Veteran music producer and studio engineer Andy Johns has died at the age of 61.

Johns passed away on Sunday (07Apr13) from unknown causes after being hospitalised last week (begs01Apr13) with liver trouble according to guitarist Stacey Blades, who confirmed the news to Billboard.biz.

Johns came from a family of sound engineers, and worked with numerous artists during his career including Rod Stewart, Jethro Tull and Led Zeppelin.

He is perhaps best known for his work with The Rolling Stones from 1968 to 1973 and recorded the celebrated album Exile On Main Street at Keith Richards' mansion in the South of France in the early 1970s.

Queen star Brian May took to his official website to pay tribute to Johns, writing, "Ouch.
 So sad to hear of the passing of Andy Johns... 
great record producer. 
Lovely guy - patient, skilled, funny, encouraging, sharp... all the qualities you want in someone who is getting your music on to tape... He went on to become one of the very top rock producers in the world. Condolences to all the family. Andy was such a great guy."