Dust Brothers
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox musical artist
The Dust Brothers were a pair of songwriters and producers consisting of E.Z. Mike (Michael Simpson) and King Gizmo (John King).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They were famous for the sample-based music they produced in the 1980s and 1990s, and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys, Odelay, Midnite Vultures and Guero by Beck, the soundtrack to Fight Club, and "MMMBop" by Hanson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Larkin90">Template:Cite book</ref> They were based in Los Angeles, California.
History
1980s
Michael "E.Z." Simpson and John "Gizmo" King started working together as the Dust Brothers in 1985 at Pomona College radio station, KSPC, hosting a weekly hip-hop show called The Big Beat Showcase.
They developed writing and producing skills creating music for their show and DJing and rapping at parties. In 1987, they began writing and producing for the Delicious Vinyl label.<ref name="Larkin90"/> There they wrote and produced tracks on Tone Lōc's album, Lōc-ed After Dark, Young MC's debut album Stone Cold Rhymin', and other Delicious Vinyl releases.<ref name="Larkin90"/> They also worked with the Boo Yaa Tribe on the album New Funky Nation, producing several songs on that album.
Mike D of the Beastie Boys stopped by mutual friend Matt Dike's apartment, where Simpson and Dike played music intended to be a Dust Brothers album, and liked what he heard.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Dust Brothers along with Dike ended up co-writing, producing and mixing the Beastie Boys' second album, Paul's Boutique, considered one of the best albums of all time by Time in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref>
1990s
Beck had the Dust Brothers produce his album Odelay, released in 1996.<ref name="Larkin90"/> The album spawned the hits "Where It's At" (No. 61 on the Hot 100), "Devils Haircut" (No. 94 on the Hot 100), "The New Pollution" (No. 78) and "Jack-Ass" (No. 73).<ref name="Allmusicawards">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1995 the Dust Brothers co-produced Mötley Crüe frontman Vince Neil's second solo album Carved in Stone.
In 1997, they produced a track with Korn called "Kick the P.A." for the Spawn soundtrack; produced the number one hit "MMMBop" for Hanson's first major label album Middle of Nowhere; and created a song on the number one soundtrack to the Howard Stern film Private Parts named "Tortured Man", featuring vocals by Stern. The Dust Brothers also co-produced three songs on the Rolling Stones album, Bridges to Babylon.<ref name="Larkin90"/>
The next year, the duo were approached by director David Fincher to assemble the score for the film Fight Club,<ref name="Larkin90"/> including "This Is Your Life", a song featuring lines from the film, including a monologue by the character Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). The same year also saw the Dust Brothers collaborate with Jeymes Samuel aka the Bullitts on the soundtrack for the film Muppets from Space, recording a cover version of the Earth, Wind & Fire song "Shining Star".
In 1999, the two collaborated with Carlos Santana and Eagle-Eye Cherry on the track "Wishing It Was" which appeared on Santana's multi-platinum album Supernatural. For that album they won their first Grammy,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> after having received numerous nominations for their past work with Beck and with Hanson, and as artists for their instrumental song on the X-Files soundtrack.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also recorded, produced and mixed an album by 'hip pop' group 10 Cents named Buggin Out, and remixed the Styles of Beyond track "Winnetka Exit".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2000s
The Dust Brothers continued work into the 2000s, collaborating with Tenacious D on their self-titled debut and Linkin Park on the track "With You" from their first studio album Hybrid Theory, and recording music for the soundtrack to Malcolm in the Middle. They reunited with Beck for the 2005 album Guero.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Their last production together was in collaboration with They Might Be Giants, for their 2007 album The Else.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Unrealized album
In 1996, after the release of Odelay, reports of an original Dust Brothers album spread, with features in The Fly and Spin magazines discussing their plans. Two original tracks called "Searchin'" and "The Groomsman" appeared on editions of the Mo' Wax compilation series Headz.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 1997, the duo announced an album titled Marshall High for release on their own label Nickelbag Records later that year, and shared preliminary album artwork on their website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This album was repeatedly delayed, and eventually shelved in favor of a Greatest Hits album, which was also never saw release.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2003, Money Mark's Pinto Recordings released a 2xLP compilation titled The Dusted Years (The Complete Dust Brothers), featuring a selection of remixes and productions from across the duo's career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is unclear how involved Simpson and King were in selecting the tracklist.
King admitted in 2005 "We've been working on a Dust Brothers album since 1987, but songs continually get given to artists we work with. And now we're both so busy with things we're working on, and we both have families, that it's hard to get round to doing your own thing."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Interactions with the Chemical Brothers
The Dust Brothers name and trademark was used by the British duo that eventually became the Chemical Brothers as they began their career. Used as an homage to the American group, they changed their name when they were unable to convince the Dust Brothers to sell the name.<ref name="Larkin90"/> Their subsequent debut album, published as the Chemical Brothers, was then named Exit Planet Dust. Eventually the groups reached an understanding, and the duos swapped remixes - the Chemical Brothers' 1997 EP Elektrobank featured a Dust Brothers remix of the title track, while The Chemical Brothers remixed the Dust Brothers track "Realize" for the soundtrack of the 1998 film Dead Man on Campus.
Production credits
| Album | Song | Year | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lōc-ed After Dark | Cutting Rhythms; Next Episode; Don't Get Close | 1989 | Tone Loc |
| Paul's Boutique | entire album
|
Beastie Boys | |
| Escape from Havana | Hip Hop Creature | Mellow Man Ace | |
| Stone Cold Rhymin' | Know How; Got More Rhymes {co-produced by Michael Ross} | Young MC | |
| Just a Poet with Soul | Give It Here {co-produced by Def Jef}; Do It Baby; God Made Me Funky {co-produced by Def Jef}; Just a Poet {co-produced by Michael Ross} | Def Jef | |
| New Funky Nation | Rater R; Don't Mess; Once Upon a Drive By; Riot Pump | 1990 | Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. |
| Mercurotones | Libertine | The Buck Pets | |
| Back to Skull | Snail Dust | 1994 | They Might Be Giants |
| Odelay | entire album
|
1996 | Beck |
| Feel the Power | entire album
|
Wesley Willis | |
| Bridges to Babylon | Anybody Seen My Baby?; Might As Well Get Juiced; Saint of Me | 1997 | The Rolling Stones |
| MMMBop | Thinking of You<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Hanson | |
| Middle of Nowhere | |||
| Private Parts (soundtrack) | Tortured Man | Howard Stern | |
| Half Baked (soundtrack) | Virgin Girl | 1998 | Smash Mouth & Chopper |
| Mary Jane | Coolio | ||
| Dead Man on Campus (soundtrack) | We Still Need More (Than Anyone Has) | Supergrass | |
| Cowboy Song | Blur | ||
| Supernatural | Wishing It Was | 1999 | Santana |
| Midnite Vultures | Hollywood Freaks; Debra | Beck | |
| Hybrid Theory | With You {additional beating} | 2000 | Linkin Park |
Remixes
- King T - "Diss You" (Dust Remix) {1990}
- Nitzer Ebb - "Fun to Be Had" {1990}
- Technotronic - "This Beat Is Technotronic" (Dust Mix) {1990}
- Nikolaj Steen - "Angel" (Dust Mix) {1991}
- Shonen Knife - "Tomato Head" (Jazzy Tomato Head Mix) {1994}
- Ben Harper - "Whipping Boy" (Remix) {1994}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Filter - "Hey Man Nice Shot" (1/4 pound mix / 1/2 oz mix Nickel Bag Mix) {1995}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Fluke - "Bullet" (Dusty Jazz/Afro Punk Mix) {1995}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Korn - "Shoots and Ladders" (Dust Brothers Hip Hop Mix) {1995}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Machines of Loving Grace - "Richest Junkie Still Alive" (Dust Brothers Cherry Valley Remix) [1995}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Whale - "HOBO HUMPIN" (doggy style) [Dust Brothers Remix] {1995}
- White Zombie - "Grease Paint and Monkey Brains" - Sin Centers Of Suburbia Mix (Explicit) {1996}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Money Mark - "Cry" (D.B. Remix) {1996}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Beck - "Dark and Lovely" (Remix) {1996}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Chemical Brothers - "Electrobank" (Remix) {1997}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- The Folk Implosion - "Insinuation" (Remix) {1997}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Sukia - "Dream Machine" (Dust Brothers Mix) {1997}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Natural Calamity - "As You Know" (Dust Bros. Remix) {1997}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- White Zombies - "I'm Your Boogie Man" - Sex On The Rocks Mix {1997}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Len - "Feelin' Alright" Remix {1999}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- April March - "Nothing New" (Remix) {1999}<ref>[1] Template:Dead link</ref>
- Morgan - "Miss Parker" (DB Remix) {1999}<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>