Rock Overdose had the honor and pleasure to speak with one of the most significant producers of the rock scene, Chris Tsangarides! His name is synonymous with the greatest albums of all time, as he is the man who is - without exaggeration- behind the success of some of the most legendary groups and artists. On the occasion of his presence at the Live tribute to Gary Moore (on 11/1/2014 @ Kyttaro Club, Athens- Greece), shortly before his visit to Greece, Chris Tsangarides answered our questions.
Enjoy!
RockOverdose.gr: How can somebody become a producer?
Chris Tsangarides: It needs patience, musical understanding, technical ability, passion for the art of music, and a degree in psychology (lol)..
RockOverdose.gr: Do you think in Greece we have good producers?
Chris Tsangarides: I don't really know many but Lambros Kritsimas is as good as they get! Basically it's about getting the Greek mentality out of your mind when you are a producer...there is no room for machismo look. That is my answer to the previous question.
RockOverdose.gr: Studios have their own “sound” or it depends on the producer’s method?
Chris Tsangarides: I believe it is down to the individual...
RockOverdose.gr: How helpful can a producer be in order a new formed group to find its own sound? Any examples?
Chris Tsangarides: When a new band comes to make their first album the producer should give them a sound that represents the band... Just listen to any album I've made and they all sound different but have my character all over them..
RockOverdose.gr: Back in the 60’s, producer Ron Spektor is considered the originator of the "Wall of Sound" production method. What’s your opinion for his contributions to the music industry?
Chris Tsangarides: Phil Spector was a bit of a crazy genius... They didn't have multi track recording so readily available and when you hear his wall of sound you know it was all performed live which makes a huge difference at the outcome.. I admire the fact he didn't conform to the rules.. If he wanted 100 musicians playing the song he did just that! He widened my musical scope...
RockOverdose.gr: What do you consider more important for a new group, to be good at live shows or to make good studio albums?
Chris Tsangarides: Both have to be great!
RockOverdose.gr: You have produced the last 2 albums of Thin Lizzy, which have quite enough differences from each other. Do you believe bands should adapt their sound to the trends of each decade or e.g. like Status Quo, AC/DC should keep always the same motive?
Chris Tsangarides: Some bands develop new skills and are looking for variation on their records while others like AC/DC etc are a R&R band so play to their strengths which is being the best at that style...
RockOverdose.gr: Do you believe a producer should be “dedicated” to one kind of music or be flexible?
Chris Tsangarides: It's only the media that labels people if they have had success in a particular field... I'm known for my Rock/ Metal productions for example... But I've had many successes in all types of music....
RockOverdose.gr: Are you ever going to produce a black or stoner record? What is your opinion about these two genres, it seems they have on the hype right now…
Chris Tsangarides: Who knows? I've not been asked to do anything like that... Yet! It would depend on whether I liked the songs...
RockOverdose.gr: What’s your opinion about the “unplugged disc” trend? Actually, it isn’t something new, as MTV started it before 20 years…however recently lot of bands use this method to sell discs.
Chris Tsangarides: In these times bands have to try anything they can to survive.. Good luck to them...
RockOverdose.gr: Few years ago you created the Ecology Room Studios, and last year you founded Dark Lord Records. Was it a need of you to have complete control on your productions or something different?
Chris Tsangarides: With the state of the music business as it is and especially in the Rock world, a producer without a studio is like a mechanic without his garage! It is essential to have a studio to enable you to make albums for the smallest budgets available these days! I started the Label as an avenue to release some good Records, I don't sign everybody I work with, just a few that I want to help along the way!
RockOverdose.gr: You are the co-writer of the song “A touch of evil” by Judas Priest and if I’m not mistaken its basic guitar riff was taken from your “notebook” with several guitar riffs… Do you still have this “riff-notebook”?
Chris Tsangarides: The song was a completed song that I had written for the Bruton music library, the guys heard me playing it in the studio and loved it enough to use it... Rob wrote lyrics Glenn wrote the Middle 8 and the chorus was the Melody from my verse from the original ...Glenn did a great job with the arrangement and Don Airey played some awesome keyboards...
RockOverdose.gr: As far as I know, you occasionally play the guitar and perform live with the band Exmore / More 2012, you do it for professional reasons or it’s just for fun? I mean, you need to get recognition outside the studio or you do it as a hobby?
Chris Tsangarides: "More 2012" started as a bit of a hobby... The more we play the better it gets... We are playing at Bang your Head in Germany next year and after this will be making a new album... Playing at selected festivals is a great way of meeting old friends making new ones and meeting the people that have bought my recordings in the past... I love meeting the music fans....
RockOverdose.gr: The new Black Sabbath album is highly acclaimed, however some critics believe its production is too high compressed and also that its mastering is too loud. What is your opinion about it?
Chris Tsangarides: I love Black Sabbath and have known these guys for over 40 years! I cut my engineering teeth with them, I was lucky enough to have been their producer.. The new album has been very successful indeed! But I can't help thinking what it would have been like had Bill Ward played Drums on it and whether a British producer from their era would have made an album that was sounding like the fans had in their heads!
RockOverdose.gr: Do you believe rock music can be better performed in English language? There are some successful exceptions e.g. Rammstein or Kraftwerk, but how important do you consider the vocals language?
Chris Tsangarides: Well… Rock has to be in English I'm afraid! There are exceptions but not singing in English would be like doing a Metal Album with just synths and no guitars!
RockOverdose.gr: Do you prefer female or male vocals? Do you have any favourite voice? Are there any songs you would like to hear or you think they would be better with vocals of the opposite gender?
Chris Tsangarides: I have had great success with both genders.. I don't really mind... It's down to the song as to whether I like it...
RockOverdose.gr: Thank you so much! Looking forward to see you on stage soon!
Chris Tsangarides: All the best!
For Rock Overdose,
Vivi Zapantiotou
*Chris Tsangarides started his career as a sound engineer with the well-known Gary Moore’s album "Back on the streets" in 1978 through which arose the great hit "Parisienne walkways". Then he became well known worldwide through his work with THIN LIZZY, JUDAS PRIEST, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, Y&T, GLYDER, ANVIL as well as with alternative artists such as DEPECHE MODE, NEW MODEL ARMY, CONCRED BLONDE and the great TOM JONES.
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