Brian Eno is a pioneering British musician and producer.
He helped define the sound of some of the big bands of the '80s and '90s.
Eno began working with U2 in 1984.
He helped elevate them from a scrappy post-punk band to one of the biggest groups of their time.
The Joshua Tree became the band's most widely acclaimed record.
However, after receiving critical acclaim and a successful world tour, U2 returned to the studio and struggled to record their next album.
They had nice stuffed animals available. There's plenty of time. Session structure.
And after such previous success, they expected the next record would come naturally.
But it never came.
They reminded me of their previous albums. How easy it was to write the song.
That afternoon, “Where the Streets Have No Name” seemed to come out of nowhere.
In contrast, this new record was a real struggle.
After a particularly fruitless studio session, Eno told the band to put down their instruments.
“We're going to dinner.”
He took them to a three-star Michelin restaurant.
The place was sublime; the epitome of tranquility.
Peaceful, pristine, pure white.
As soft music played, elegant guests enjoyed beautiful food served by attentive staff.
The whole experience was the epitome of perfection.
Eno then led the band through the dining room and into the kitchen.
They hit a wall of abuse. Scream. shout.
Chefs are bumping into each other and staff are running around like crazy.
Burns. Spills. Stains. Broken dishes.
Complete confusion.
Eno turned to the band.
“This is a place to make music! Don't try to play music in a restaurant. Make music in the kitchen!”
Eno knew that producing a great product often requires a laborious process.
Whether it's music. Art. Writing. Advertising. The same principles apply.
Structure, calm and discipline are great, but they're not the breeding ground for creativity.
Sometimes noise is necessary: passion, energy, friction, insults, and arguments.
To be angry about something.
Creativity comes from chaos.
To quote Dave Trott, he borrowed it from Orson Welles.
“The 30 years of war, terror, murder and bloodshed in Italy under the Borgia family gave rise to Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance.Switzerland has brotherhood and 500 years of democracy. There was peace, but what did it bring? A cuckoo clock.”
Where do you work in the restaurant or in the kitchen?
