Sixth Complete Diary from the Caveman
"Hi there, Maiden fans. An update so soon - well, let me tell you, it may have been a short week, but it has been extraordinarily productive!Got in early Monday morning from Italy and sailed right into Paddington on the Heathrow Express and was hard at work by 10am. 'Arry came in about noon - and then the rest of the week is a blur.
Wing Commander Biggles came in a couple of times - to sing a couple of songs, to work on some lyrics and melodies - Steve writes the melodies and Bruce writes lyrics to fit the meter. Steve whistles the tune and Bruce scratches his head and concentrates, searching pages and pages of ideas and lyrics he's got prepared. By the way, when Bruce does a vocal, it's entirely physical! I don't have a great view of him, because that would be weird just staring at him singing, but I can see him enough to see that he moves like he's on stage - with a fixed microphone tho, of course. His arms windmill around, and when he gets back into the control room, he's covered in sweat! He says he gives his abdominals a serious workout each time, and the vocals on this album are bitching!!!! Actually, the whole thing is - no kidding!!! The drums are gigantic - 'Arry's bass goes up your ass, it's so biting and heavy, and all Three Amigos have pulled out serious melodic solos, and I love the songs!
Anyway, Biggles has only ONE song left to sing - and I have already got final mixes of SEVEN - yes, you read that correctly - seven songs are in the can, from an album of ten. We have been working chronologically the whole time - and the order we've recorded the songs - and mixed them, is the running order for the album. Bizarre, yet utterly true and seriously satisfying! I haven't been this excited since Silverchair's Frogstomp........ well, then I did enjoy the Led Zeppelin DVD and live albums ..... and then I loved producing the Black Crowes and earlier Maiden albums too .... and I had a kickass time getting Joe Bonamassa's new album done (by the way, if you're a fan of the blues at all - of Jeff Beck, Peter Green, etc - check out Joe's album. It's called You And Me and we did a cracking cover version of a Led Zeppelin blues track - Tea For One) .... but still, I am very excited!
Jan came in - did some gorgeous harmonics on the quiet section of the track we call "Billy Bunter", well, that's it's working title! He added some melodic lines to a sing-along bit and Adrian came in and had some nice lunches - and put down a terrific acoustic guitar track over one of Bruce's songs, Song #6, which could conceivably get a few spins on the radio even!! Steve put down some tasteful synths and sang ONE backing vocal; and really did a sterling job on the keyboards, ably assisted by long time Maiden stalwart, Michael Kenney - the live keyboard player, bass and guitar tech, and general all-round whiz-kid! I'm normally pretty feisty about the keyboards, as I don't love them -but these have really enhanced the few sections where they've been played! Actually, there hasn't been a fight on this entire session! Amazing! Adrian did burst a blood vessel and yell at Jan for having a giggle with me while he was trying to listen to one of his solos on a B-side track, but we put that down to the time of the month - and then 'Arry and I had that little "rockabilly" exchange back when - but it's been a seriously fantastic session! And you'll get to hear all of that!
So, that's where we're at. We've moved our mastering date forward, because as we'll finish well ahead of schedule, we can get some other things done - I'm gonna produce a quickie 10 day album in Las Vegas with indie-rockers Supagroup, I'll also fit in some surround sound mixes for future live releases, and I've got a couple of things to do for a little Jimmy Page thing that's going on in the background. You might wonder what all these rock stars do, when not dancing and prancing around the stage, but succesful people work very hard - and all the time too! It's exhausting!
So, I hope you've enjoyed this little peek into our week that's just flown by. All the boys are home today and I'm working in the studio on my own - making sure the rock/metal is just the way you like it! It doesn't sound like anyone else, and we like that! We don't listen to any current stuff and compare it in the studio - we like to make the music sound like music we want to hear. And I know you'll love it!
My son Josh's 18th birthday is 06.06.06.
Could I be parent of the Beast? I'd better check under his hair...........
Kevin Shirley
Caveman Productions Inc.
www.cavemanproductions.com"
51 Comments
Thanks for the mention Shadow, sounds like the album is progressing well - dogigniter
bring Martin Birch back! or anbody else but no Kevin Shirley. after poor productions for BNW and DOD I cant trust him anymore!
What was wrong with the production on BNW and DoD? I thought it was perfect for the atmosphere of those albums (*cough*Paschendale*cough*), but then I'm not that concerned with production unless it's really terrible. Sounds like they're flying through the stuff, but Kev sounds a bit overenthusiastic-I hope this album's as good as he makes out! Still, this update is heartening...Roll on Autumn 2006!
poor productions ? what you say man ? kevin is becoming my hero, and not only from his maiden works, ok? if is someone to get out this is steve from co-production
....
Seriously looking forward to this album, and although quite a few people don't think much of keyboards/synths being part of rock and heavy metal, I love it! Look at Maiden's "Moonchild" or Rush's "The Big Money", for instance. And there was bugger-all wrong with the production on BNW and DOD. If there was any Maiden albums which had production problems they were "Iron Maiden", "Fear Of The Dark" and "Virtual XI". But the production on BNW and DOD was top! - Nicko JR
I like BNW, DOD and their productions. To me Kevin is now the seventh guy of Maiden and i don't understand the 2nd comment. Guy you should live in the present, not in the past ! Martin Birch era was very good but it's over. Kevin is different but he does a very good job (not only with maiden, see led zeppelin live cd). Finally, i think kevin's presence is a key-element for maiden since 1999.
exactly ! is more obvious in BNW i think his achievment.......i trust the guy
KS is over rated. Birch was GOD. They sounded tighter when he was producing. BNW was the best thing they did since Birch left, yet the last cd's production was horrific!!!!!
Kevin Shirley Ate my balls
every MAIDEN album has its authentic sound (thanks to Martin B) - listen to the "Somewhere In Time" or "Seventh Son". even "No Prayer" or "Fear Of..." have it. but last 2 studio albums are indifferent and flat by sound
i don t find that BNW & DOD have same sound....though I like more the first, DOD demostrates an exellent engineering /mixing result......anyway, be reasonable at least, and ask something that's possible to be done, Mr Martin is retired, come on say a name.....I think you have nothing to propose, and even, you keep on whinning for imposibble things .....just to say something.........I m waiting your proposal anyway!!
ps : slave to the power of beer, where the hell you are ?
DoD was too compressed. At least the new album isn't mixed by Steve Harris!! I'm not really a 'Blaze' fan but those 2 albums had terrible, almost demo like, mixing!
hrmmrgh. I just want to say that if you all listen to all maidenalbums, you can hear a big difference in sound and dynamics. come on yàll, the greatest band in the world are preparing to release another masterpiece!! UP THE IRONS!
/slave to the power of beer, is back from the dead..
sound speaking, compression is good, the essence !! you just said it : 'At least the new album isn't mixed by Steve Harris!! ', what a horror film, it would be !!! (...keys R his adhesion by the way) totally agree with demo like mixing of harris, but how really wants to go back to this era ? (composition /sound / spirit of band speaking) when he is alone, stevie, he makes totally catastrophic desicions, he don t has to be so in charge really _______slave to the power of beer, my friend how R you ? it s been a while ? ____you'll see arsenal on TV with a beer in a while i suppose ?
What's up with this anonymous comments board. Ever since the website was "upgraded", no one signs in, which leads to useless arguments and inane comments such as "Kevin Shirly ate my balls". Plus the comments are uneditable by the commentor. I think it's time for another "upgrade."
-let me introduce myself : I'm no 5 -you re not a number, you R a free man !! - ha ha ha ha ha ......from now on, I will sign my comments......who's that guy that don't like kevin? i have to tell him some more words...hey you, don 't hide yourself____no5
listen edbaldhead, is not so bad having anonymous comments, you see, I challenged him to find me another name, exept kevin for producer, and he shouted his mouth.....weak comments that hidding behind anonymy can't really survive anyway,
free comments R charming, a challenge to discouver someone from his styl of writing____no5
It is not proper to post the diary here before it is also done in Caveman's diary page.
hahaha i like u ____no5. hey ___no5 wat do u tink of ks?
i started to listen other works of him lately, crowes, silverchair, aerosmith, ('live at the greek' i knew already -cult Lp) i really like that guy!!! i also like his diary......my only complain is that he don't fight enough with stevie to avoid f..kin keys.....i believe maiden has to fill the sound when nessecary with 'physic' instuments, not with keys......would like to see 'em on stage with a hired musician who 'll play this physic instrument.........kevin shirley : i'll continue to follow him even if he quit with maiden.......voila! but you didn' introduce yourself, what's your name/ number ? can't find tickets for the final, only 500€ in black market, forca Barca !!! (take a guess WHERE 11 arsenal big size cannons will dissapear the day of final :)_________no5
Hey, How the hell did you know Iam an Arsenal fan::!? We must be bloodbrothers! anyway as Phil Lynott once said: "Ive been depressed and restless" so much to do so little time.. I agree in what you said `bout Maiden looking back. It CANT be done, let those "classic" albums rest in peace, Iam dying to hear the first single from THIS album, and you, how are you?/the slave..
hey you Mr propre guy of 10:11 pm comment, don' t you work at Sanctuary by chance ? .....well if not, you R such a looser !!
....you see my friends here is the advantage of anonymity : these anonymous comments, can be from everyone, even from group members, or even mighty kevin.......but you bad sanctuary people stay away from this site_____no5
hey my friend 'slave !!!!!...we R blood brothers mate (even that on final we'll be 'enemies' for 90'), what was the 5th album (___no5) of maiden ? powerslave......you see what I mean ?.....well, i don't know, arsenal is a london team, it was just possible ....i can't wait also for maiden album, for this reason i started to write stuff for my own Lp :) just finished the first song.......i'm in good mood, even if no job=no money, i was just ready to take the car and go to center for watching Barca with a friend (as i don't have tv)........see you after the match mate, now that both of us have a name, we 'll comunicate easier !!_____no5
Pretty soon we will all have a new Maiden CD in our hands. With the Air Raid Siren at the helm. Ok.. Ok.. Damn I'm anxious already!
good evening no5...! Its going to be a great game on 17th of may! actually Iam a little bit of a Barca fan to.. I mean Henke Larsson, Ronaldhino..wonderful team and great football! Looking forward to this match cheers.. /slave
kevin shirley is a great producer... the work he did with dod and bnw was good work... the new maiden album gonna be better.. the greatset heavy metal band is back with a new studio album they are the greatest.. pu the irons sweden.. eddies back haha
hey slave, good to find you :) it's been 2 long days for me: agonies, adventures, and finally happy end-ings____today as I returned home the situation was a bit like of '2am' song, not so pessimistic but something of it_____been years that I didn't listen it, but it comes to my mind time to time....I never take my things when I leave a place, so there are cassetes, vinils, and cds of maiden, in some different places......here I am with the 2 last cds +singles DOD_______hey what you think of the DOD b-sides ? a lot of people don't like, but I LOVE both of them, well ok I love more 'pass the jam' that is the song I have heard probably most of any other of 2000-2005 era !!! apart nomad of course !! I like all spontaneous maiden songs 'the sherriff' 'nodding' ect _____what do you think so ?
shit, I forgot to sign, hey guys the spiritual rights of 12:08 am comment belongs to me, ___no5 as well as of 2 am song (see 12:08 am comment) belong to maiden.....well, I have to roll, I think :)="_______no5
Kevin Shirley: Please GIVE BACK MEE BALLS!
voila mesdames et messieurs ! the monster of intelligence and giant of glibness, he had 3 whole days to think of something clever and look what he found to say !! ___no5
metalHead:
I don't know what you are talkin about!
Iron Maiden always Rules!
With Or Without Kevin.
They are METAL ELITE , and if you don't like'it go to fuck yourself!!
UP THE IRONS!!!
metalHead just said it...take the first album, the "worst" production, a classic album!___no5
heaven can wait! its spring in sweden! and the beer tastes real good!!
sorry.. I forgot to sign, its the SLAVE who drinks beer. I MEAN IT! i LOVE iT!
hey slave you R from sweeden ? thought you were english.......fuck i m jealous, i always wanted to see'em in sweeden, hmrfm, time to roll i think :)="_____no5
When will Maiden play in Spain on this tour!?/slave to the power of beer.
in spain? 30/11.......you R intrested to see 'em in spain?____no5
well,it would be cool.. but maybe it would be expensive as hell! I have tickets for the gig at the Globe Arena on 25/11, do you have tickets for barcelona ??/slave
i have tickets for paris, is here i live....here is cheap, 43€, how much is for globe ?___no5
where the hell you dissapeared ? ___no5
sorry no 5.. I got lost.. in space.. anyway I thought you lived in spain. tickets for the gig in stockholm costs about25£ I think, we have standing seats and it will be a BLAST!It will the 7th time I see em!
the first question to answer is if each one of us has a ticket for the other, I have one for you .....after for reserving /programming the trips, I would say to wait by the end of summer, cause maybe I 'll be elsewhere than France by november (for every case, I 've bought 2 tickets for the gig at paris, the second I bought it without knowing for whom, seems it could be for you) ....so let's wait until september____no5 ps: you've got mine ticket ?
Sorry my mate..! I have got no tickets extra.. We booked 5 tickets and all of them have a
owner, but never say never.. back to Maiden now:) Wich song do you think is the best on somwhere in time..?
IM ammased 14 records thus far (soon enough). I'm sure the new album will kick so thats a total of 10 classics, 2 mediocre and 2 abysmal..overall great track record! Compare that to Metallica's track record! The Blaze years should have been a side project. Like "Blaze of Iron" or something!!
somewhere in time : ___no1) alex the great___no2) stranger in a strange land___no3) the loneliness...____no4) somewhere in time_____no5
I totally agree with the wise man of 3-May 6:02pm......hey man what's your name, thou that are so wise ? thou are new here? never heared so wise words here....I think I ve saw you to some other recent comments____no5
...'the wedding guest he beat his breast, yet he cannot choose but hear; and thus spake on that ancient man, the bright-eyed mariner'
I can't wait for the new album. Can someone tell me the name of it in one of your reviews please
Some weirdo says that Kevin Shirley made BWM and DOD poor production. WHAT!!!! They sound unbelievable E.G LISTEN TO THE QUALITY OF "GHOST OF THE NAVIGATOR", "PASCHENDALE" AND "THE NOMAD"
...he has his reasons, you know kevin ATE HIS BALLS -it's not funny- and now he wants 'em back; its not a critisism, its a cry of lament for his balls !!_____no5