Ken Scott – Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars

Legendary Studio Engineer and Producer Ken Scott, Author Bobby Owsinski and VP of The Grammy Foundation and MusicCares Scott Goldman all talk about the book Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust and…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBmtut0BdlU]

The film Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars as they honor the 40 year anniversary of the album

If you liked this interview come and spend an evening with Ken Scott at the Grammy Museum at LA Live on July 19th in the theatre to see his complete presentation where he tells the stories about the Beatles, David Bowie, George Harrison, Missing Persons, Supertramp, Lou Reed and on and on. Ken will also allow you to listen to the tracks of some of the most popular stars broken down.

This music has not been heard this way before and this is the only place where you will be able to hear it

Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust: The Talk
With Producer Ken Scott

Thursday, July 19, 2012; 7:30pm
Presented by American Express

The GRAMMY Museum
800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A245
Los Angeles, CA 90015 USA
213.765.6800 (ext.3 for Group Tours)
grammyinfo@grammymuseum.org

To Get Tickets of More Information:

Contact
Phone: 213.765.6803
Email: boxoffice@grammymuseum.org

http://www.grammymuseum.org/interior.php?section=tickets&page=ticketsindex

What a wonderful night it was in downtown Los Angeles. The weather was perfect at LA Live and huge crowds of people from the LMFAO concert and the incredible E-3 convention were all walking around the various restaurants and shops.

I was invited to watch music studio engineer and producer Ken Scott who co-produced and engineered 4 of David Bowie’s albums and also helped engineer the sound for the David Bowie movie, answer questions about David, the album and the movie after a showing of the movie in the Grammy Museum, Clive Davis Theatre.

It was so awesome sitting in the green room where I set up the camera as Scott Goldman, Ken Scott and Bobby Owsinski sat and talked all about the backstage stuff.. Ever hear of being a fly on the wall? The pianist from the movie Mike Garson came in all of them talking made for one “Once in a Lifetime Experience”.

The movie is, of course, dated compared to what you see today, but it was excellently done with tons of backstage footage and dialog to really give you the feel of the whole experience.

Ken, Scott and Bobby were wonderful and gave great interviews. I would like to thank Devon Blaine of the Blaine Group and the guys for a wonderful evening. – JW

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Film

From Wikipedia

Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is a 1973 documentary and concert movie by D.A. Pennebaker. It features David Bowie and his backing group The Spiders from Mars performing at the Hammersmith Odeon, July 3, 1973. The DVD release was later retitled Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars: The Motion Picture.

Background

Bowie had taken the stage persona of Ziggy Stardust, a science fiction based, theatrical, enigmatic, androgynous character and produced two albums during this period.

The evening of July 3 was the last show in the English concert tour promoting Bowie’s 1973 album Aladdin Sane and the 60th gig in a tour of Britain that started on May 12, though an American tour was already being booked for the autumn.

Very few in Bowie’s entourage knew of his decision to drop the Ziggy persona and cancel performing for a while; in the band only Mick Ronson had been told a few days before the final night.

At the end of the evening, aptly just before the song “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide“, Bowie announced that, Not only is this the last show of the tour, but it’s the last show that we’ll ever do. The phrasing was deliberately ambiguous, but most of the audience and many London newspapers and magazines took it to mean that Bowie was retiring from music. In fact, he had killed off his Ziggy persona but not his music career.

Recording

Pennebaker had been asked to come to London and film just a few songs but when he saw the first of the two London shows he realized that “there was a full-length film here asking to be made”.

Though he had only scant knowledge of Bowie’s music, apart from Space Oddity, he was impressed by the star’s onstage charisma and the range of his songs and quickly prepared to shoot the entire second gig, without knowing that it would include a dramatic final coup.[1]

Jeff Beck participated on three songs (two of them forming a medley) midway through the concert but was edited out from the final cut at his own wish.[2] The expanded version of “The Width of a Circle” was shortened by a few minutes for the soundtrack on vinyl and CD.

Cast

Additional musicians:

Sound recording

  • Ken Scott and Roy Thomas Baker engineered the recording of the concert
  • The original film, soundtrack album and DVD was mixed by Tony Visconti.

Release

The film was shown a few times at festivals in late 1973 and provoked strong interest and favorable reactions, but then disappeared from view until 1983, when it was released on home video accompanied by a soundtrack double album.

Evidently it became a casualty first of Bowie’s rapid image changes which left Ziggy and glam rock behind and then of the rupture between Bowie and MainMan in early 1975; after that point Bowie was reluctant to release or promote any new recordings dating from before Young Americans as he would have to give half the income from any such recordings to MainMan up to the end of 1982.

Only in recent years has the film become available for regular cinema presentations; for many years it was a home video exclusive.

Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust: The Talk
With Producer Ken Scott

Co-author of Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust, Ken Scott will discuss his time with The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, and a who’s who of classic rock acts.

From behind-the-scenes stories to some never-before-heard breakdowns of some classic songs, the evening will be both entertaining and informative.

Having worked with worked classic rock acts including Elton John, Pink Floyd, Procol Harum, Jeff Beck, Duran Duran, Harry Nilsson, the Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, America, Devo, Kansas, and many more, Scott has also played a big part in the world of jazz, being the first to integrate a more powerful rock sound into the genre.

Hear Ken Scott talk about the making of the Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust, as well as his prolific career. After the talk, Scott usually takes questions from the audience and will sign copies of his book.

For More Information on upcoming events: http://abbeytoziggy.com

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Ken ScottKen Scott

From Wikipedia

Scott started at the age of 16 working in the tape library at Abbey Road Studios. He became a recording engineer working with such acts as The Beatles, Jeff Beck, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Procol Harum.[1]

Scott moved to Trident Studios where he worked with such artists as Elton John, Harry Nilsson, Mahavishnu Orchestra, America and with George Harrison on the 6x platinum selling album All Things Must Pass.[2]

Scott went on to co-produce David Bowie‘s albums Hunky Dory (1971), The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972), Aladdin Sane (1973) and Pin Ups (1973) before producing Supertramp, The Tubes, Dixie Dregs, Devo, Missing Persons, Kansas, Happy The Man and Level 42.[3][4]

More recently Scott has recorded a number of legendary drummers for a VST instrument called EpiK Drums – A Ken Scott Collection.[5]

Abbey Road to Ziggy StardustAbbey Road to Ziggy Stardust

Ken Scott is releasing his first book co-written with Bobby Owsinski, Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust for the 50th Anniversary of the Abbey Roads recordings with The Beatles and the 40th Anniversary of Ziggy Stardust.

From Amazon

Ken Scott holds a unique place in music history as one of only five engineers to have recorded The Beatles, but his experiences as a producer may be just as profound. Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust shares the intimate memories of Ken Scott s days working with some of the most important artists of the 20th century while crafting a sound that has influenced several generations of music makers.

The Beatles Sitting on Abbey Road Steps While Filming Famous Walk Across the Abbey Road

Ken’s work has left an indelible mark on hundreds of millions of fans with his skilled contributions to Magical Mystery Tour and The White Album, and as a producer and/or engineer of six David Bowie albums (including the groundbreaking Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars), as well as other timeless classics from a who’s-who of classic rock and jazz acts, including Elton John, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Duran Duran, The Rolling Stones, Lou Reed, America, Devo, Kansas, The Tubes, Missing Persons, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Dixie Dregs, and Stanley Clarke.

Funny, poignant, and oh, so honest, Ken pulls no punches as he tells it as he saw it, as corroborated by a host of famous and not-so famous guests who were there as well. Plus, you’ll be privy to several exclusive stories, facts, and technical details only available in Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust.

National press campaign planned around 40th anniversary of Ziggy Stardust release on June 6, 2012 Includes never-before-told stories of The Beatles, David Bowie and Elton John Many never-before-seen photographs.

Epik Drums / EDU

Epik Drums

DRUM KITS AND GROOVES

epikdrumsboxEpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection

“EpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection” is a Sonic Reality virtual instrument/plug-in for drum kits and grooves with the authentic sound and feel of timeless classic albums. Expanding the Drum Masters series with high resolution vintage drum sounds, EpiK DrumS features drum kits and grooves of 5 of the world’s best drummers all recorded and mixed by legendary producer/engineer Ken Scott.

In this first massive volume from the Ken Scott Collection, Ken has recreated the drum sounds in the style of multi-track studio sessions he recorded with David Bowie, Supertramp, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, Missing Persons, Elton John and The Beatles.

These authentic classic sounds were achieved by using the same rare recording equipment, drum kits, percussion and expert technical assistance from Ross Garfield “The Drum Doctor”, advanced programming by Sonic Reality and collaboration with the original legendary drummers Bill Cobham, Terry Bozzio, Woody Woodmansey, Bob Siebenberg and Rod Morgenstein.

All together it is one the most EPIK productions ever done for a software drum and groove instrument.

Listen to these EpiK DrumS Audio Demos : Bozzio Dimi, Cobham Existence is Monopoly, Cobham Meters Hence, Cobham_Fowl A Flame, Morgenstein Adventure, Morgenstein Frozen Pastries, Morgenstein Manic Habits, Siebenberg Did i mention it, Woodmansey Little Curious Friend

Epik Drums EDUEpiK DrumS EDU– Ken Scott Mentoring Sessions

EpiK DrumS EDU is the best tool for anyone interested in learning how to record and mix real drum kits.

With today’s technology, sampled drums are used more and more, but every engineer and producer needs to know how to record and mix a real drum kit.

This package contains everything you need to learn from the masters.

You get grooves played by five of the most iconic drummers of all time:

  • Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Missing Persons),
  • Billy Cobham (Mahavishnu Orchestra),
  • Rod Morgenstein (Winger, Dixie Dregs),
  • Bob Siebenberg (Super Tramp), and
  • Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie).

Every groove is included as a full multitrack session for both ProTools and Logic in addition to .wav files for each track.

A video is included with words of wisdom from legendary producer and engineer Ken Scott, who has worked with The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, and many other top artists.

Ken explains how he recorded and mixed these grooves, and there is also behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the drummers that provide intimate insight into the sessions.

And last but not least, for those who wish to delve further, additional sessions will be available online for easy download.
“Scott’s excellent DVD should be of great interest to anybody involved in recording drums, at any level.
5 Stars!”
–Drummer Magazine
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Ken Scott’s Discography

Engineered:

America
America

The Beatles
Magical Mystery Tour
White Album
Abbey Road

Jeff Beck
Truth

David Bowie
Man Of Words, Man of Music (Space Oddity)
The Man Who Sold The World

Duran Duran
Thank You
Pop Trash

George Harrison
All Things Must Pass

Elton John
Madman Across The Water
Honky Chateau
Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player [Grammy Nominated]

Lou Reed
Transformer

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Birds Of Fire

Harry Nilsson
Son Of Schmilsson [Grammy Nominated]

Rick Wakeman
The Six Wives of Henry th VIII

Pink Floyd  
Apples and Oranges
Corporal Clegg

John Lennon
Give Peache a Chance
Cold Turkey

Ringo Starr  
It Don’t Come Easy

The Rolling Stones  
Sticky Fingers

All Kooper
New York City (You’re a Women)

Joan Armatrading  
Whatever’s For Us

The New Seekers
I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing ( Coke Ad )

Lindisfarne  

Procol Harum
A Salty Dog

Produced and Engineered:

Jeff Beck
There And Back

David Bowie
Hunky Dory
Ziggy Stardust
Aladdin Sane
Pinups

Billy Cobham
Spectrum
Crosswinds
Total Eclipse
Shabazz

dada
Puzzle

Dixie Dregs
What If
Night Of The Living Dregs

Stanley Clarke
Clarke
Journey To Love [Grammy Nominated]
Schooldays

Kansas
Vinyl Confessions

Level 42
True Colours

Devo
Duty Now For The Future

Patrick Swayze & Larry Gatlin
Brothers

Mahavishnu Orchestra
Emerald Visions Of The Pure Beyond [Grammy Nominated]
The Lost Trident Sessions

Supertramp
Crime Of The Century [Grammy Nominated]
Crisis, What Crisis?

The Tubes
Young And Rich

Jeff Beck
There and Back

Hellion

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Thank You to

ALFRED Music

The Blaine Group, Inc.

A Total Communications Agency
8665 Wilshire Blvd., Suite #301, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
O 310/360-1499 · F 310/360-1498
E-mail:  devon@blainegroupinc.com

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