Now with the world being such a global community, the way the Internet has sort of leveled the playing field because you have so many things that are instantly accessible. It used to feel that way though, this outside pressure that you had to go to New York or LA or actually Nashville if you're into country music to succeed. But obviously we didn't and I didn't move to LA til after I had established us. I think it's easier for people to do it these days just because of the global world we live in.
Butch VigIt's funny, I don't really feel that nostalgic. I only recently started putting up some photos from some of the sessions I've done over the years and some of the Garbage sessions because my daughter, who's 10-years-old, when she was about 6 or 7 she was more curious about what I do. I have all these platinum records and stuff, they've all just been in boxes in storage for years but I started just digging through those things because I sort of want her to be aware of my past. I never really put the old recordings on and listen to them and go, "Oh that sounds great."
Butch VigWhat I love about analogue is it really forces you to go for a performance. I hear these young bands play perfect and they've been manipulated so much that there's not much personality to them. It's taken away some of the rawness and immediacy you get from a human performance.
Butch VigI think the Cosmic Psychos were a band that was highly influential on the Seattle so called grunge scene. I know that Kurt and Nirvana were fans, they played shows with Pearl Jam. Even thou the Cosmic Psychos never had the commercial impact or success that those bands had, they were still a major influence on them, and I think a lot of it had to do with the spirit and the sound of their music.
Butch VigI'm a gear head. I love gear. If I have the choice, of course I'd rather use a great microphone, a Neumann microphone and a vintage Neve board.
Butch VigI think also just being from the Midwest, my dad was a stoic Midwesterner, he always told me never take anything for granted and you have to work for what you get so. That's funny because my friend Frank Anderson said something really funny he goes, "A lot of the people from the midwest are the laziest shits I've ever met." And he's right. I know some. You can't say its a stereotype that only people from the Midwest are that way because there are definitely people I know who hate to work and just want to hang out and drink beer.
Butch Vig