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John Fryer (producer)

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John Fryer
Born1958 (age 66–67)
London, England
Years active1980s–present

John Fryer (born 1958) is a multi-platinum record producer of international acclaim.[1] Best known for his production work, he has also performed as a musician, as one of the two constant members of This Mortal Coil (along with Ivo Watts-Russell), providing keyboards, strings and synthesizer sequencing for the band, and its offshoot, the Hope Blister.

He is married to musician, artist, and gallerist Trace Fryer.[2][3]

Career

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In 1980, he worked as assistant at Blackwing Studios, which was British recording studio created by Eric Radcliffe.[4] The studio would go on to become famous for recording music from the likes of Depeche Mode and other bands. Fryer explained in an interview the environment of the studio:[4]

Back then the equipment was so limited, you had to work out ways of getting the most out of everything. There were no sync tones,[a] so we were using the ARP and its analogue sequencer, and because it worked on CV and Gate, we devised a way of recording the click from that and feeding it back on itself, so you'd get a couple of chances of running sequences in time with the tape. You'd record a kick and snare on it and everything was played live over the top. The drums were the ARP and then it was Moog bass and so on. We used whatever was available. If it wasn't there, it was hired in.

From assistant, he was promoted from engineering to production. One of his first clients as a producer was the Scottish rock band, the Cocteau Twins.[4]

Fryer is also known for his production work in the industrial rock genre, working with Nine Inch Nails, Cocteau Twins, Depeche Mode, M|A|R|R|S, Clan Of Xymox, Nine Inch Nails, Die Krupps, This Mortal Coil, Love And Rockets, Stabbing Westward and Gravity Kills. In 1981, he had produced Fad Gadget's Incontinent. He later worked with the Italian band Dope Stars Inc on their debut album, Neuromance.[6][7]

In 2003, he created Something To Listen To Records.[4] In early 2010, Fryer began collaborating with Stripmall Architecture vocalist Rebecca Coseboom under the name Dark Drive Clinic.[8]

In 2017, Fryer mixed both The Cross and The Dream by the York-based post-punk and industrial rock band, Mary and The Ram.[9] He has since continued to work on various musical projects, including Dark Drive Clinic.[10] In 2025, Fryer and his wife, artist and vocalist Trace Fryer, formed the group Something Romantical and put together the music for the soundtrack for the short film The Winter Solstice Eruption by Lance Page of Page Films.[11][12]

Views on music

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In the interview for the article John Fryer: Punk kicked the doors of the industry open, Fryer discussed punk rock:[3]

Musicians realized they could do whatever they wanted without conforming to the major labels’ mould. A slew of indie labels emerged, giving artists opportunities to express themselves in new ways, sparking tremendous creativity.

With the various bands he had worked with, Fryer explained:[3]

Black Needle Noise is my favorite to work with because it’s my own music and it’s more personal. I’m very proud of all the records that I’ve made, but that’s working on other people’s music. Actually, all the projects I’ve done myself Dark Drive Clinic, Muricidae, Silver Ghost Shimmer, and Black Needle Noise are more personal because I’m writing the music.

Bands

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Bands with Fryer
Title Year Main performers
Dark Drive Clinic 2010 John Fryer, Rebecca Coseboom[13]
Silver Ghost Shimmer 2013 John Fryer, Pinky Turzo[14]
Muricidae 2015 John Fryer, Louis Fraser[15][16]
Black Needle Noise 2017 John Fryer (producer/composer), Attasalina (vocalist), and various artists.[17][18]
Something Romantical 2025 John Fryer, Trace Fryer[19]

Discography

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Discography of John Fryer
Band Album Year Role
Depeche Mode[20] Speak and Spell 1981 Engineering
Depeche Mode[21] A Broken Frame 1982 Engineering
Cocteau Twins[22] Garlands 1982 Producer
Coctau Twins[22] Head Over Heels 1983 Producer
Nine Inch Nails[22] Pretty Hate Machine 1989 Producer
Love and Rockets[23] So aLive 2003 Co-producer

Certifications for albums with Fryer as a producer

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Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails
Region Certification
United Kingdom (BPI)[24] Platinum
Argentina (CAPIF) Gold
United States (RIAA)[25] 3 x Platinum
Razorblade Romance by HIM (Finnish Band)
Region Certification
Austria (IFPI Austria)[26] Gold
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[27] 2 x Platinum
Germany (BVMI)[28] 3 x Gold
Poland (ZPAV)[29] Gold
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[30] Gold
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] Silver

Notes

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  1. ^ Essentially, an audible marker that can be used to align the tracks.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Staff, Bernard-Side-Line (5 February 2025). "John Fryer: Punk kicked the doors of the music industry open'". www.side-line.com. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Garden Gallery and Fine Art Exhibition Gallery". Tajartinc.com. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "John Fryer: Punk kicked the doors of the music industry open'". Side-line.com. 5 February 2025. Retrieved 10 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "From 4AD To Nine Inch Nails". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Kompoz - Music Collaboration Platform". Kompoz.com. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  6. ^ DeathWish (19 May 2008). "Interview with Dope Stars Inc". Vampire Freaks. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  7. ^ "John Fryer - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives". Metal-archives.com. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  8. ^ "John Fryer launches new project DarkDriveClinic". Side-line.com. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  9. ^ "BLACK CELEBRATION – NIN Producer Fryer Helms Debut By Goth/Post-Punk Duo Mary And The Ram - An Ideal For Living". Mattcatchpole.com. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  10. ^ "Dark Drive Clinic". Copint.com. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  11. ^ Watch Kilauea - The Winter Solstice Eruption Online. Vimeo.com. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  12. ^ "Something Romantical". Somethingromantical.com. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  13. ^ "DarkDriveClinic". Discogs. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  14. ^ "SilverGhostShimmer". SilverGhostShimmer. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  15. ^ "The Top 15 of 2015". Coldwarnightlife.com. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  16. ^ Pustianaz, Maurizio (6 May 2015). "Muricidae "Tales From A Silent Ocean" EP, out now!". Chaindlk.com. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Black Needle Noise". COP International. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  18. ^ "LOST IN REFLECTIONS, by Black Needle Noise". Black Needle Noise. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  19. ^ "The Symphony Of Winter Solstice, by Something Romantical". Somethingromantical.bandcamp.com. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  20. ^ Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell, 1981, retrieved 18 June 2025
  21. ^ Depeche Mode - A Broken Frame, 1982, retrieved 18 June 2025
  22. ^ a b c "From 4AD To Nine Inch Nails". www.soundonsound.com. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  23. ^ "When did Love and Rockets release So aLive?". Genius. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  24. ^ https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/5207-2237-2
  25. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Auszeichnungen Archiv". IFPI Austria - Verband der österreichischen Musikwirtschaft (in German). Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  27. ^ https://ifpi.fi/tilastot/tietoa-kulta-ja-platinalevyista/kulta-ja-platinalevyt/?q=HIM
  28. ^ https://www.musikindustrie.de/wie-musik-zur-karriere-werden-kann/markt-bestseller/gold-/platin-und-diamond-auszeichnung/datenbank/#topSearch
  29. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20241011144003/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/wyroznienia/zloteplyty/cd/archiwum.php?year=2000
  30. ^ http://www.swisscharts.com/search_certifications.asp?search=Razorblade_Romance
  31. ^ https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/8987-2400-2
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