Lifted from:
http://www.infernalcombustion.com/Issue19/kernon.htm
NEIL KERNON TO PRODUCE EVERY CD FROM NOW TILL 2003
in-demand knob-turner "can't stop working"
CHICAGO, IL - Metal uber-producer Neil Kernon, who made his name in the 80s producing and mixing such revered works as Queensryches Rage for Order, Dokkens Under Lock and Key, and Judas Priests Unleashed in the East, has announced plans detailing his involvement in every single piece of music released to the public for the next two years. It is a massive undertaking, and one for which Kernon is well-prepared.
"Hey, Ive been in this biz for years, mate," the British-born Kernon said from his Chicago apartment. "From my work with Priest and Queensryche, all the way to stuff like Shys Excess All Areas, Helixs Wild in the Streets, Lynch Mobs Wicked Sensation, and XYZs Hungry, I, through my company, Auslander, approach every producing and mixing gig with the utmost seriousness. No one band is more important than the other. Thats how you go about this. Its certainly how Im approaching my upcoming project: the solo debut of Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate. Geoff and I go way back, and itll be a privilege to work with him again."
The last 12 months have been busy for Kernon. His credits have run the gamut from prog rock (Shadow Gallerys Legacy) to fusion (the upcoming Addition by Subtraction from McGill/Manring/Stevens), European power metal (Labyrinths controversial Sons of Thunder) to fringe-dwelling murder metal (Macabres Dahmer). As his plans indicate, he has no intention of slowing down.
"I love my work," Kernon said via phone from Los Angeles, where hes laying down tracks for Chris Cornells collaboration with the Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. "My work is all I know."
Kernons resume is filled with diversity, working with bands like Hall & Oates, Flotsam & Jetsam, Petra, Nevermore, Nihil, Britny Fox, The Clay People, Spiral Architect, Peter Gabriel, Heavens Edge, Podunk, Kansas, and Yes singer Jon Anderson. His plan is to continue that diversity by involving himself in every album released over the next two years.
"Is it gonna be a huge task? Fuck yeah, its gonna be a huge task," Kernon admitted via e-mail from New York, where hes working with diva du jour Jennifer Lopez on her follow-up to the chart-topping J.Lo. Kernon, who will be credited as "N.Kern," wants to bring a more edgy sound to J.Los music that he feels Sean "Puffy" Combs work lacked.
"Puff Daddy knows his shit," Kernon said. "But I have unleashed an energy inside J.Lo that I havent seen since I pushed Asgeir Mickelson into turning in that phenomenal drum performance on Spiral Architects A Sceptics Universe. And my God," he added. "That caboose!"
Combs, now going by "P. Diddy," had no direct response to Kernons comments, aside from a hail of gunfire aimed at the Auslander offices, and the following emotional statement issued through his publicist:
"Uh-huh, yeah. Thats right. Uh-huh."
Kernon is a self-described "workaholic" and has earned the respect of all of his associates.
"Hell yeah, we flew through the Legacy sessions," explained Shadow Gallery frontman Mike Baker. "He was even working over the phone with Labyrinth while editing sound files for us at the same time. The man is amazing."
Sometimes, even Kernon is amazed at the quality of his work.
"Youd think it would suffer," he explained via fax from Nashville, mixing the upcoming release of country trio SheDaisy. "But I just keep going and going!"
Other than every album thats to be released, whats next for Kernon?
"Producing and mixing, you know what I mean, mate?" he laughed via carrier pigeon from a plumbing-free hovel in Havana, where hes putting the finishing touches on the upcoming release from 94-year-old Cuban armonico legend Compay Segundo. "And Im not talking just with established artists like Ricky Martin, Eminem, The Three Tenors, Bruce Springsteen, Fates Warning, Rush, Alanis Morrissette, Johnny Cash, U2, Bon Jovi, David Lee Roth, Cannibal Corpse, Eric Clapton, BulletBoys, Dweezil Zappa, Black Sabbath, Paul McCartney, Daft Punk, Tom Petty, Emperor, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sarah Brightman, Krisiun, Enya, Branford Marsalis, Anal Cunt, Bjork, Type O Negative, Anthrax, The Black Crowes, Mortvar, Michael Crawford, Nocturnal Rites, Yanni, Ennio Morricone, Motorhead, Kamelot, Kid Rock, Axel Rudi Pell, Govt Mule, The Flower Kings, Gorguts, Tiamat, or Robin Trower, all of whom I have pencilled in for next week. No, Im talking indie bands, unsigned bands. Im unstoppable!"*
Despite his dedication to his craft, some are a bit unnerved by Kernons almost obsessive love of music.
"I was in my shower the other morning, just singing my stuff, you know, working on melodies and shit," explained Brad Koralewski, frontman of unsigned Toledo, Ohio band Velvet Sleep. "I open the shower curtain, and theres this British dude squatting on my toilet, holding a portable handheld Radio Shack recorder in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. It sorta freaked me out. I said What the fuck? and the dude hands me a business card and jumps out the window. I didnt know it was Neil Kernon. I mean, Ive seen his name on some shit, but really, what the fuck? Good thing I wasnt spankin off, ya know? You wanna know whats really disturbing? I dont even have tea in my kitchen!"
- Mark Tinta (story produced and engineered by Neil Kernon for Auslander)
