207. Bill Laswell: Producer
4 March 2026
About This Episode
In this long-form conversation, producer and musician Bill Laswell reflects on the making of Album, the 1986 record by Public Image Ltd.
Laswell discusses how the project came together in New York, recording early tracks with legendary drummer Tony Williams, and later bringing in musicians including Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, Bernie Worrell, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
He describes the recording process, the use of first takes, and the production philosophy behind the album’s distinctive sound. The conversation also explores how the music was constructed, the role of improvisation in the studio, and how different musicians helped shape the final record.
Laswell also addresses a long-circulating story that Miles Davis once appeared at the sessions. In the interview he explains that the visitor was actually Ornette Coleman, who briefly stopped by the studio but did not record. The anecdote has circulated in different forms over the years, and John Lydon also revisits the story in his memoir Anger Is an Energy: My Life Uncensored, where he reflects on the same period from his own perspective.
The result is a detailed look at one of the most unusual recording sessions of the 1980s and the creative decisions that shaped the album.
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and composer known for his wide-ranging work across jazz, funk, world music, ambient and experimental recording. Over several decades he has collaborated with artists including Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel, Mick Jagger, Iggy Pop, Fela Kuti, Laurie Anderson, William S. Burroughs and John Zorn.
As a producer, Laswell has been involved in numerous influential recordings, bringing together musicians from different traditions and genres. In 1986 he produced Album by Public Image Ltd, assembling a group of musicians that included Tony Williams, Ginger Baker, Steve Vai, Bernie Worrell and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
Beyond his production work, Laswell has released many recordings under his own name and through projects such as Material, often exploring improvisation, studio experimentation and cross-cultural collaboration.