VAN HALEN NEWS DESK

Howard Stern interviews 5150 producer, Mick Jones

November 10, 2009 65 Comments

On today’s Howard Stern show, Howard asked music producer Mick Jones what it was like to produce Van Halen’s first album with Sammy Hagar, 5150.

Filed Under: Van Halen

http://none Dirty Duck

VHIII_1998_

Foriegner wasnt bad at all back in the 70′s/early 80′s. They had a good sound…always loved the riffs on “hot blooded” , “dirty White Boy”,”head games” and “double vision”….mick was def a good influence.
I say that 5150 was one of my faves during that period because of my age at that time , and many good memories from 86′. Besides “Get up” and “Good Enough” it was NOT a hard rock record. “Love walks in” I couldnt stand….
I will always say the hardest they ever rocked with hagar was on F.U.C.K…..most likely due to ted templeman being back on board.
VHIII_1998_

I agree Duck, 1986 was a good year for music, alot of good albums came out that year, Iron Maiden-somewhere in time- Metallica-Master of Puppets- AcDc-who made who- Bon Jovi – slippery when wet- DLR- eat em and smile- Megadeth-peace sells- Anthrax-among the living- and the list goes on and on.
VHIII_1998_

I noticed at the top of the page someone mentioned that Donn Landee passed away. Is this True and if so when?
Greg

1) The production on that album was terrible.
Everything sounded like shit with no dynamic range or life to it.
Even OU812 sounded better overall (which is hard to believe).

2) The introduction of electronic drums was not a good idea.

3) Eddie wearing pink MC Hammer pants was not a good move. DLR in his band actually looked more manly (if that was possible wearing sequens and heavy mascara).

4) A lot of lame Top 40 ballads were on that album which contradicts what VH was all about. “Love Walks In” was probably included out of spite for DLR. Yuk!

Who cares what the producer has to say.
He did a lousy job.
I to this day am shocked that the album sold that much.
Solely due to the “I wonder what Sammy sounds like in VH” factor.
phil

the song “5150″ is one of my favorite guitar work from eddie along with “meanstreet” and “i’m the one”…
little John

The fact is; Mick Jones was brought in to co-produce 5150 under Warner Brothers influence. Van Halen & Mick were both under contract to WB. Everyone knows that 5150 was produced by Van Halen (mainly Eddie & Alex!) and Don Landee, their long time sound engineer at the time. Mick Jones is your typical Pom who like to take more and more credit as the years roll on. The english are well know for doing that!! He’s just an old fart trying to stay relevant in the music biz. Mick should count his blessing every day for having his name credited and earning a nice pay check every year by his involvement in Van Halen. It’s a known fact that most of the songs were written while Dave was still in the VH!! Eddie was right, Mick only contributed maybe 10% and that’s being generous. Nice work if you can get it I say!!

No wonder Eddie got mad over the years, so many vultures trying to take a piece of him, corrupt him and take advantage of his good heart. It’s amazing how short people’s memories are when their critical Eddie. And that includes Sam, Mike and any other ex-wife’s club of Van Halen!!
kayser sozay

Greg… gotta disagree with you. 5150 wasn’t a smash success because of the “I wonder what Sammy sounds like in VH” as you say. Everybody knew what Sammy sounded like in VH because that album was getting more radio play than just about anything in 1986. It was everywhere to the point I got sick of it at the time. I think people just liked what they were hearing.
JC

Greg please name all “a lot of lame ballads on 5150″. I count only Love Walks In. So that would be one and I have never referred to the number one as a lot. Were you referring to Good Enough,5150, Summer Nights, Get Up, Best of Both Worlds, as ballads? Think before you type.
chris.omeara

“Dreams” was lame and wussie, too…
chris.omeara

Greg is right about those “MC Hammer” pants, too. I never made the connection with that, I just couldn’t figure out why EVH was wearing pants that looked like they were leftover from “Aladdin”. He looked like a duffus in them…
Pete

5150 was a great album. So was 1984.

1984 probably sold twice as much because it was originally released when Cassette Tape was the number one format, and LPs still sold well. Then CD’s came along and everyone had to have that format too.

Both great albums, but both are very different beasts. I like them both because they’re very different. I figure more people in the world have the PIN code 5150 more than any other code though!
VHIII_1998_

Chris.Omeara, how about Alex’s Miami Vice suit he wore in some of the photo’s taken in 1986. what a boob.
VHIII_1998_

and Sammy’s Jew fro
Pete

VHIII_1998…nice anti-semitic comment…you are hereby “persona non grata” you hitler-loving piece of crap…
Jamie Cryin

I read way back that Eddie wanted to produce the album himself. Warner Brothers said no. So Eddie got someone he thought would have a like mind (guitar oriented) approach. Warner Brothers okayed it and the rest was history. I’m assuming that Eddie was still the major producer tohough I imagine Mick had his say.