Dave Goodman
Encyclopedia
Dave Goodman was a record producer
and musician
, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols
, and the producer of three of their studio demo
sessions.
. Goodman also maintained that many of his own production innovations and arrangement ideas in relation to the Sex Pistols songs were lifted and reused in the creation of the official releases.
rehearsal room (with post-production at Riverside and Decibel Studios), when they were without a record contract. These demos helped secure the deal with EMI
and furnished the eventual B-side track, "I Wanna Be Me".
The second session, held 10–12 October 1976 at Lansdowne Studios (reconvening at Wessex Studios), was an abortive attempt to record the "Anarchy in the U.K.
" single. The group had signed with EMI the previous week, and it later transpired that the sessions had originally been booked by Polydor
, whom manager Malcolm McLaren
had been playing off against EMI, and who had assumed they would imminently sign the group. Although the recording of the single was abandoned (the single was eventually produced by Chris Thomas
), the session did produce several cover versions later used as B-sides and on the soundtrack album The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, which Goodman helped engineer and produce.
The final sessions with Goodman, between 17 and 28 January 1977 at Gooseberry Studios (post-production at Eden Studios
), took place while the group was in a hiatus and negotiating a settlement from EMI following their sacking. These were the last recordings made by the original group line-up, and they helped them win their subsequent record deals with A&M
and Virgin
. The sessions also featured the first studio recording of "New York" and the Sex Pistols' valedictory song to their former record company, "EMI".
Spunk
in 1977, and the demos have formed the basis for countless other subsequent official, semi-official and bootleg records since, including many releases initiated or licensed by Goodman himself. In 2002, he had been planning a new release of raw pre-Spunk demo mixes, entitled X-Spunk.
In 2000 he appeared in the cult underground film Remember a Day (2000 film)
, as The Mime Troupe Leader, he also provided the incidental music soundtrack with Darryl Read
who starred in the film as Roger Bannerman.
Goodman produced several other early punk rock
acts, including Eater
, Chelsea
, Maniacs, UK Subs
and in 2002 with Darryl Read
. He subsequently produced and performed with very many other artists, and eventually ran his own studio and record label in Malta
, Mandala Music.
Goodman was later involved in producing a series of 'sound-a-like Pistols' tracks using the name "Ex Pistols
", much to the confusion of Sex Pistols fans, some of which believed the songs to be the real deal. The tracks were recorded using numerous session musicians, even including Glen Matlock
.
Dave Goodman died of a heart attack
at his home in Malta.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, perhaps best known as the live sound engineer for Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, and the producer of three of their studio demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
sessions.
Sex Pistols
Some Sex Pistols fans prefer the raw "live" sound captured by Goodman to the official versions of the songs released as single A-sides and on the album Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex PistolsNever Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols
Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols is the only studio album by the highly influential and controversial English punk rock band The Sex Pistols...
. Goodman also maintained that many of his own production innovations and arrangement ideas in relation to the Sex Pistols songs were lifted and reused in the creation of the official releases.
Recording sessions
The first Goodman/Sex Pistols session was recorded between 13 and 30 July 1976 at the group's Denmark StreetDenmark Street
Denmark Street is a short narrow road in central London, notable for its connections with British popular music, and is known as the British Tin Pan Alley. The road connects Charing Cross Road at its western end with St Giles High Street at its eastern end. Denmark Street is in the London Borough...
rehearsal room (with post-production at Riverside and Decibel Studios), when they were without a record contract. These demos helped secure the deal with EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
and furnished the eventual B-side track, "I Wanna Be Me".
The second session, held 10–12 October 1976 at Lansdowne Studios (reconvening at Wessex Studios), was an abortive attempt to record the "Anarchy in the U.K.
Anarchy in the U.K.
"Anarchy in the U.K." was covered by American thrash metal band Megadeth for their third album So Far, So Good... So What!, released in 1988.Notoriously, the song has incorrect lyrics...
" single. The group had signed with EMI the previous week, and it later transpired that the sessions had originally been booked by Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
, whom manager Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
had been playing off against EMI, and who had assumed they would imminently sign the group. Although the recording of the single was abandoned (the single was eventually produced by Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas (record producer)
Chris Thomas is an English record producer who has worked extensively with The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Roxy Music, Badfinger, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Pulp and The Pretenders. He has also produced breakthrough albums for The Sex Pistols and INXS.Thomas is quoted as saying -Early life:Thomas was...
), the session did produce several cover versions later used as B-sides and on the soundtrack album The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle, which Goodman helped engineer and produce.
The final sessions with Goodman, between 17 and 28 January 1977 at Gooseberry Studios (post-production at Eden Studios
Eden Studios
Eden Studios was a commercial recording facility in west London. It opened in 1967, originally at 11 Eden Street in Kingston upon Thames, before moving to 20-24 Beaumont Road in Chiswick in 1972. It was started by Philip Love, Mike Gardner and Piers Ford-Crush. Love and Gardner owned the studio and...
), took place while the group was in a hiatus and negotiating a settlement from EMI following their sacking. These were the last recordings made by the original group line-up, and they helped them win their subsequent record deals with A&M
A&M Records
A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that operates under the mantle of its Interscope-Geffen-A&M division.-Beginnings:...
and Virgin
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. The sessions also featured the first studio recording of "New York" and the Sex Pistols' valedictory song to their former record company, "EMI".
Reuse
Many of Goodman's Sex Pistols demos were subsequently released on the bootleg albumBootleg recording
A bootleg recording is an audio or video recording of a performance that was not officially released by the artist or under other legal authority. The process of making and distributing such recordings is known as bootlegging...
Spunk
Spunk (Sex Pistols album)
Spunk is a bootleg demo album by the English punk rock band The Sex Pistols. It was originally released in the United Kingdom during September or October of 1977....
in 1977, and the demos have formed the basis for countless other subsequent official, semi-official and bootleg records since, including many releases initiated or licensed by Goodman himself. In 2002, he had been planning a new release of raw pre-Spunk demo mixes, entitled X-Spunk.
Later work
In August 1978 he released a single "Justifiable Homicide" under the name Dave Goodman and Friends.In 2000 he appeared in the cult underground film Remember a Day (2000 film)
Remember a Day (2000 film)
Remember a Day is a low-budget film made in 2000 and inspired by an original story by Bernard White . The film depicts Roger Bannerman, a former rock star, now fading into obscurity and becoming a recluse...
, as The Mime Troupe Leader, he also provided the incidental music soundtrack with Darryl Read
Darryl Read
Darryl Read is a British poet, singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, and writer. Read is among the forerunners of punk rock...
who starred in the film as Roger Bannerman.
Goodman produced several other early punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
acts, including Eater
Eater
Eater were an early British punk band from London who took their name from a Marc Bolan lyric. In 2001, the band’s second single, "Thinking of the USA" , was included in a leading British music magazine’s list of the best punk-rock singles of all-time...
, Chelsea
Chelsea (band)
Chelsea are an English punk rock band, formed in London in 1976.Three of the four original band members went on to help found Generation X. More than two decades after its release, "Right to Work", Chelsea's debut single, was included in Mojo magazine's list of the best punk rock singles of all...
, Maniacs, UK Subs
UK Subs
The U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. They were also one of the first street punk bands.-Career:The U.K...
and in 2002 with Darryl Read
Darryl Read
Darryl Read is a British poet, singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, and writer. Read is among the forerunners of punk rock...
. He subsequently produced and performed with very many other artists, and eventually ran his own studio and record label in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Mandala Music.
Goodman was later involved in producing a series of 'sound-a-like Pistols' tracks using the name "Ex Pistols
Ex Pistols
The Ex Pistols were a scam act introduced in 1979 by one-time Sex Pistols producer Dave Goodman after his services were substituted for those of professional producers...
", much to the confusion of Sex Pistols fans, some of which believed the songs to be the real deal. The tracks were recorded using numerous session musicians, even including Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock
Glen Matlock is an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments...
.
Dave Goodman died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at his home in Malta.