Legendary Canadian music producer, Bob Ezrin, reflects on his five-decade-and-counting career, in a wide-ranging interview with CBC‘s Ian Hanomansing. Ezrin’s his collaborations have helped create genre-defining releases, like KISS’s slick Destroyer from 1976 and Pink Floyd’s transcendental 1979 concept album, The Wall.
The following excerpt focuses on Ezrin’s work with KISS…
While Ezrin’s production is primarily well regarded by fans and peers, critical reception hasn’t always been positive. He laughs when he recalls the first time he worked with the band KISS, on their fourth studio album, Destroyer.
“The first review for Destroyer was just devastating,” he said. “And in fact the reviewer said something like, ‘I’ve got a mind to go up to Toronto and punch Bob Ezrin in the nose on behalf of KISS fans everywhere.'”
This sort of thing used to happen because he was often hired to change the direction of a musical act, he said.
For KISS, Ezrin was brought in to try and broaden their audience, which he said at the time was largely “15-year-old pimply boys.”
He told the band they needed to show a more vulnerable side to generate interest from “the girls of America.” That included reworking the song “Beth”, changing it from what he called a “screw-you” kind of song to a “gentle, sweet” ballad that was almost lullaby-like, adding in a piano melody and a walking bass line. He also worked to make the overall sound more polished than the band’s earlier albums.
It was a huge departure for KISS. And while the alterations did anger some die-hard fans, the plan worked. Destroyer became the first KISS album to be certified platinum.
Watch the video below, and read more CBC.ca.
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The following excerpt focuses on Ezrin’s work with KISS…
While Ezrin’s production is primarily well regarded by fans and peers, critical reception hasn’t always been positive. He laughs when he recalls the first time he worked with the band KISS, on their fourth studio album, Destroyer.
“The first review for Destroyer was just devastating,” he said. “And in fact the reviewer said something like, ‘I’ve got a mind to go up to Toronto and punch Bob Ezrin in the nose on behalf of KISS fans everywhere.'”
This sort of thing used to happen because he was often hired to change the direction of a musical act, he said.
For KISS, Ezrin was brought in to try and broaden their audience, which he said at the time was largely “15-year-old pimply boys.”
He told the band they needed to show a more vulnerable side to generate interest from “the girls of America.” That included reworking the song “Beth”, changing it from what he called a “screw-you” kind of song to a “gentle, sweet” ballad that was almost lullaby-like, adding in a piano melody and a walking bass line. He also worked to make the overall sound more polished than the band’s earlier albums.
It was a huge departure for KISS. And while the alterations did anger some die-hard fans, the plan worked. Destroyer became the first KISS album to be certified platinum.
Watch the video below, and read more CBC.ca.
Make sure you are subscribed to the BraveWords YouTube channel.
Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/user/Bravewords666?sub_confirmation=1
The post BOB EZRIN Reflects On Working With PINK FLOYD And KISS – “The First Review For Destroyer Was Just Devastating”; Video appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
