Eurythmics Producer Dave Stewart Reflects On His Career
Stewart opens up about his process, the industry, and more.
— -- Dave Stewart is most famous for being one-half of Eurythmics, but a look through his credits and his new book, the aptly-titled “Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This,” reveals that for the last 40 years or so, he's done so much more.
From co-writing the theme to “Ruthless People” with Mick Jagger to planting the initial seed that would eventually blossom into Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “Don’t Come Around Here No More," Stewart has produced work by everyone from Ringo Starr to Imogen Heap.
“Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This” is a frank, often funny collection of stories written with a very honest approach. Stewart, 63, doesn’t shy away from stories about past relationships or drug use. Many of them are anecdotes involving other famous names, but on the whole, the book shows him to be a brilliantly multi-faceted entertainer, whether he’s trying to write a song or organize a concert in South Africa to raise HIV/ AIDS awareness through his work with the 46664 Foundation.
The bottom line is, this book provides a fascinating and insightful read for music fans. It helps to see the many photographs that line several sections of the book. It also contains a forward from his long-time friend Mick Jagger.
Here are passages from our conversation about the book, making music and the industry.
What made you decide to write this book and go through your life? Did you find it to be a cathartic experience?
I felt that it aged me. (laughs) I never really look backwards. I’m always looking ahead at some great new project or songwriting thing, or TV show, or theater, or, you know, photographs…. I’m always excited about the day. And then when I agreed to do this, I was kicking it about because I met with Penguin about a few other things.
A lot of people have been saying this for years, “Oh, you should write a book because your stories are sort of crazy and funny.” Then I thought, well I don’t want to write an autobiography, and then Penguin said, “Well you can write a memoir,” and just pick and choose things you can remember basically. I thought that wasn’t such a bad idea until I realized I couldn’t really remember anything. (Laughs.) I had to ring some friends, but what helped me really is that I have all of my life since the late-seventies/early-eighties sort of photographed and filmed things. Luckily going into all these big boxes and carrier bags of photographs and stuff, I pieced together what happened. As they say, every picture tells a story. I would find a picture and the whole month around it would come together.
Related Stories
ABC News Live