Rick's open attitude toward production is evident in how he describes the process:
"A lot of artists really like having someone to bounce things off of, because it's hard to know. Most of them, especially the ones that are established and have had success, tend to be in a little bit of a vacuum, because most people tell them what they do is great. But there's a lack of reality in that world and it's not beneficial to the artist to be in that world...I love music and I love bands and my goal, always, working with them is to help them be their best, whatever that is."
Artist who've worked with him agree with his style, Dixie Chicks' Robison also had this to say about his approach to recording music:
"I think he knows when it's right and he's very decisive, which is refreshing, but he's also a very good listener. You just respect his ears and his taste so much. That's an earned trust. We knew the legend but we didn't know the actual reason ... We came to learn that it's just that he has great ears."
And Rubin's dedication to the artist has paid off. Besides producing platinum album after platinum album across the musical spectrum and earning numerous Grammy nominations for some of the most heralded albums of the year, he just finished a project with Linkin Park and is now producing metal giants Metallica.
What's next for this music legend? Besides maybe starring in a version of Extreme Makeover, he states his dream job would be to produce a whole album with U2, having produced two new songs on their greatest hits album - thus proving even legends have heroes.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
I used to work for Rubin at American Recordings in the early nineties Dawn. Definitely an interesting guy. You forgot to include Sir Mix A Lot on your list by the way (which was my initial connection to Rubin, coming from Nastymix).
Cool article.
-Glen
2 - Dawn
Glen,
Ya know, I almost added him, because well, I like big butts and I cannot lie. But I had to draw the line somewhere and damn if this wasn't a long article anyway.
I had intended for it to be a short piece on Glosslip, but I love him so much it naturally got out of hand.
You have to admit, he looks like Grizzly Adams.
So was he nice?
3 - DJRadiohead
He looks like Meathead with a shaggier beard.
4 - Dawn
I love Rob Reiner!
5 - Glen Boyd
he was very nice. Up to the moment I was fired anyway (long story...)
-Glen
6 - Mark Saleski
i don't think he twirled the knobs enough on Stadium Arcadium. in fact, i'm sure that would have been possible.
yeesh.
7 - Jon Sobel
Excellent article.
The guy's a friggin' genius, that's all I have to say.
8 - El Bicho
Very good feature on a man who pound for pound is the best music producers in the past 25 years, and possibly of all-time.
9 - Dawn
Honestly, anyone who had the vision to combine hard rock and rap is a friggin genius. How else could rap be made listenable?
I have to admit that I am all kinds of excited that the cool writers and music-philes liked this article. Thank you!!!
10 - heytherelamp
With all he has going on, Rick Rubin is still helping out the forgotten greats of popular music. Here's video of Rubin reinventing funnyman Ray Stevens.
Sorry about the firing, Glen. He seems too mellow to fire people. I hope it was the nicest firing of your life.
11 - Glen Boyd
Actualy Rick didn't fire me. Mike Bone did. Rick was a prince. Bone was...well, he was abone wasn't he?