# Kevin Shirley

Kevin Shirley, 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.

## Early life and education

Kevin John Shirley was born in Johannesburg, South Africa.

## 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, whose singer was Brian Davidson (from Freedoms Children).
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....
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.
Shirley produced Elly-May Barnes' first solo single, a cover of the Radiohead song "Creep", released on 20 November 2023. He is described as a "dear friend", and is credited as a musician her first album, No Good, released in April 2024.

### 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, Steve Louw & Big Sky, HIM, Mr. Big, and Europe.

## Selected discography

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