Bob Clearmountain, L.A. studio icon, lost his home in the Palisades fire: ‘This could be the end of our world.’
On a Tuesday afternoon, Bob Clearmountain was making his way from Apogee Studios in Santa Monica to his residence in Pacific Palisades. Known for his work as a renowned producer and mixer, he has worked on albums by rock icons like Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, and David Bowie, frequently using his home studio, Mix This!, which boasts a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean. He could sense the Santa Ana winds tearing through the coastline and canyons.
Looking towards Sunset Boulevard, I spotted a fire on the hillside accompanied by billowing smoke. Assuming the fire department would quickly arrive, I thought the situation was under control. However, as reported by the news, the wind seemed to be pushing from an opposite direction. Despite this, I had faith they could contain it swiftly. A few hours passed, and my daughter phoned me urgently, advising me to evacuate immediately.
With Clearmountain, his wife, and his assistant loading up three vehicles with equipment and treasured items, they held onto a sliver of optimism, believing it was merely a preventive measure. A large portion of the studio he’d meticulously constructed over many years—such as the Bösendorfer grand piano or the SSL recording console—was too heavy to be moved at short notice.
California
Even though we’ve got a lot of ground to cover, it appears that the situation with the fire is becoming less intense. Tragically, ten lives have been lost, over 9,000 structures have been affected, and approximately 150,000 people are currently under mandatory evacuation orders.
We collected as many items as we could think of. Among these were some unique gifts from Bruce Springsteen, including a few of his hand-drawn stick figures, one of which he created for my wife’s 50th birthday. I found this particularly meaningful and special.
Clearmountain added, ‘We thought we’d only be away for a couple of days, planning to return and reassemble all our belongings once the evacuation was over. Frankly, it never crossed our minds that this situation might mark the end of our existence.’
They retreated to Apogee Studios in Santa Monica, which was home to Clearmountain and his wife, Betty Bennett (the founder of Apogee), when not in use by touring bands. From behind their doorbell camera, they anxiously observed as the Palisades fire marched down the slope, approaching their neighborhood.
California
During the devastating Palisades fire, a well-known roadway within the city sustained significant damage, while numerous houses were left as piles of smoldering debris.
As I glanced outside late Tuesday evening, I noticed flames consuming our neighbor’s fence and our trash cans ablaze. The security cameras went dark around 7:45, leading us to ponder if by some miracle the fire might bypass our home due to its stucco walls. Little did we know until Wednesday that all but one house on our street had been reduced to ashes completely.
Eventually, one of the recent residents managed to enter our property early today and snapped a photo of our empty driveway and some remaining ashes,” he explained. “It was just a shot of the driveway.
The extent of damage from this week’s fires is staggering, as at least 10 lives have been claimed, over 9,000 structures have been either damaged or leveled in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and other areas. Amidst the destruction are priceless cultural landmarks, such as cherished recording studios where artists produced some of their most treasured albums.
California
On Wednesday, California State Parks Director Armando Quintero confirmed that both Will Rogers’ historical ranch house and the Topanga Ranch Motel, a construction by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, had suffered complete destruction.
The rustic studio hideaway nestled in Los Angeles, steeped in music history, stands as a distinctive emblem. In the local recording scene of L.A., Clearmountain’s residence is revered almost like a sacred place. Numerous other studios are thought to have met a similar fate or disappeared within the vicinity and Altadena, which has evolved into a thriving hub for independent music in Los Angeles.
ClearMountain is just now grappling with the harsh truth of having to part ways with his home and a studio that holds generations of importance, which was painstakingly constructed over many decades according to his own blueprints and filled with instruments and equipment that have produced some of the most beloved rock music from our era. He’s vowed to persevere in his craft in spite of these circumstances.
California
In Pacific Palisades, a mother along with her college-aged son from UCLA valiantly struggled to protect their home from the encroaching fire, employing a garden hose as they attempted to hold back the flames, while many neighboring houses were unfortunately consumed by the blaze.
He views this as a new opportunity, not just another hurdle. He’s not dwelling on the past, nor does he want to linger in sorrow. Instead, his mind is focused on finding solutions: “What can I do?” His approach will be different from before; he plans to adapt his methods and hopefully, improve upon them. That’s all he can think about right now.
He frets over studios and home recording venues lacking his resources to restart somewhere else, adding to the sorrow that not only human lives and homes, but also the cultural impact and the inability of musicians to create, are part of this tragedy as well.
As a movie enthusiast myself, I often ponder about the possibility of establishing a fund – not for my own benefit, since I’m fortunate enough, but for those less privileged studios out there struggling to make ends meet. There are countless individuals who aren’t as financially stable, and they’re going through tough times. If I can assist them by contributing to this fund, I most certainly will, in the hope that they can weather these hardships.
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2025-01-10 23:01