Shortly thereafter, Gary Lyons and Barry Ainsworth, two recording engineers who had been operating a tape copying service called Sound and Recording Mobiles, purchased the facility with financial backing from businessman David Sinclair and named it using an acronym of their business name, opening SARM in July 1973.
[4] The band returned to Sarm Studios in summer 1977 to record portions of their album News of the World, including the hit song "We Are the Champions.
[2] In 1978, Sarm Studios suffered extensive water damage and underwent a major renovation, including a control room redesign and the largest Trident TSM console built to date, with Allison automation system.
[2] Producer Trevor Horn became a frequent client at Sarm Studios, and he and Jill Sinclair married in 1980.
The redesign also included living accommodation, to facilitate a return to the studios' 1970s policy of long-term bookings.
[citation needed] In late 2017, Sarm West Coast in Bel Air was destroyed in the Skirball Fire.