Ultravox came from punk, but they were more art-rock.” Prev of 17 Next Prev of 17 Next This was during the early days of punk, when attitude was everything. The album was critically acclaimed, but it didn’t have that all-important hit single. “The great thing about Brian is, he comes in, does his thing and leaves - whereas I’m there all the time and micro-manage. This would be my first time working with him. The label said the band needed a name guy, and because they loved Roxy Music, they chose Brian. "It wound up being a three-way production between me, the band and Brian Eno. As luck would have it, they told the label they wanted me to produce their album. “So I brought in this band called Tiger Lily - they would change their name to Ultravox - and we did some demos which landed them a deal with Island Records. If the studio boss saw you could handle things, chances were good you’d get promoted. In those days, you could get promoted from tape op to engineer, and one way to do that was to bring in bands on weekends to engineer on your own. Basically, a tape op is the guy who presses the buttons and things like that.
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“I was a young tape operator at a studio. (Image credit: Fabio Nosotti/CORBIS) Ultravox - Ultravox! First up: Ultravox Prev of 17 Next Prev of 17 Next Read on as Steve Lillywhite talks us through 16 of the most important and memorable albums of his career. If the voice is there, then we‘re halfway home!” He thinks for a second, then adds with a laugh, “Of course, it always helps if I can tolerate your singing. Every album is a new chance to do something different and exciting.” “There’s never one way you achieve that, but that’s what makes this a fascinating and challenging job. One day I’m a friend and honorary bandmate, the next day I’m a therapist and kind of a den father - no two days are the same.“Įven so, since making his first recordings, Lillywhite says that his goal has remained constant: “I want to capture greatness,” he states. Basically, I’m a ‘people person,‘ so I’m very fortunate to have chosen a profession that was a good fit for me, because you have to be a ‘people person’ to do this kind of thing well. But at the end of the day, you have to deal with it. “Sometimes you like your family, sometimes you don’t. “But to me, making albums is ultimately a very personal experience.”Īccording to Lillywhite, the art of record production functions best when it mirrors a marriage.
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“I’m thrilled to know that so many people have connected to this music,“ he says.
Peter gabriel discography' plus#
The results speak for themselves: over the course of a three-decade-plus career, Lillywhite’s efforts - debuts by U2 and the Dave Matthews Band, plus groundbreaking releases from XTC, Morrissey, Peter Gabriel and dozens more - have defined an era. They made the record they wanted to make without me, so it was all for the best. I realize that half the world considers Axl Rose rock royalty, but to me, he’s just a bad pub singer. “If I don’t like a singer, I’ll say no to a band,” says the genial, British-born Lillywhite.
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Lillywhite doesn’t regret his decision for one second - for him, it all came down to Axl Rose’s voice. It's the kind of disc most people in his line of work would gladly give their eyeteeth to list on their CVs. Of course, saying you walked away from Chinese Democracy is no biggie - dozens of music makers came and went during that album‘s 13-year gestation period - but Lillywhite turned down the chance to produce Appetite For Destruction, a record with global sales approaching 29 million. Steve Lillywhite told Guns N’ Roses, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ His career highlights across 16 albums and 35 years: U2, The Stones, Morrissey, Peter Gabriel and more.