Latest news with #RoyThomasBaker
Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Roy Thomas Baker obituary: record producer on Bohemian Rhapsody
If something is worth doing, Roy Thomas Baker once said, then it's worth overdoing. Nowhere was this philosophy of excess deployed more effectively than in his gloriously over-the-top production on Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. Baker created the record, which at the time was said to be the most expensive ever produced, by layering almost 200 tracks on top of each other to create an aural masterpiece of bombastic brilliance. 'Bohemian Rhapsody was totally insane, but we enjoyed every minute of it. It was basically a joke, but a successful joke,' Baker recalled in 1999, after the song had become one of the biggest-selling British singles of all time, alongside Elton John's Candle in the Wind and Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas? Baker produced
American Military News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- American Military News
Roy Thomas Baker, record producer behind Queen's ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,' dies at 78
Roy Thomas Baker, the hitmaking record producer behind some of the biggest and most proudly polished songs and albums of the rock era — including Queen's chart-topping, multipart 'Bohemian Rhapsody' — died April 12 at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. He was 78. His death was announced by a spokesperson, Bob Merlis, who said the cause had not yet been established. Known for his technological savvy and his discipline in the recording studio, Baker oversaw the creation of Queen's first four albums, which spun off a varied assortment of singles in the early 1970s including the jaunty 'Killer Queen,' the tender 'You're My Best Friend' and the almost comically elaborate 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' which moves over six minutes from a show-tune-style intro through a densely arranged operatic sequence before climaxing in a hard-rock section that inspired a headbanging set piece in 1992's 'Wayne's World' movie. ''Bohemian Rhapsody' was totally insane, but we enjoyed every minute of it,' Baker told Mix magazine in 1999. 'It was basically a joke, but a successful joke.' The song went to No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart in 1975 and later peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 after 'Wayne's World' was released. In 2018, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' provided the title of the blockbuster biopic about Queen's flamboyant frontman, Freddie Mercury; on Spotify, the song has been streamed more than 2.7 billion times. Baker had a similarly close artistic relationship with the Cars, whose first four albums he produced; among the gleaming new wave hits they created were 'Just What I Needed,' 'My Best Friend's Girl,' 'Let's Go' and 'Shake It Up.' The producer also worked with Journey, Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Devo and Ozzy Osbourne, among many others. He reunited with Queen in 1978 to make 'Jazz.' Born in the Hampstead area of London on Nov. 10, 1946, Baker got his start in music as a second engineer at London's vaunted Decca Studios and Trident Studios, where he assisted the producers Gus Dudgeon and Tony Visconti and worked on records by the likes of David Bowie, the Who and the Rolling Stones. He moved to Los Angeles in the late '70s and later became an A&R rep for Elektra Records, helping to bring acts including Metallica and 10,000 Maniacs to the label. In the late '90s and early 2000s, he produced albums by Local H, the Smashing Pumpkins and the Darkness. Baker is survived by his wife, Tere Livrano Baker, and his brother, Alan Baker. Asked by Mix what he thought of artists forgoing producers to make their own records, Baker compared the decision to 'someone wanting to be their own lawyer in court' and advised against it. 'I think, even if you're a great producer who happens to be an artist, and you're great at working with other artists, you should never produce yourself,' he said. 'You still need somebody else around to make sure you get the best out of yourself, because you can't be in two places at once.' ___ © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Roy Thomas Baker: Remembering The Legendary Record Producer In 7 Albums
LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 9: Rock producer Roy Thomas Baker poses for a portrait at The Village ... More Recording Studio in Los Angeles, California on December 9, 2005. (Photo by Jim Steinfeldt/Michael) If there were a record producer who became the go-to guy for musicians wanting a distinct hard rock sound, it would be Roy Thomas Baker. His list of production credits reads like a who's who of classic rock from the 1970s and 1980s — among them were Queen, the Cars, Foreigner, Cheap Trick, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne and Yes. Additionally, he worked on records by Devo, the Stranglers, the Smashing Pumpkins and Mötley Crüe. In his works, Baker brought the best out of the artists he collaborated with through state-of-the-art techniques and atmospherics that defined the stadium rock aesthetic. The U.K.-born Baker died at the age of 78 on April 12, his publicist announced on April 22. Following the news of Baker's death. Queen guitarist Brian May wrote on Instagram: 'Roy was a part of our production team from the very beginning up to and including the album 'A night at the Opera'. We then parted company for 'A Day at the Races', but reunited for the 'Jazz' album. 'Roy's production contribution along with Mike Stone's engineering for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' will never be forgotten,' May continued. 'Thank you, Roy for all the great work you did for us, and all the fun we had. Rest in Peace.' 'I am very sorry to hear of Roy Thomas Baker's passing. He played a big part in our early years. RIP,' wrote Queen drummer Roger Taylor also on Instagram. In tribute to Baker, here are seven of the many hit albums that he worked on. 8th September 1976: British rock group Queen at Les Ambassadeurs, where they were presented with ... More silver, gold and platinum discs for sales in excess of one million of their hit single 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The band are, from left to right, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), Roger Taylor and Brian May. (Photo) A Night at the Opera (1975) Queen's tour de force fourth album is the British group's signature work; it is also the crowning achievement for Baker, who had previously co-produced Queen's first three albums (Queen, Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack). Among such notable tracks as 'You're My Best Friend," 'I'm in Love With My Car' and 'Love of My Life,' the record's centerpiece is unquestionably 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' the six-minute operatic epic that catapulted Queen to major stardom. In an interview with the New York Times in 2005, Baker said of the iconic song: "I thought it was going to be a hit. We didn't know it was going to be quite that big. I didn't realize it was still going to be talked about 30 years later." The Cars 1978 Greg Hawkes, David Robinson, Ric Ocasek Benjamin Orr and Elliot Easton (Photo by ... More Chris Walter/WireImage) The Cars (1978) Baker's relationship with Boston-based New Wave band the Cars began with their 1978 self-titled debut album, which contained several of the Cars' most beloved songs in 'Just What I Needed,' 'Good Times Roll,' 'My Best Friend's Girl,' 'You're All I've Got Tonight' and 'Moving in Stereo.' Following the success of The Cars, Baker worked with the band on their next three albums. In the news release about Baker's death, Cars guitarist Elliott Easton said of the late record producer: 'Roy was one of the pieces of the puzzle that made The Cars what they became. He didn't belabor anything or take things overly seriously. He was fun to work with, a mirthful guy whose affect was kind of Monty Pythonesque and, as it happens, a great cook.' (L-R) American rock guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist, Neal Schon, English drummer, Aynsley ... More Dunbar, American singer and keyboardist, Gregg Rolie, American singer and songwriter, Steve Perry and American musician, Ross Valory, of the American rock band Journey, pose for a group portrait circa August, 1978 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by) Infinity (1978) Journey's fourth album from 1978 is notable for two things: it marked the debut of singer Steve Perry and Baker's first collaboration with the band. Infinity became Journey's commercial breakthrough album with the classic songs 'Lights' and 'Wheel in the Sky,' and Baker would return for Journey's follow-up hit record, 1979's Evolution. 'We did Infinity with the infamous Roy Thomas Baker,' said Journey guitarist Neal Schon in a press statement, "and we did so many different things on that record that I'd never tried, or even thought about doing. I learned a lot from Roy.' (MANDATORY CREDIT) Foreigner photographed for Music Life Magazine, ... More California, United States in March 1978. (L to R) Ian McDonald, Lou Gramm, Al Greenwood, Ed Gagliardi, Mick Jones, Dennis Elliott. (Photo by) Head Games (1979) Foreigner's hit streak continued with the group's third album Head Games, which also became Baker's first and only credit with that band. Among the record's popular songs were the title track, 'Dirty White Boy' and 'Women'; Head Games peaked at number five on the Billboard album chart and has since sold 5 million copies in the U.S. Cheap Trick 1982 Bun E Carlos, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander and Jon Brant (Photo by Chris ... More Walter/WireImage) One on One (1982) Baker also brought his hit-making magic to Cheap Trick's One on One, a transitional record as it was the group's first album without longtime bassist Tom Petersson (he was replaced by Jon Brant). The record transformed the Rockford, Illinois, power pop group into an arena rock outfit, buoyed by such tracks as 'She's Tight,' 'If You Want My Love' and 'Lookin' Out for Number One.' Singer Ozzy Osbourne (Photo by Bill Marino/Sygma via Getty Images) No Rest for the Wicked (1988) It seemed inevitable that Baker and Ozzy Osbourne would collaborate, given their backgrounds in hard rock and metal. The pairing finally occurred for 1988's No Rest for the Wicked album, which featured 'Miracle Man' and 'Crazy Babies.' The double-platinum success of this driving and sweeping record extended the former Black Sabbath singer's popularity during the 1980s. Portrait of the members British Rock band the Darkness, circa 2005. Pictured are, from left, Ed ... More Graham, Dan Hawkins, Justin Hawkins, and Frankie Poullain. (Photo by) One Way Ticket to Hell... and Back (2005) In some way, Baker's work on British rock group the Darkness' second album represented a full-circle moment for the producer, as the band's glam-influenced sound recalled the best of early Queen. 'We wanted to get the best of both worlds, of old and new,' Baker said in a 2006 interview with Sound on Sound. 'I think we ended up succeeding, because it sounds like it was done last week, and yet there are aspects where you go 'Wow, I recognise that from the '70s or '80s.'"
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Roy Thomas Baker Dies: Producer On ‘Bohemian Rhapsody' & Other Classics Was 78
Roy Thomas Baker, the prolific producer who worked with the likes of Queen, The Cars, David Bowie, Devo, Journey and The Smashing Pumpkins, has died according to The New York Times. He was 78. Baker is best known for his work on one of rock's greatest and most enduring anthems: Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' The sprawling operatic song proved a challenge to record, especially given the technology of the time. Baker and the band had to transfer the tune's many overlapping tracks across eight generations of 24-track tape, which required close to 200 tracks for overdubs. More from Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries Queen's Brian May Reveals Minor Stroke; Guitarist Recovering After "Health Hiccup" Left Him Unable To Use Arm 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Producers & Anthony McCarten End Scribe's Legal Battle Over Profits From Freddie Mercury Biopic - Update 'We had to record it in three separate units,' Baker later recalled. 'We did the whole beginning bit, then the whole middle bit and then the whole end. It was complete madness. The middle part started off being just a couple of seconds, but Freddie kept coming in with more 'Galileos' and we kept on adding to the opera section, and it just got bigger and bigger.' The song, released in 1978, originally reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200. It found a whole new life when it became part of the soundtrack for Wayne's World in 1992. 'When the song was released, I thought it was going to be a hit,' Baker told The New York Times in 2005. 'We didn't know it was going to be quite that big. I didn't realize it was still going to be talked about 30 years later.' He also worked with The Rolling Stones, The Who, Nazareth, Santana, T. Rex, Yes, Guns N' Roses, Alice Cooper, Foreigner, Pilot, Ozzy Osbourne, The Stranglers, Dusty Springfield, T'Pau, Mötley Crüe and Cheap Trick, among many others. On hearing the news of Baker's passing, Queen guitarist Brian May wrote, 'Very sad to hear of the passing of Roy Thomas Baker. Roy played a huge part in the production of so much Queen music in the early days…Roy's production contribution along with Mike Stone's engineering for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' will never be forgotten. I regret slipping out of touch lately with Roy. I suppose life moves at such a pace these days that we imagine there will be plenty of time to rekindle a friendship, and then suddenly, one day, it's too late. Thank you, Roy for all the great work you did for us, and all the fun we had. Rest in Peace.' Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corrigan shared a photo of the duo working together and wrote, 'RIP Roy Thomas Baker.' RIP Roy Thomas Baker — William Patrick Corgan (@Billy) April 23, 2025 DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Best of Deadline 2025 Deaths Photo Gallery: Hollywood & Media Obituaries 2024 Hollywood & Media Deaths: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Remembering Shelley Duvall: A Career In Photos
Daily Mail
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Legendary Queen star Roy Thomas Baker dies aged 78 as tributes pour in for Bohemian Rhapsody hitmaker
Queen's producer Roy Thomas Baker has died aged 78. The studio wizard was best known for his lengthy working relationship with the British rock legends, having produced five of their albums, including 1975's A Night at the Opera, which featured the timeless classic Bohemian Rhapsody. Roy died on April 12 at his home in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. News of his passing was confirmed by his publicist in a statement, but no cause of death has been given. The music star worked with several big artists and bands including David Bowie, Guns N' Roses, Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Free, Journey, Yes and the Smashing Pumpkins. He also helped produce four albums for The Cars in the 1970s and 80s as well as Mötley Crüe's debut studio album Too Fast for Love. However, he was best known for helping to create Queen's classic tune Bohemian Rhapsody. The hit track earned two Grammy nominations and in 2004 was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Roy always knew Bohemian Rhapsody would be a hit, despite being skeptical that it was too long at nearly six minutes. However, he didn't realise just how big the hit would become. In a 2005 interview with The New York Times, he said: 'I thought it was going to be a hit. We didn't know it was going to be quite that big. I didn't realise it was still going to be talked about 30 years later.' Tributes from fans have since poured in for the influential producer on X ( formerly Twitter). One wrote: 'Thank you for making my music world richer Mr. Roy Thomas Baker. Rest in peace.'; 'Another rock and roll legend, producer Roy Thomas Baker, passes. Baker made massive contributions to so many of rock's best bands, especially Queen, and The Cars, and his genius will be missed. Rest in peace.'; 'Roy Thomas Baker, the producer who helmed seminal works by Queen and The Cars, has died at 78. While many will point to his work on "Bohemian Rhapsody", I personally liked how The Cars s/t debut LP ends with 'Moving in Stereo' fading into 'All Mixed Up'.'; 'R.I.P. Roy Thomas Baker, producer of many of my favourite albums including those by Be Bop Deluxe, Free, The Cars, Hawkwind and this, the 3rd best record of all time.'; 'Sad to hear that Roy Thomas Baker has passed. Responsible for the sound of some of my favourite albums growing up, especially Queen. #RIP Roy.' Queen drummer Roger Taylor, 75, previously hailed Roy's influence on the band's music. He said: 'I think he brought a certain amount of discipline and a lot of cynicism (laughs), and a passion for fattening desserts. But no, he was very disciplined and very strict in the beginning. 'But he would always get it right. The take had to be right. We would do a lot of takes sometimes before it was right. Because things were very different then, you know, you had to get it all right, all at once.' Roy was just 14 years old when he began his career at Decca Records in the late 1960s. He then became an in-house engineer at Central London studio, Trident, where he first met Queen. Roy worked on the band's self-titled debut album in 1973 and went on to produce the band's next four studio albums. In a 1995 interview with Sound On Sound, the iconic producer revealed that Bohemian Rhapsody was meant to have just a 'couple of Galileos' but things changed once they were inside the studio. He also helped produce four albums for The Cars in the 1970s and 80s as well as Mötley Crüe's debut studio album Too Fast for Love (L-R Ric Ocasek, Elliot Easton, Greg Hawkes, Benjamin Orr, and David Robinson in 1978) Tributes from fans have since poured in for the influential producer on X ( formerly Twitter) He said: 'It (Bohemian Rhapsody) was the first time that an opera section had been incorporated into a pop record, let alone a Number One, 'It was obviously very unusual and we originally planned to have just a couple of Galileos. But things often have a habit of evolving differently once you're inside the studio, and it did get longer and bigger.' In the wake of Queen's success, he moved to New York to work for Columbia Records. It was there he produced artists such as Journey, Ian Hunter and Ronnie Wood, before being offered a senior Artist and Repertoire role at Elektra Records. In an interview with MixOnline in 1999, Roy stressed the importance of creating music that sounds unique. He told the publication: 'My whole thing is, the more different you can sound from anything else around but still be commercially successful is great! Over the years, I've always hearkened back to that philosophy. 'Back when I did Bohemian Rhapsody, who would've ever thought of having a single with an opera section in the middle?
