Steve Lillywhite produced the Stones, U2, Siouxsie, XTC - ‘the last leg of the relay’

Steve Lillywhite first got a foot in the studio door aged 17 making demos for Ultravox and became a producer with credits on over 500 records. He doesn’t have a copy of any of them but kept his Grammys and his CBE. The job involves being a lightning-rod, cheer-leader, editor, finisher and “as diplomatic as Henry Kissinger”. He looks back here from his ‘Lillypad’ in Bali at the milestones along the way, among them … … “I’d done my 10,000 hours by the age of 22” ... “If it ain’t broke, break it!” … when he screwed up as a tape-op: “you only do it once” … why bands never want to leave the studio … breakthrough hits with Johnny Thunders, Siouxsie and the Psychedelic Furs … “there’s been no new technology in the last ten years” … the radio plugger who heard Sunday Bloody Sunday and said “sounds like a hit but you’ll have to lose the word Bloody” … “when Mick and Keith weren’t talking they communicated through me” … why Muff Winwood wanted to fire Larry Mullen … why producers can’t hear a hit   … Adam Clayton and Nick Rhodes “aren’t musicians” … “make the drums less Huntley & Palmers!” … the Wrecking Crew versus the “One-Man Show" production of today  … and memories of making Vertigo, Fairytale of New York and Making Plans for Nigel.Help us to keep the conversation going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourearHelp us to keep The Longest Continuous Conversation In Rock'n'Roll going: https://www.patreon.com/wordinyourear Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.