I started my Fun City studio in 1982. Sonic Youth were the first band in there -- Confusion Is Sex. You can check my web site for a fairly complete list of the things I've done there, I think at last account I've been involved with about 140 eps/lps and cd's. I have designed personal studios for many musicians / helped put together Echo Canyon for SY so they would have a space to work on all there variuos projects which is extensive. I worked on 1000 Leaves and NYC Ghost&Flowers as well as SYR 1-5 there.
I met Lee Ranaldo first, or maybe it was Kim. I really don't remember. Lee and I played gtr together with Glenn Branca around 79. Before that I played with Glenn and Jeff Lohn in a band called Theoretical Girls where a lot of the crazy stuff started. Kim and Lee were at some of those shows... anyway throughout the years we have always worked together, interested in the same things, I guess...
I've also got my own musical projects: the Wharton Tiers Ensemble--5 gtrs, sax, bass and drums (vocals not included ). We are a symphonic-surf-ambient-tribal instrumental band that's been ongoing since 97. We have two cd's on the Atavistic label and a fine third cd almost finished There's also Aurora.23, a keyboard ensemble that I started in 89 and have recently revived, we've been playing some in NYC clubs. and will release something soon. I also recently completed a solo piano record that is very mysterious and understated.
The hard part is always changing, trying to keep a sense of progression at the same time, thats why I really enjoy doing so many different things. Playing music is alot of fun, playing in front of an audience is different and recording is different from that. They all have their place and time.
I basicly listen to music constantly but it is very rare that I listen twice unless I'm working on it. Mahler symphonies are probably my favorite music. I saw the Ramones play a show one night that was so great that it perfectly defined "rock band". I saw a Who show that ranked a close second.
I went through a pile of 100 cd's the other day and kept about 20. I couldn't believe how much the same so much of it was. Musicians need to think about that. Create don't emulate!