PAX AUS 2023 - Mick Gordon Interview Panel

[@KIWITALKZ]

FUN FACT: After the panel finished, 200+ people converged on Mick to ask him questions and get him to sign things. As a result, he remained at the venue for 3 hours and he missed our dinner reservations. Here is my behind the scenes breakdown of the event, from the death threats beforehand to hanging out with Mick himself kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH69lISVo5KXmJI TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Early Intro 00:30 - Generozity Swearing Game/ Raising Money For Mental Health 01:40 - Introductions 04:43 - Evolution Of Video Game Music/Mick’s Introduction To Video Games Music & Melody 17:35 - Creating Tracks With Vocals For Killer Instinct 20:45 - The Writing & Creative Process Of Killer Instinct And How It Differed From The Original 29:18 - Main Menu Themes/Creating Opening To Hell Remix For DOOM Eternals Main Menu Theme 33:48 - Sampling Original Themes 35:38 - AI And How It Will Affect Musicians And The Creative Process 40:56 - Advice For Up & Coming Composers/Stem Separators 46:14 - Mick’s Favourite Game Score Over The Last Few Years 48:05 - Q+A - Mick’s Musical Influences 49:48 - Q+A - How To Improve Your Weaknesses As A Musician 50:53 - Q+A - Creating The Partisan For Wolfenstein Old Blood 52:19 - Q+A - Practice Routines 54:20 - Q+A - How Mick’s Musical Style Has Changed And The Difference Between Band Music and Video Game Music 56:26 - Q+A - Where The Thunder Chants From PAX Aus 2013 Are In Killer Instinct

[@TigburtJones]

Anyone who has facial hair like that and does corporate gigs is someone I don’t trust.

[@nathansheehan9930]

​@@TigburtJones wow. nice story.

[@PeterTeal77]

@@TigburtJones “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ Judge a man by his fruits. Mick makes great things.

[@TigburtJones]

@@PeterTeal77 are you really the douchebag quoting scripture out of context in a youtube comment section for music about demons right now? you are.....ok cool man you do you

[@mupheminsaniplays]

What a legend

[@bobbyblueholliday]

Mick Gordon is a treasure that should be protected at all costs!

[@mantisvex]

I see Mick Gordon, I listen.

[@BlackBunn1e]

He do a talk good

[@thebarkingsnail]

Hail to the King.

[@CDDays]

same

[@DOOMSlayer6476]

Same here man. He made my soundtrack

[@rebootcomputa]

The way this legend was treated by Bethesda's Producer and Zenimax is a horrendous and its a massive shame he wont work on the next Doom is a real shame... His music makes the games he compose for them amazing and unthinkable to play without.

[@Yufka52]

The black turtleneck, the beard, the inverted cross earrings... Mick is in his villain era 😅

[@N0RZC]

what the hell is a villain era? and ye wtf why is he wearing demon symbols on his ears

[@Hikaeme-od3zq]

​@@N0RZC He made the score for hell and for fighting demons, but the "demon" symbols on his earrings is what ticks you off? Lol

[@N0RZC]

@@Hikaeme-od3zq He made music for a game that is all about torturing and killing demons. I dont understand why he has upside down christian crosses on his ears, like hes on the side of the demons???

[@siamesetwin2996]

@@N0RZCyes, he’s actually a very satanic and they hired him cuz he grew up in hell so he knew the culture and the music better than anyone. Hope this helps

[@octaviamcdougall7170]

@@N0RZC ur gay and lame

[@CygnusX-11]

Mic's not only a musical genius but also a very smooth talker

[@MrTBSC]

"FUCK"

[@albuspercivalwulfricbriand5363]

@@MrTBSC*Puts your salary in a jar*

[@Almond_ESQ]

Yeah very true I could probably listen to him talk about his taxes and not get bored.

[@JesusRodriguez-cm6oo]

I bet he could also sing

[@ayantrambaran2532]

Mick Gordon looking Jacked

[@dantesapprentice4581]

No doubt preparing for the day he eventually gets within melee range of Marty.

[@ayantrambaran2532]

@@dantesapprentice4581 preparing for Doom slayer live action role

[@arusharma2822]

​@@dantesapprentice4581 Marty: Why am I flashing Blue and Orange? 😢

[@FlapcakeFortress]

Great work! What a privilege to listen to a legend. You've done a wonderful job interviewing him. Thank you!

[@Andypooh37]

Shit. Fuck. - _Mick Gordon_

[@slippedpoo2]

when does he sayyy that

[@Akinoden]

@@slippedpoo2 around 57-58 minutes

[@perplexingpantheon]

Truly an Aussie

[@lifelessgroom4652]

mick is genuinely one of my favorite humans, such a cool dude

[@justingoers]

I love hearing Mick talk. He's the best.

[@joshbakaimissound]

Felt so unreal attending this and meeting you both! I really hope you two can do more of these in the future.

[@christiangottsacker6932]

Legendary comment.

[@Nemxkolopx]

3:38 you can see Mick not really being happy about that anymore

[@NickHunter]

I don't agree with that. However wrong it went and how sour the experience ended, the music he made for the game rocked everyone's world and was critically lauded as one of the best OSTs of all time.

[@ZLEAP]

I thought the crowds reaction was more interesting. It wasn't quite good or bad. They sounded conflicted.

[@comradecameron3726]

Yup. Eternal was mentioned and his hand just fell to the table. He looked suddenly deflated.

[@Blear_Mind]

Vietnam flashbacks

[@kaylablanchette9983]

If I did a swear jar like that I'd be fuckin broke

[@toadalthug4055]

nice seeing Mick Gordon be okay

[@tweaklab]

Stoked to have finally made it to one of Mick's talks in the flesh, my first PAX, too, and what a PAX! I missed out on meeting him, I waited outside the main doors for 30 mins, missed the memo on him going up to the meet and greet room but I had also been part of an indie booth (Lighthaze World plug!) so it was probably best for me to go eat and sleep anyway xD next time! Excellent talk/interview.

[@christiangottsacker6932]

Blessed comment

[@Me_Grimlock_King]

Mick is the reason i picked up Killer instinct, as a musician his soundtrack just demanded my attention it was so good. Now over a decade later I have found a love of fighting games and Killer Instinct is my favorite game of all time. All because he wrote the most badass video game soundtrack ever. Thanks Mick!

[@saprogeist31]

"As a result he remained at the venue for 3 hours and he missed our dinner reservations" mate, that swear jar was a hundred bucks a pop, let's eat in Mick Gordon is the GOAT

[@nailed999]

Mick continue be what you are. You inspire me and so many with your creativity

[@M.Fallani]

It’s cool how Mick has to donate money every time he sewers. It’s like take a shot every time Mick swears

[@nemisisarcher8213]

What do you mean by sewers? Never heard od anybody use that word that way.

[@M.Fallani]

@@nemisisarcher8213 oops. I meant swears. Thanks for pointing out the typo error

[@justjane_music]

Expensive ass shots lol, mick’s a good guy

[@GrayGecko22]

Mick getting jacked!

[@Akimbo711]

Awesome that you got the oppourtunity to do this, well deserved

[@diegolopezpresa9719]

Hearing Mick mention Maximilian, even just in passing, is such a cool thing. I can only imagine them geeking out about KI while making kick-ass trailers

[@SlimRhyno]

I just adore him so much!

[@nothing3065]

Shadow warrior 3 ost is so underappreciated

[@Felixscan12]

this man has spent every year making the best osts and simultaneously getting hotter and hotter

[@buckethatboy8719]

realest comment here

[@NeosHamburgerReviews]

I really want to know what Mick uses to separate the layers, left me really curious. Great interview though!

[@mtmsammetal9124]

obviously i'm not Mick himself, but seeing some of his pro tools sessions and plugins in some of the documentaries and interviews and some experience myself as a musician/engineer, I can safely say he most likely uses a combination of the Izotope Ozone suite stuff which has some really powerful stuff in it, maybe a plugin called PEEL which does isolation, and probably a combination of other stuff either i don't remember or he has that i haven't used.

[@the1khronohs40]

What a guy! 😁

[@robertfarquharson2934]

This guy is sick. Love Mr Gordon❤❤❤

[@manubishe]

Thanks a bunch

[@pjohns92]

Such a great talk and the upload's got all the chapters it could need plus ❤

[@theroguecybersoldier2629]

Man one of the few times I don't check who's going to be at PAX Aus. Would of been great to be there, thanks for uploading this though

[@generaldomino3812]

Mick is the whole reason why I started making my own heavy music with synths🙌

[@FadyFTJ]

Mick is such a lovely pure and passionate man Bless his soul

[@Maria46823]

He's so nice 🥺🤗

[@Irades]

Thank god we have Kiwi who makes incredible interviews with music creators and thank god we have Mick :)

[@sukunas_shrine]

Wow look at Mick’s earrings. He loves to play pool, he enjoys geometry. Mick speaks and writes Russian. ✨

[@theskorpiqn3789]

Mick is a real fan of gaming music, his stories about Killer a instinct soundtrack back in the day, playing it at home for friends etc and deciding he's going to do that and then did... Brilliant.

[@Frosted_Moontips]

Didn't know Mick played MechWarrior 2 as a kid, wonder if he'd be on-board with working on the score for either MechWarrior 5: Clans or that untitled MW project X33

[@Andypooh37]

You should mail the man, he's mostly active on all his social media.

[@Hikaeme-od3zq]

Man, imagine Mick fricking Gordon telling you "Yeah I recorded you shouting and you're in Killer Instinct " damn, I'd be honoured.

[@Immorpher]

Mick is such a fantastic musician!

[@gjtrue]

Awesome 😎

[@Retr0-Cynik]

Absolute legend!

[@tony1954]

Can't wait for his next project.

[@adambloomfield4861]

Damn that awesome!! \m/ -|- \m/

[@foulplay99]

The first game music that really hit me was Turrican 2 on the Atari ST, and R-Type on the Sega Master System. After that I loved the music for Quake and Command & Conquer.

[@Astronauta00000]

Thank you to everyone involved in the production 🤟🏻😎

[@johnbudak6271]

Please have this man do the music for Doom The Dark Ages! I know it's extremely unlikely but we can all hope and pray

[@violetbaudelaire7353]

they don't deserve him

[@johnbudak6271]

@violetbaudelaire7353 your right but you can't deni how awesome it would be if he did come back!

[@mishavuimo5753]

​@@johnbudak6271 i doubt he would call returning to abusive contractors "awesome"

[@VandalXXI]

44:49 holy crap 😮 does anyone know what program he's talking about? That sounds amazing

[@Linkado312]

I would also love to know, I'll love to geek out with a software like that

[@KyrieQHD]

Mick is an example of how to embrace adhd and turn it into creative work

[@Poiyokai]

22:05 my reaction when ki was announce.

[@janesaw]

damn he's hot ...

[@Blear_Mind]

he gives me a bi panic

[@crisscrossam]

At exactly 49:00 minutes, drops a holy sh1t, no token. Woops. Still a legend Mick 🙌🏽 Edit: he does make up for it from a token he puts in for the lucky last guy who asked a question, then added some more for funsies. He's such a gem.

[@jcdenton9844]

Why the hell did they get rid of him in DOOM franchise honestly his music made the 2016 doom

[@RedSntDK]

They were high on their own supply. Also, he was contracted for the job, and well, contractors aren't always treated as nicely as employees, they aren't covered by the same laws etc. So that's what I think happened: They treated him like shit, like the music was an afterthought, so yeah, after they threw him under the bus, there was no way he'd go back to an exploitative employer like that.

[@jcdenton9844]

@@RedSntDK Man i would have gave this dude a payrise i still have his Music in my car its sad seeing AAA gaming going downhill

[@syjiang]

You should look up the post Mick made about a year ago. iD management really screwed with him, withholding contractual payment for 10 months, forcing him to constantly pump out work and proceed to reject them and demand new ones, later using his work they rejected without authorization or payment, announcing the OST without telling him ahead of time or contracting him to produce such a product. After paying him what was due,, Marty the studio head, slandered Mick publicly and placed the blame on Mick for the failure of the OST critiquing Mick's work as subpar even when it wast his work.... Lesson for all contractors is work with iD/Bethesda/Zenimax at your own risk.

[@jcdenton9844]

@@syjiang Yeah that would suck being messed around in America by a greedy corp for a year . His music made the game tbh

[@meowfrav]

Aw man this is gonna be epic!

[@danjamesdixon9835]

omfg he mentioned wipEout 😭

[@LosashExote]

Those microphones definitly lacked pop filters somehow.

[@RedSntDK]

While Frank Klepacki isn't mentioned by name, his work on the C&C soundtrack is legendary. Hellmarch still slaps.

[@GroverClevelandYaoi]

God this reinforces in me how much I resent Marty and Bethesda for what they did to Mick

[@egnato1165]

53:10 Imagine a guitar tuned so insanely low, not even fucking *Meshuggah* can make something out of it. At that point, it's basically useless

[@TheXerb]

Check out Joshua Travis 😉

[@mollestoff6516]

Absolute Legend ❤

[@nickwatland3565]

Shit yeah hahahah

[@lynkylo5530]

The god is speaking

[@N0RZC]

Damn Mick Gordon who created the strongest doomguy music in history is wearing earrings with the demon symbol.

[@matinesna8321]

14:21 Hold on! I didn't know Trent reznor made the Quake1 OST! Amazing! Tbh, He did heck of a job making COD Black ops 2 OST! Absolutely loved it! (But to be fair, Sonic mayhem did a better job for quake franchise!)

[@matinesna8321]

I relistened to the music. I take it back, Trent reznor was better

[@evoke2976]

he worked on atomic hearts?!?! haven't played that game yet but i gotsto listen to it immediately

[@slippedpoo2]

he's kinda jacked

[@CharlesFerraro]

Right before ten minutes something happens to micks voice

[@theskorpiqn3789]

Quake 2 soundtrack 🤘

[@MaoriGamerDood]

Mick is such an awesome dood. It's a pity he won't return to compose The upcoming Doom the dark ages. But He's still doing very well and i don't blame him for leaving the climate. I love how right before he left K.i, Little V and Mick made one of the Greatest Pieces of music with Cinder.

[@MaoriGamerDood]

Also Kia Ora! New sub bro.

[@scklandmax9254]

Big Daddy Mick iz za best in da Buizness :D

[@Dominator150395]

The main problem with generative AI tools is not that they can replace the work of real people, but the fact that they enable corporations to *use* the work of real people without due credit or compensation. You've probably heard of that statistic about how the productivity of the average American worker has increased by 65% since 1979, yet the average hourly wage has only increased by 15%? Well we're looking at the same thing with AI, except the potential productivity increase is infinitely larger, while the artists' compensation drops to zero because their work just gets scraped without their consent.

[@Joshua_Griffin]

Yes although luckily this is actually illegal. So it would be criminal if someone decided to generate commercial content trained on someone else's work

[@TheXerb]

​@@Joshua_Griffinand yet ist still happens.

[@XeroFailGames]

Bro is about to cuss up a storm lol

[@c0p0n]

Mick Gordon is a true natural talent of music in a sea of mediocrity and performers of marketing-driven shit music, soon to be AI-made.

[@somedude96]

I guess he's not doing the soundtrack for the next DOOM with the issues he has with id and Bethesda.

[@yutro213]

Nope!

[@WhataComeBack]

ig it is gonna be Andrew

[@JonnyCrackers]

Yeah, id really screwed themselves out of a good collaborator with that shitshow.

[@dizzygunner]

​@@JonnyCrackersTbh, after reading Mick's account of events, I'm strongly considering not buying anything published by Bethesda until Marty Stratton is sacked. Probs wouldn't make a difference, but I'm still considering it.

[@themonstergamer5441]

​​@@dizzygunner idk I'm not gonna let one guy ruin the ship for all. Id is a very passionate and talented gaming company and apparently Bethesda stepped in on his behalf. It was all Marty.

[@escapegulag4317]

sheesh how much caffeine is Mick on here :D

[@hedonismbot-hp9ii]

he´s not with id software anymore right? then i have no interest in doom dark ages.

[@kingofdarkness7813]

mick, you mad the best new sound for the new doom, but, e1m1, is ever in my mind and its the best, for all time but your ist the second ;-)

[@스윗하트-e7r]

Doom is eternal...

[@sergrojGrayFace]

Too much cheating. Swearing on purpose to immediately throw the coin in is cheating.

[@kingofdarkness7813]

do we have lost mick gordon ..... please say no, mick, i need haevy metal sounds and the hell you have to du the music for doom

[@dizzygunner]

Unfortunately, Marty Stratton has burnt that bridge.

[@suchilorio]

bro kinda looks like Rick Grimes 🔥🔥🔥

[@BFG-hv2ml]

Wtf?

[@leedurand7159]

JOKE...