Production, engineering, mixing: "Destiny", "Skin Deep"	[49]
	Billionaire — Ascension Release date: 19 October 1999 Label: Slash	Mixing	[50]
	Dream Theater — Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes from a Memory Release date: 26 October 1999 Label: Elektra	Mixing (tracks 2-8, 11)	[51]
	Little Steven — Born Again Savage Release date: 30 November 1999 Label: Pachyderm	Mixing	[52]
2000	Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes — Live at the Greek Release date: 29 February 2000 Label: TVT	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][53]
	The Unband — Retarder Release date: 7 March 2000 Label: TVT	Mixing	[54]
	Joe Satriani — Engines of Creation Release date: 14 March 2000 Label: Epic	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][55]
	Iron Maiden — Brave New World Release date: 29 May 2000 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[56]
	Tidewater Grain — Here on the Outside Release date: 12 September 2000 Label: RuffNation	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][57]
2001	Journey — Arrival Release date: 3 April 2001 Label: Columbia	Production, engineering, mixing	[58]
	Bodyjar — How It Works Release date: 10 July 2001 Label: Capitol	Mixing	[59]
	HIM — Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights Release date: 27 August 2001 Label: BMG	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][60]
	Dream Theater — Live Scenes from New York Release date: 11 September 2001 Label: Elektra	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][61]
	SOiL — Scars Release date: 11 September 2001 Label: J	Mixing	[62]
2002	Silvertide — American Excess (EP) Label: J	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][63]
	Dream Theater — Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence Release date: 29 January 2002 Label: Elektra	Mixing	[64]
	Iron Maiden — Rock in Rio Release date: 25 March 2002 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[65]
	Neurotica — Neurotica Release date: 25 June 2002 Label: SmackDown!	Mixing	[66]
	Steve Louw & Big Sky — Beyond The Blue Release Date: 9 September 2002 Label: Sony	Production, engineering, mixing	[12][67]
	Lordi — Get Heavy Release date: 1 November 2002 Label: BMG Finland	Mixing	[68]
2003	Span — Mass Distraction Label: Interscope/Island	Mixing	[69]
	Led Zeppelin — How the West Was Won Release date: 27 May 2003 Label: Atlantic	Engineering, mixing	[70]
	Iron Maiden — Dance of Death Release date: 2 September 2003 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][71]
	Josh Ritter — Hello Starling Release date: 9 September 2003 Label: V2	Mixing	[72]
	Dream Theater — Train of Thought Release date: 11 November 2003 Label: Elektra	Mixing	[73]
2004	Silvertide — Show and Tell Release date: 8 June 2004 Label: J	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][74]
	Hurricane Party — Get This (EP) Release date: 10 August 2004 Label: Sanctuary	Mixing	[75]
	New York Dolls — The Return of the New York Dolls: Live from Royal Festival Hall, 2004 Release date: 28 September 2004 Label: Attack	Remixing	[76]
	Dream Theater — Live at Budokan Release date: 5 October 2004 Label: Atlantic	Mixing	[77]
2005	Josh Ritter — 4 Songs Live (EP) Release date: 22 February 2005 Label: V2	Mixing	[78]
	Oz Noy — Ha! Release date: 26 April 2005 Label: Magna Carta	Mixing	[79]
	Supagroup — Rules Release date: 31 May 2005 Label: Foodchain	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][80]
	After the Fall — Always Forever Now Release date: 21 August 2005 Label: Festival Mushroom	Mixing	[81]
	Iron Maiden — Death on the Road Release date: 30 August 2005 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[82]
2006	Soulphood — Liquid Dynamite Release date: 17 January 2006 Label: Rock Lord	Mixing	[83]
	Oliver Black — Live in Texas (EP) Release date: 21 March 2006 Label: TVT	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][84]
	Joe Bonamassa — You & Me Release date: 6 June 2006 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][85]
	Black Stone Cherry — Black Stone Cherry Release date: 18 July 2006 Label: Roadrunner	Mixing	[86]
	Iron Maiden — A Matter of Life and Death Release date: 28 August 2006 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[87]
2007	Kittie — Funeral for Yesterday Release date: 20 February 2007 Label: Merovingian	Mixing	[88]
	The Mooney Suzuki — Have Mercy Release date: 19 June 2007 Label: Elixia	Mixing	[89]
	Joe Bonamassa — Sloe Gin Release date: 21 August 2007 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][90]
	Oz Noy — Fuzzy Release date: 11 September 2007 Label: Magna Carta	Mixing	[91]
	Supagroup — Fire for Hire Release date: 25 September 2007 Label: Foodchain	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][92]
	Big Sky — Trancas Canyon Release date: April 2008 Label: Sony	Production, engineering, mixing	[93]
2008	Jordan Zevon — Insides Out Release date: 15 April 2008 Label: New West	Engineering, mixing	[16][94]
	Journey — Revelation Release date: 3 June 2008 Label: Nomota/Frontiers	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][95]
	Lauren Harris — Calm Before the Storm Release date: 10 June 2008 Label: Demolition	Mixing	[96]
	Joe Bonamassa — Live from Nowhere in Particular Release date: 19 August 2008 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][97]
	Dream Theater — Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 Release date: 22 October 2008 Label: Roadrunner	Mixing	[98]
2009	Joe Bonamassa — The Ballad of John Henry Release date: 24 February 2009 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][99]
	Iron Maiden — Flight 666 – The Original Soundtrack Release date: 22 May 2009 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[100]
	Joe Bonamassa — Live from the Royal Albert Hall Release date: 22 September 2009 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][101]
	Hollywood Undead — Desperate Measures Release date: 10 November 2009 Label: A&M/Octone	Mixing	[102]
2010	Joe Bonamassa — Black Rock Release date: 23 March 2010 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, photography	[16][103]
	Iron Maiden — The Final Frontier Release date: 13 August 2010 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][104]
	Black Country Communion — Black Country Release date: 20 September 2010 Label: Mascot/J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, lyricist, composer	[16][105]
	Mr. Big — What If... Release date: 15 December 2010 Label: Frontiers/Victor	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][106]
2011	Joe Bonamassa — Dust Bowl Release date: 22 March 2011 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer, photography	[16][107]
	Journey — Eclipse Release date: 23 May 2011 Label: Nomota/Frontiers	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][108]
	Black Country Communion — 2 Release date: 13 June 2011 Label: Mascot/J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer, liner notes	[16][109]
	John Hiatt — Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns Release date: 2 August 2011 Label: New West	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][110]
	Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa — Don't Explain Release date: 27 September 2011 Label: J&R Adventures/Mascot	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][111]
2012	Black Country Communion — Live Over Europe Release date: 27 February 2012 Label: Mascot/J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer, liner notes	[16][112]
	Iron Maiden — En Vivo! Release date: 23 March 2012 Label: EMI	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][113]
	Joe Bonamassa — Driving Towards the Daylight Release date: 22 May 2012 Label: J&R Adventures/Provogue	Production, engineering, mixing, guitar, tambourine, toy piano, cowbell, percussion	[16][114]
	Robert Cray Band — Nothin but Love Release date: 27 August 2012 Label: Provogue	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][115]
	Joe Bonamassa — Beacon Theatre: Live from New York Release date: 24 September 2012 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer, photography	[16][116]
	Steve Harris — British Lion Release date: 24 September 2012 Label: EMI	Mixing	[117]
	John Hiatt — Mystic Pinball Release date: 25 September 2012 Label: New West	Production, engineering, mixing	[118]
	Beth Hart — Bang Bang Boom Boom Release date: 16 October 2012 Label: Provogue/Mascot	Production, engineering, mixing	[16][119]
	Black Country Communion — Afterglow Release date: 29 October 2012 Label: Mascot/J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer	[16][120]
2013	Joe Bonamassa — An Acoustic Evening at the Vienna Opera House Release date: 25 March 2013 Label: J&R Adventures	Production, engineering, mixing, composer	[16][121]
	Iron Maiden — Maiden England '88 Release date: 25 March 2013 Label: EMI	Mixing	[122]
	Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa — Seesaw Release date: 20 May 2013 Label: J&R Adventures/Mascot	Production, engineering, mixing	[123]
	Black Star Riders — All Hell Breaks Loose Release date: 21 May 2013 Label: Nuclear Blast	Production, engineering, mixing, percussion	[16][124]
2015	Iron Maiden — The Book of Souls Release date: 4 September 2015 Label: Parlophone	Production, engineering, mixing	[125]
2021	Smith/Kotzen — Smith/Kotzen Release date: 26 March 2021 Label: BMG	Mixing	[126]
2021	Steve Louw — Headlight Dreams Release date: 7 May 2021 Label: BFD / The Orchard	Production, mixing	[10]
2021	Iron Maiden — Senjutsu Release date: 3 September 2021 Label: Parlophone	Production, engineering, mixing	[127]
2022	Steve Louw — Thunder and Rain Release date: 11 November 2022 Label: BFD / The Orchard	Production, mixing	[128]