The Dust Brothers

WHO ARE THE DUST BROTHERSMichael Simpson and John King, aka The Dust Brothers, have used technology and an encyclopedic knowledge of music to carve out a niche for themselves in the music business. As one of the hottest producer teams in the industry, nearly all their collaborations have been commercial and critical successes, adding to their growing collection of gold and platinum records.Using a Macintosh-based recording system that lets them record directly to their hard drives, the duo's cut-and-paste style continues to push the boundaries of music in general and hip hop in particular. Their producing talents put them atop the A-list for bands looking for a remix of their music.Starting in the mid-'80s as college DJs hosting the first all-rap radio show in Southern California, Simpson and King quickly found themselves producing music for Delicious Vinyl, the record label of acts like Tone-Loc and Young MC. An unexpected studio visit from the Beastie Boys resulted in one of the most influential rap records of all time: Paul's Boutique. Pioneering the use of digital samples, the music collages on that album mixed rich soundscapes and funky beats from hundreds of different records, giving the album a historic scope that's still being copied.As rap became increasingly corporate and more formulaic, the Dust Brothers moved on to acts more suited to their edgy and diverse interests. Collaborating closely with Beck, the duo helped the folk-hipster create Odelay, a quirky album that quickly found its way onto music critics "best of '96" lists.Since then, they've moved on to more mainstream projects, like teen sensations Hanson with their number one single "MMM Bop" and the first singles from the new Rolling Stones album, while continuing to find time for less commercial projects. Currently, they're working with Primus on a soundtrack for a movie called Orgasmo, talking with Marilyn Manson about the next disc from goth's clown prince, and still trying to release a disc of their own music.