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Thursday August 24th, 2000

gibson.com exclusive: Bowie guitarist, producer, engineer Mark Plati

Guitarist, producer, engineer Mark Plati does it all for the enigmatic David Bowie. They've been collaborating for the past four years. Gibson.com found Mark in a New York City studio and talked about what's going on in his world-concerning his art, Bowie's latest work, and Gibson guitars.

Q. Mark, please tell me about the current project your involved with?
A. What we're doing is taking songs that David wrote in the 1960's and recording them again or for the first time in a few cases. These songs were from the same time period--1966-68-but the original versions all had different producers, so stylistically they're all over the place. Plus, David's voice wasn't very developed, and he didn't have enough experience in the studio environment to make the songs sound the way he wanted them to. Both of those are non-issues now, of course.

Q. How did you come to work with Bowie?
A. Completely by chance, as these things usually go. In 1996 David decided to do some work at Looking Glass Studios, where I had been working on and off since 1991, and had my own MIDI room. I was the natural choice to engineer his sessions, as I knew the studio so well. After we met, David and I hit it off immediately, and the few sessions we did eventually grew into the Earthling album. (Go here to listen to tracks for Earthling)

Q. What's the dynamic between being a band member as well as producing the sessions?
A. It's actually pretty simple. I've been acting as David's band leader for the last couple of outings. This entails making sure people have their parts; they're comfortable and in a situation where the best comes out of them and nobody is stepping on anybody else's musical toes. It's not about telling people what to play, but about shaping what they naturally do to fit the whole - which, surprise, is exactly like producing a record (at least in my mind!). Since I've been working with this crew for a while - (Sterling Campbell/drums, Gail Ann Dorsey/bass+guitar, Mike Garson/Keyboards, Emm Gryner/Vox, Holly Palmer/Vox+percussion, Earl Slick/guitars) - we all know each other pretty well, so there's no guesswork on the personality side of things. It can get a bit hairy for me having to jump back and forth from musician to producer. I'm usually beat by the end of a tracking day, but it's a lot of fun.

Q. Let's talk about some of the guitars you've used-on these as well as other sessions. What do you like about Gibsons?
A. Oh, lots of things--the sound, the look and feel for starters. I started out playing a Gibson almost (gulp) 30 years ago, so they're a part of the family. They're a tradition as well. It'd feel weird not to have one wouldn't it?

Q. I agree!! What about older-vintage models?
A. I own a 1967 EB-2 bass, which is the model I began to learn bass on in 1974. It was the coolest thing I'd ever seen up to that point in my 12-year-old life. It completely blew me away, and I made it a mission to learn how to play it. I've also got a 1978 ES-355TD, which was a gift from David Bowie & Reeves Gabrels. I keep that strung with flatwounds, it's got a very specific vibe to it. There's the brand new '61 SG Reissue, which I've used on the latest Bowie tour and album. I also own a 1968 SG, which has seen a number of battles and I don't really use anymore.

Q. I also see you're using a Gibson Montana acoustic. What do you like about the J-185EC 12 string?
A. I've been using this guitar on the new recording, and it really seems to sing. I've been playing other twelve strings on the tour, but this J-185 seems to have a lot more guts to it. It's been popping out of the tracks with very little tweaking.

Q. So will this band be touring?
A. Not for a while; David is set to re-enter a different phase - fatherhood - which will preclude him from going out on the road for now. He has said that this band will tour at some point, which would be great. In addition to being a great musical unit, everyone gets along and there are no ego problems. We all actually like each other!

Q. Besides David Bowie, what other projects have you been involved with?
A. I've worked with a load of different people, ranging from the Cure to Shawn Colvin, DEEE-Lite to Suzanne Vega, covering anything and everything from engineering, mixing, playing bass, programming synths, and ordering the pizza. Folk to dance to rock..whatever! I like to keep trying out new styles and musical situations. It makes life interesting. I'd hate to get pigeonholed as far as the type of records or music I'll participate in. I think that's why I work so well with Bowie. He knows I'm not afraid to jump into a strange pool. And sometimes it gets pretty strange.

Q. I'll bet!! So-what's next?
A. I have a couple of other projects pending with David, including a mix of a BBC program we shot while in London at the end of June. We'll also cull a 14-song album out of that gig. I'm working with an artist from Montreal called Merlin. I did four tracks on his upcoming record, and might possibly do a couple more between Bowie sessions. I've also done some writing and recording with Joe McIntyre, who used to be in New Kids On The Block. We've demo'd a couple of songs in my home studio, so now it's a question of bringing them to the next level--fleshing it out with live musicians and what-not.

Q. So what do you do to relax -you're 'downtime' if any in your hectic schedule?
A. At the moment, outside of recording my other passion would be cycling. I've done a couple of the AIDS Rides over the last few years--Boston to New York, and San Francisco to LA. I highly recommend this experience to anybody who is even casual about riding. It's for a good cause - care for people with HIV & AIDS - and it'll push your personal limits like nothing else.

Q. Any advice for an up & coming musician who'd like to do it on both sides of the studio glass such as yourself?
A. Yes...you're absolutely INSANE! Seriously, don't let anyone tell you it can't be done, that was something I used to hear all the time. If you honestly love to do this, it's completely possible.

Q. Mark, Thanks for your time... one last question before you go... whats's you're favorite Bowie track?BR> A. Wow... that's a tough one! As far as a record, for me it'd be a toss up between 'Aladdin Sane' and 'Station To Station'. Both are a fantastic musical ride, as well as very evocative of the time they were made. And there's no way I could choose a single track... though of course there are favorites such as 'Ziggy Stardust', 'Suffragette City', 'Golden Years', 'Space Oddity', 'Ashes To Ashes'. Is it OK to narrow it down to five?

Sure Mark...Thanks.

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