Desmond Child, a musician, songwriter, and producer, discusses various topics in this podcast. They touch on failed projects with David Lee Roth and Van Halen, an awkward encounter during a songwriting session, a bizarre encounter with Michael Jackson, and the role of hustle and luck in achieving success. They also talk about the origins of the song 'Dude Looks Like a Lady' for Aerosmith and the implications of AI on songwriting and copyright.
The future of Vince Neil and Mötley Crüe remains uncertain despite the successful collaboration to remake him.
The dynamics and circumstances surrounding working with David Lee Roth and Van Halen were complex and uncertain, leading to no substantial collaboration.
Adapting to the rise of grunge and the changing music industry allowed Desmond Child to maintain his success through authenticity and collaboration with different artists and genres.
Deep dives
Working with Vince Neil and the Unreleased Song
I kept waiting for the part about remaking Vince Neil in the book, but it wasn't mentioned. The song promised me, which was great, never came out. It was done for a show and written and produced by Rick Beato and me. It was a collaboration that turned out well, but the future of Vince Neil and Mötley Crüe remains uncertain.
Working with David Lee Roth and Van Halen
There was confusion about working with David Lee Roth and Van Halen. David Lee Roth was originally supposed to write with us, but he couldn't make it back for another session. Later, Van Halen was looking for a new lead singer, and I recommended Mitch Malloy. We had a session, but it didn't lead to further collaboration. The dynamics and circumstances with both David Lee Roth and Van Halen were complex and uncertain.
Navigating the Changing Music Industry
The transition from '80s rock to the '90s was challenging. The rise of grunge and the change in popular music affected many '80s rock artists. However, I was able to adapt and continue to be successful by staying connected to the stories behind the songs and focusing on authenticity. Collaborating with different artists and genres allowed me to stay current and relevant in the ever-changing music industry.
Overcoming Challenges and Reinventing Myself
Throughout my career, I faced challenges and setbacks. I learned to embrace failure and keep moving forward. By staying focused on the story and message of a song, rather than getting caught up in style or trends, I was able to connect with audiences and continue creating music. Reinvention and a willingness to collaborate with new artists and genres have been key to my success.
The Importance of Protecting Artists' Rights in the Age of AI
One of the pressing issues in the music industry is the rise of AI and its impact on artists' rights. AI algorithms scrape and use copyrighted material without proper consent, credit, or compensation to the original creators. This poses a significant threat to artists' livelihoods. It is essential to advocate for strong protection of artists' rights, including consent, credit, and fair compensation in the face of AI's increasing presence in the music industry.
Desmond Child is a musician, songwriter and producer. He has co-written some of the biggest songs including Bon Jovi's Livin' On a Prayer, Dude Looks Like a Lady with Aerosmith, Poison with Alice Cooper and so many more. Other artists he's worked with include The Scorpions, Joan Jett, Katy Perry, Ratt, Ricky Martin, and Kiss. In this episode we discuss the Re-Making Vince Neil TV special, working with Sebastian Bach, failed attempts to work with David Lee Roth & Van Halen and so much more!
0:00:00 - Intro 0:00:13 - Remaking Vince Neil 0:03:00 - David Lee Roth & Van Halen 0:07:15 - Re-Inventing Yourself & New Projects 0:16:25 - Dealing with Failure & Disappointment 0:17:53 - Failed Project with Michael Jackson 0:20:45 - Steven Tyler, Jon Bon Jovi & Cher 0:22:20 - Hustle, Luck & Synchronicity 0:24:40 - Bucket List Collaborators 0:26:55 - Dude Looks Like a Lady 0:36:10 - Meatloaf & Bat Out of Hell 3 0:41:35 - Eighties Music & Grunge 0:44:10 - Drugs & Booze 0:45:40 - Working with Sebastian Bach 0:49:10 - Songwriting and A.I. 1:00:55 - Social Media, Skin Cream & Musical 1:02:00 - Outro