![We've scoured the internet to collect 12 of the craziest recording studio stories. Click ahead for ping pong rivalries, fancy dress orchestras and drug induced genius.]()
We've scoured the internet to collect 12 of the craziest recording studio stories. Click ahead for ping pong rivalries, fancy dress orchestras and drug induced genius.
![Prince: The elusive legends former sound engineer David Z spoke about Prince playing ping-pong with Michael Jackson while they were both recording at the same L.A. studio.]()
Prince: The elusive legends former sound engineer David Z spoke about Prince playing ping-pong with Michael Jackson while they were both recording at the same L.A. studio. "You want me to slam it?" he remembered Prince asking MJ. He did not. "Michael drops his paddle and holds his hands up in front of his face so the ball won't hit him. Michael walks out with his bodyguard, and Prince starts strutting around like a rooster. 'Did you see that? He [Jackson] played like Helen Keller.
![Bob Marley and the Wailers: After accepting a large joint from The Wailers bassist Aton Barrett, Island Records producer Phil Brown went on to almost destroy the only cuts of I Shot The Sheriff. I had done the first edit and had the joint in my mouth. I was just about to cut, when the joint fell apart. It melted the tape. Outside the door are the whole band. I managed to repair it, and no one ever heard about it.]()
Bob Marley and the Wailers: After accepting a large joint from The Wailers bassist Aton Barrett, Island Records producer Phil Brown went on to almost destroy the only cuts of I Shot The Sheriff. I had done the first edit and had the joint in my mouth. I was just about to cut, when the joint fell apart. It melted the tape. Outside the door are the whole band. I managed to repair it, and no one ever heard about it."
![Muse: Matt Bellamy does our job for us in recalling the psychedelic fuelled recording of 'Plug In Baby'.]()
Muse: Matt Bellamy does our job for us in recalling the psychedelic fuelled recording of 'Plug In Baby'. "We were all off our faces on mushrooms when we recorded 'Plug In Baby'... There was this big field next to the recording studio filled with them. So we ate them all. I don't know what we were doing, but we all ended up naked in a Jacuzzi, and I went deaf in one ear from falling asleep in the sauna..."
![Phil Spector: The infamous producer is currently in jail for allegedly shooting his wife. Over the course of his career, he fired his gun inches from John Lennons ear, held the The Ramones at gunpoint until they finished a song and shoved a gun in Leonard Cohens face. John Lennon famously told Spector at the time, Phil, if youre going to kill me, kill me. But dont fuck with my ears. I need em.]()
Phil Spector: The infamous producer is currently in jail for allegedly shooting his wife. Over the course of his career, he fired his gun inches from John Lennons ear, held the The Ramones at gunpoint until they finished a song and shoved a gun in Leonard Cohens face. John Lennon famously told Spector at the time, Phil, if youre going to kill me, kill me. But dont fuck with my ears. I need em.
![Earl Sweatshirt: When recording %u2018D.N.A%u2019 for his latest album, Earl%u2019s longtime friend, Nak took a hit of acid just before receiving a call about his oldest friend tragically dying. When he turned to Earl and told him he didn%u2019t know what to do, Earl replied, %u201CWrite something down.%u201D The resulting verse is heart wrenchingly honest.]()
Earl Sweatshirt: When recording %u2018D.N.A%u2019 for his latest album, Earl%u2019s longtime friend, Nak took a hit of acid just before receiving a call about his oldest friend tragically dying. When he turned to Earl and told him he didn%u2019t know what to do, Earl replied, %u201CWrite something down.%u201D The resulting verse is heart wrenchingly honest.
![The Beach Boys: Known for his unorthodox recording techniques, Brian Wilson was on top form for this particular event. When recording the fire section of his solo project Smile, he made everybody in the studio wear fireman hats and lit a fire in a bin so everybody could smell the smoke as they played.]()
The Beach Boys: Known for his unorthodox recording techniques, Brian Wilson was on top form for this particular event. When recording the fire section of his solo project Smile, he made everybody in the studio wear fireman hats and lit a fire in a bin so everybody could smell the smoke as they played.
![The Beatles: For the swelling, orchestral part of A Day In The Life, the band hired 40 orchestral musicians who arrived at the studio in fancy evening attire. The Beatles decided to loosen things up, making them wear party hats, clown noses and fake plastic nipples. Madness of the highest order.]()
The Beatles: For the swelling, orchestral part of A Day In The Life, the band hired 40 orchestral musicians who arrived at the studio in fancy evening attire. The Beatles decided to loosen things up, making them wear party hats, clown noses and fake plastic nipples. Madness of the highest order.
![The Velvet Underground: When recording her part for 'I'll Be Your Mirror', Nico wasn't able to provide the slender and delicate vocals the band felt they needed, repeatedly singing takes in a strong and strident voice. As the session dragged on, Nico eventually broke down in tears, and her band members encouraged her to give it one more try. In a weeping mess, she absolutely nailed it.]()
The Velvet Underground: When recording her part for 'I'll Be Your Mirror', Nico wasn't able to provide the slender and delicate vocals the band felt they needed, repeatedly singing takes in a strong and strident voice. As the session dragged on, Nico eventually broke down in tears, and her band members encouraged her to give it one more try. In a weeping mess, she absolutely nailed it.
![Bob Dylan: When working on the as yet unnamed Rainy Day Women 12 and 35, Dylan got everybody in the studio incredibly high and proceeded to make all the individual musical experts switch their instruments around. A seemingly destructive move that somehow created a No. 2 billboard track.]()
Bob Dylan: When working on the as yet unnamed Rainy Day Women 12 and 35, Dylan got everybody in the studio incredibly high and proceeded to make all the individual musical experts switch their instruments around. A seemingly destructive move that somehow created a No. 2 billboard track.
![The Libertines: Recording in Thailand for their much anticipated new album Anthems For Doomed Youth, the band's studio was built on top of a snake pit. When Pete asked a local if they had any anti venom for snake-bites, the man replied,]()
The Libertines: Recording in Thailand for their much anticipated new album Anthems For Doomed Youth, the band's studio was built on top of a snake pit. When Pete asked a local if they had any anti venom for snake-bites, the man replied, "No, if snake bites you, you die." Splendid.