10 Questions with Steve Brown
I happened to chance upon Edinburgh band the Vivians one night when I was recording a mates band through the mixing desk for them. It was instantly obvious that they were one of the best bands I've seen in a long time, they impressed effortlessly.
Afterwards I was talking to their unfeasibly tall guitarist Chris, enthusing about the gig and asking what they were up to, he said they had some big name producer interested in them but he couldnt name names at this early stage. After a bit more spieling, he relented and said it was Steve Brown, the guy who had produced the Manic Street Preachers first album, hit albums for the Cult and a stack of other great stuff.
Me, being the Ramones obsessive just thought "Steve Brown - did he not do Holly and Joey - I got you babe ?" -
Holly And Joey
One thing led to another and through the glory of myspace I got talking to Steve Brown, he's an interesting character who's produced the whole spectrum of music through the years, I threw him ten question and each question could easily inspire ten more, but tens all your getting for now - here it is
1. When did you first hear or see the Ramones ? who introduced you to their music ?
First saw them in New York 'bout early '76. The Boomtown Rats took me to a gig.
2. What sort of music were you listening to before the Ramones came along ?
The Boomtown Rats
3. How did you end up working with Holly Beth Vincent and Joey Ramone ?
It was the early days of production hits and I got noticed by Virgin. They put me up for the gig . . . I got it
What are your memories of the session ? . . . The food.
Steve Brown and Steve Lillywhite both worked on So Alone, dressed exactly like this.
4. What was it like working with Johnny Thunders ? Was that what became "So alone" ?
Paul Cook on drums, Phil Lynott on bass, Steve Mariott and
Steve Jones on guitars . . loads of people popping in and out of the studio
if you know what I mean!! . . . what d'you think??? The title I worked on
was Daddy Rollin' Stone from the So Alone album.
5. I was lucky enough to catch the Manic Street Preachers in the very early stages - they were amazing but certainly rough around the edges, when the first album came out I was initially disappointed because it didn't capture the live show, but that passed pretty quickly (its hard to put the sound of someone miming guitar I suppose !) and they soon became the band that the album sounded like so in retrospect it was probably the right move. Who's idea was it to polish up their sound ?
Easy job really! They briefed me to produce a world class rock album "we want to be the biggest rock band in the world" . . . . and . . . .we're gonna fold after this album. I've never worked so fekking hard in my life. I was a one man show, engineer and producer . . . with a directive!!
6. You're involved in a number of charity organisations, how did that come about ?
Believe or not a lot of cultures do not embrace charity . . They would much prefer selling something even in times of great hardship. Music is something all cultures can sell to us. We are planning to buy music from areas of plight mix it up with famous people and celebrity remixers and release it globally with a documentary. All proceeds go back to the area of plight via the British Council. Please go check out www.societas.ltd.uk/fairtraderecordl
We are fundraising for set up now so if you know of any generous people let them know
keeping an eye out for the next big thing ...
7. Who's caught your interest at the moment ?
The Vivians www.myspace.com/theviviansdivided and Silvery.
8. Who would you like have had the chance to produce - living or dead
Queen.
9. What recording that you've been involved in are you proudest of ?
Very pleased with the way the Vibration White Finger debut live album turned out www.myspace.com/vibrationwhitefinger . Took a lot of guts by the band but it's paid off . . . I'm immensely proud of Club Tropicana by Wham! She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult and Motorcycle Emptiness by the Manics . . .
but I just listened to the Joey recording and that's pretty cool . . . I certainly won't forget it . . fond memories.
Looking for somewhere to put his coffee cup ...
10 What's next for Steve Brown ?
It's 10.00pm on a Saturday night . . .
I'm going to catch an hour in the pub.
For more on Steve Brown, check out
www.myspace.com/producerstevebrown