Half Deaf, Completely Mad: The Chaotic Genius of Australia's Most Legendary Music Producer

by Tony Cohen

The music and mayhem behind the seminal sounds of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Models, The Go-Betweens, Hunters & Collectors, Cold Chisel, The Saints, The Cruel Sea and so many more

‘The most obsessive, single-minded character I've ever seen, outside of the mirror’ —Nick Cave

I first met Nick Cave … at Richmond Recorders in January. I appeared shoeless, red-eyed and late. As usual. The grand piano was overflowing with bits of metal, microphone stands, anything that wasn't nailed down. “That should sound interesting,” I said. It was the start of a great love affair.

Maverick music producer-engineer Tony Cohen defined Australia's punk and rock sounds in the late ’70s, '80s and ’90s. His long and celebrated career took him from the studios of Melbourne and Sydney to West Berlin and London’s Abbey Road, working with innumerable bands up until his death in 2017.

In candid reflections, Tony shares details of his decades-long relationship with Nick Cave (The Boys Next Door, The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) and provides behind-the-scenes access to recordings by Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, Cat Stevens, Jim Keays, Lobby Loyde, The Ferrets, Split Enz, Laughing Clowns, Models, Magazine, The Reels, The Go-Betweens, Hunters & Collectors, Cold Chisel, Beasts of Bourbon, The Saints, X, Michael Hutchence, The Cruel Sea, TISM, Paul Kelly and so many more.

Half Deaf, Completely Mad is a hilarious, tragic and triumphant memoir that reveals a chaotic genius who lived hard and LOUD.

Genres: Music, Biography

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2023

Reviews

[Hariklia Heristanidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book - but then again, I would. It captures a special time in my life, when music was everything.
Music was everything to Tony Cohen as well; and his enthusiasm, as producer, engineer, or mixer shines off every page of this absorbing book. It was completed by John Olson after TC's early death, and he has done a great job in keeping TC's voice consistent and alive throughout.
TC was a Melbourne boy and although there were forays to London and Berlin, the heart of his story is in Australia.
There's a prologue from 1988 with TC working with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on 'The Mercy Seat', that throws the reader into the recording studio with him and the band, but after that the book proceeds chronologically. TC takes us through from his birth, his family, school hi-jinx to early studio work as dog's body, to mixing and engineering records and finally producing - as his 'ear' and talent (and enthusiasm) are recognised.
The bands were (by and large) Australian. TC worked with well known acts like Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Models, The Go-Betweens, Cold Chisel and The Cruel Sea; as well as some great bands that didn't get as much recognition: band I loved and was privileged to see live: Serious Young Insects, Laughing Clowns, Dave Graney 'n' the Coral Snakes and lots more.
The book doesn't shy away chronicling TC's other obsession, drugs, which led to major health issues and his death at 60 in 2017. He is not the only one fallen before his time. There's a chilling 'In Memoriam' at the end of the book - a long list of wonderful musicians and performers who predeceased him.
The book also has 'Listen' suggestions throughout. Recordings of songs TC worked on. From Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs (1973) to Augie March (2017). A wonderful 'education' for those not lucky enough to have explored this music when it came out.
I have to admit I shed a tear at the end. Tony Cohen came across as more alive than most of us. A gifted, true original who threw himself into everything. I would have loved to meet him and congratulate him on this immersive and captivating book.

[Martin Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a guide through local recordings made between the mid 70s through to the mid 2000s by the one and only Tony Cohen. How he kept it together given the lifestyle he describes is impossible to fathom. But it's about the music and if you love the music you'll love this book. With stories of being punched in the nose by Nick Cave to being sacked by Tex Perkins, not to mention being held at arms length by Jimmy Barnes, it's all in here with some technical stuff as well. But there's also a lot of love in the room from musicians he admired for their wisdom and calm like Don Walker and Mick Harvey not to mention the humour of bands like The Reels.

Significantly, during the period of time covered in his memoir, Tony realises he had an analogue soul and baulked at the intrusion of computers into the recording studio. He tells it best himself:

"When digital recording first appeared I was keen, but I never took to it. I found it prissy. Misusing equipment was part of the creativity of recording. With analogue you could thrash the meters and natural tape compression would make the sound better. I miss that. Dare to slam a digital meter into the red and see what you get! it doesn't distort. It glitches. Digital took away things that I enjoyed, but it did make recording cheaper and easier for artists." (201)

Listening to the Tiddas album, it is as amazing, as Tony says, that he got the job on a project like this. The harmonies are beautiful and a a contrast to the hard edges he created in the studio for bands and musicians now long gone and legendary like Tony himself. So much chaos but what a legacy! Molly gave Tony the secret but Tony made it his life's work.

[Lazlo Evenhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legendary Melbourne based producer Tony Cohen is best known for his production with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds/Birthday Party/Boys Next Door and was awarded several ARIA awards for his work with The Cruel Sea. His production credits from the mid 1970's to 2000 are a veritable roll call of independent Oz Rock. 'Half Deaf, Completely Mad' is his memoir as told to John Olson. Cohen's self deprecating, shambolic, often hilarious, drug riddled anecdotes are interspersed with technical notes on how he searched for, and created particular sounds. We are deeply indebted to Olson for this final collaboration with Cohen, drawing these stories out. Be sure to read it while listening to the recordings described through a decent set of speakers, loudly.

[Chris Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tricky one, because at one level it’s another tedious rock ‘n’ roll story of too many drugs and wasted opportunities, this one from a record producer in Australia. But actually it’s more, because Tony Cohen is a genuine, committed believer in and practitioner of music, on a passionate mission to make it sound great. But he’s also a self-indulgent arse who behaved terribly to others and himself on the way. Aaah, those were the days, for better and for worse.

My cousin sent me this from Sydney because she saw it in a house closure sale and thought it looked up my street. And Tony worked lots for Nick Cave, so all the more so. Philippa, you were right. It’s repetitive, especially in the middle, but in the end it’s also a paean to the addled mavericks who made or facilitated great music in unhinged times. So while I hardly know any of the artists he worked with as (I think) very few made waves over here in the UK, his energy and commitment turns a very flawed book into an engrossing read for those aged music nerds amongst us. Anyone else, avoid like the plague, there’s nothing for you here.

Could be 2-star, should be 3-star but the way it made me feel at the end makes me generous and benign. RIP Tony, I never heard of you till this month, but I think I’d like your work. Let’s see.

[Aug Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always been intrigued by Tony Cohen, ever since reading of his intensity in Ian Johnston’s Nick Cave bio, Bad Seed. Andy Shea, who joined me on the Nick Cave’s Bar adventure, was always so impressed with how Cohen got Live Seeds to sound so good. The book is an entertaining read, ultimately tragic as so much of his money was squandered away on drugs making his later years rough, but his recollections highlight a very passionate and obsessive nature to make things sound a certain way. There’s a Nick Cave quote on the cover - “The most obsessive, single-minded character I’ve ever seen, outside of the mirror.”

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's no real narrative besides Tony's declining health and how many times he couldn't function because of drugs. And his comments on the albums he worked on aren't particularly insightful.

That said, there are some ripping yarns. If you like the idea of laughing at Nick and Tex when they're fucked up, this is the book for you.

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into music production, and the bands that were a key part of my teenage and twenties. Funny to get glimpses of my boss Roger as seen through a haze of cigarette smoke back in the legendary AAV years.

[Colin Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trip

A read that I enjoyed and couldn't put down.
As an old engineer, I hear what you're saying, Tony, and enjoyed every minute of this wild ride. Good on you bloke.