Episode 26 Ed Stasium/Producer & Engineer: The Ramones, Mick Jagger, Living Colour, Soul Asylum & More!

When you’ve spent almost all of your adult life in the music industry, and watching history being made, the stories you could tell are legion. Ed Stasium has that experience. He and Andy relive a good portion of the history of the music industry from the 1950s to today and how they both love and hate how it’s all changed.    Ed’s parents loved to listen to music but neither of them were musicians. They spared no expense in letting him explore his musical nature and dig into every facet of the process that he was moved by. Everything from providing him with guitar lessons to saving up and purchasing his very first tape recorder, they were willing to support him fully.    While he was in high school, he and some friends formed a garage band and that was his first step into the industry itself. He learned how to produce, mix, and engineer on the job and by working with some of the biggest names in music. He is now working on creating an anniversary box set for The Ramones, a band that he has been closely linked to for their entire career.    Listen as Ed shares stories about working with various production companies and bands, and why rock and roll has always had his heart. He has a refreshing way of discussing his role in creating some of the most iconic music through the decades and his humility whilst discussing his genius is fascinating to hear.    Show Highlights:   [00:00:10] Ed Stasium is an American record producer and engineer who has seen rock ‘n roll grow up.  [00:01:18] Ed shares how he met and began working with Mastering Engineer, Greg Calbi, who was also interviewed by Andy on The Music Makers. [00:01:58] Learn more about his work on The Ramones 40 year anniversary box set.  [00:05:47] When did his passion for music begin?  [00:09:13] His first experience with a tape recorder.  [00:12:06] How his garage band started and then his transition into engineering. [00:18:14] His first foray in building a studio.  [00:22:50] Learn what it takes to align tape machines. [00:25:40] How he learned his craft.  [00:28:57] Ed recounts working with several French Canadian artists.  [00:32:08] He even worked with the Bee Gees. Learn more.  [00:34:09] How he became an audio consultant and engineer for Media Sound’s new studio and later, The Power Station.  [00:38:52] What was the impetus for him finally becoming a part of the Media family?  [00:39:49] Learn more about his time with The Ramones.  [00:42:48] Did he know the Talking Heads before working with them?  [00:44:34] What was it like working with Mick Jagger?  [00:50:17] Ed shares what it was like working on the first Living Colour album. [00:55:33] What was it like working with Soul Asylum and The Smithereens?  [00:59:03] Hear more about his time working with Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. [01:00:46] Why he took a step away from the industry and moved to Durango, CO. [01:04:12] Does he miss the days of bands recording together?  [01:06:47] What about digital technology does he like?  [01:09:45] Learn how he’s adapted to the times and working remotely.    LINKS & RESOURCES   Ed Stasium: https://edstasium.com  Mentioned:  Episode 13 Greg Calbi: Iconic Mastering Engineer Follow The Music Makers:  The Music Makers on Instagram   The Music Makers podcast theme song was written and produced by Andy Kushner with help from the rhythm section and horn players of the band, SoundConnection: Elliot Jefferson, Lamonte Silver, Keith Hammond, Roy Lambert, Joe Herrera, and Craig Alston.   Sponsor: Kushner Entertainment    Check out Andy's Other Podcast: The Wedding Biz