Mark Opitz - Part 1 | Long Play Series

Mark Opitz is one of Australia’s most influential record producers and audio engineers having helped craft the sounds of AC/DC, Australian Crawl, Divinyls, Cold Chisel and INXS during the 1980s and Paul Kelly and Hunter & Collectors during the 1990s. Born in Melbourne in 1952, Mark grew up in Brisbane before heading to Sydney to begin a career in audio at the ABC. In his role as producer and Head of A&R at Warner Records, Mark helped to steer the careers of artists as diverse as Cold Chisel, Richard Clapton, Swanee, and Billy Field. Mark is currently Visiting Fellow to the School of Music at the Australian National University in Canberra.
In this interview, Mark talks to Jane Gazzo about his early musical experiences including seeing The Beatles at Festival Hall in Brisbane at the age of 12. He recalls how his early training at the ABC, where he learnt the ropes working on everything from rock to orchestral music, and his apprenticeship as a producer at Alberts under the guidance of Harry Vanda and George Young, shaped him as a producer.
In the second part of the interview, Mark discusses his creative process as a producer and reflects on what music has meant to him and how profoundly it has affected his life. He also shares his memories of recording The Easybeats’ song, ‘Good Times’ with Jimmy Barnes and Michael Hutchence which became the signature song for the famous Australia Made concert tour and Mushroom 25th Anniversary Concert Of The Century.
Interviewer: Jane Gazzo
Location: Melbourne Room, Arts Centre Melbourne, 2017
For more Australian Music Vault stories and information visit www.australianmusicvault.com.au/
As part of our commitment to capturing and sharing great Australian music stories, the Australian Music Vault asked some of the country’s most influential trailblazers and unsung heroes to open up about their lives in music as part of our Long Play Series.

[@Skoora]

Amazing how much this guy had molded or had a hand in my musical childhood. Legendary.

[@Skellocustoe]

Remembered as someone who is an absolute legend and a magnificent role model 🤙😎🤙

[@nitebeat3]

Warwick Gilbert here....I had the great privilege of working with Mark on the debut Hitmen LP. In a Spinal Tap twist of fate, The Hitmen mutinied against Mark's and my direction at the end of the record's completion, causing both WEA and INXS management to drop the band and the otherwise excellent LP to sink without a trace. Nevertheless, the LP was a step forward in my musical career with many memorable highlights that resulted from two years of building The Hitmen and getting them signed to WEA with Mark as my choice of producer. I was surprised to hear Mark mention film directing because that's what I did when I left The Hitmen soon after. I simply picked up where I left off pre Radio Birdman and had a long and successful career as an animator, storyboard artist and film director. The directing process was pretty much the same as the recording process, just different tools. As Mark said, being in the right place at the right time was part of both, as was not getting in the way of the art and choosing the right people to work with. Very informative and enjoyable, thank you for posting. W

[@Mrmikey0909]

Hi Warwick. Nice response. What a career he has had. Great to hear him mention Powerage so much, my favourite ACDC album. I loved The Hitmen but have to say Radios Appears (Black) is still my favourite Australian album and as a bass player I still get excited hearing Descent into the maelstrom. The bass is next level. A golden moment. Thanks.

[@blueshorecreative3146]

Mark Opitz is a great Australian record producer, with a track record of many significant Australian recordings. Mentioning one, Opitz nailed Cold Chisel's sound.

[@TonyB1950]

Fascinating insights and now I know why AC/DC’s Powerage album is my favourite given Mark’s role in producing it.....

[@robcolonnello2945]

Absolute legend👍

[@jeffrp14]

Very clever man. Good luck to you Mark.

[@johnnelson-exitrealty2419]

I too had my dad's transistor radio and a single ear piece under my pillow as a child listening to WLS out of Chicago. Shaped the music I write today. Thank you Mark Opitz! Your work is brilliant!! What's your next adventure??

[@joshdance9959]

Great interview. Thanks🙂

[@stevedundee866]

His work sounds amazing !

[@pivid08]

wonderful, incredible, going with the flow feet on the ground enthusiasm + talent story keeps building. I've heard his name but didn't realise who he really was. good interviewing too

[@martinlee4973]

fantastic .......!!!!!

[@australianmusicvault4604]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@haydenwittig8877]

INXS To Look At You, The MODELS Hold On best songs Mark Opitz is the Robert John Mutt Lange of Australia he can tune an ordinary song and create something timeless, very rare today.

[@haydenwittig8877]

Best producer in Australia i mean INXS , COLD CHISEL, THE MODELS a mind within a mind.