Producer MICHAEL WAGENER Talks About Working With OZZY, SKID ROW, RAVEN

November 16, 2004

Legendary hard rock/heavy metal producer Michael Wagener (OZZY OSBOURNE, ACCEPT, WARRANT, SKID ROW) was recently interviewed by RockConfidential.com about his impressive resume and his current activities. Asked which artist was the most fun to work with, Wagener responded, "SKID ROW. Well, there's actually two. SKID ROW was a lot of fun because we recorded two records. We had the best of times during the six or seven months that we worked together. The other band is RAVEN. Those guys are just plain crazy. It just never stops. SAIGON KICK was another fun band to do. We always have fun because that's what we do. We're pretty much selling emotions. The emotions you have in the studio when you have the record will end up on the album. I'm a firm believer that you can hear that on the record later on. I try to keep it a lot of fun. I turn into Mr. Silly Man. SKID ROW really sticks out. They're coming back in before the end of the year to do their next record. . . Ozzy, by the way, is another one that was extremely funny. You can imagine. Once he starts telling stories the day is pretty much over! You will not eat any more because your stomach hurst so bad from laughing. He's quite a character."

RockConfidential.com: What's he like once he gets focused in the studio?

Michael Wagener: "He's absolutely focused. That TV show makes him come off as a lunatic. In the studio he knows exactly what he wants. He might stand in front of a toaster and go, 'Huh?' on TV, but in the studio he knows exactly where to go with the lyrics and the music. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't like. He's very focused. This TV thing is not portraying him the right way!

RockConfidential.com: What do you think about the Ozzy reissues?

Michael Wagener: "'No More Tears' is one of my favorite sounding records that I did. When I mix something now I put in 'No More Tears' to compare it. I bought the new version and put it in. They remastered it and completely butchered it! It's completely butchered to the point where I cannot listen to that record anymore. I thought something was wrong with my equipment. I don't know why people do that. They have to over-compress it and make it louder. The guitars take your head off on the remaster! It's awful. I don't agree with that. The original is one of my favorite sounding albums."

Read Michael Wagener's entire interview with RockConfidential.com at this location.

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