New Article - Saving the Record Plant
 

Saving the Shrine of '70s Rock

Saving the Shrine of '70s Rock
Sausalito studio has a piece of musical history
By JOE ROSATO JR.
Updated 5:30 PM PST, Mon, Feb 8, 2010

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Plant Studios If you dig through your collection of classic rock albums, chances are a bunch of them were recorded in the Record Plant studios in Sausalito.

In its glory days, its roster of artists made up the A-list of '70s rock – Carlos Santana, Rick James, Sly and the Family Stone, The Grateful Dead, and Journey. Metallica famously had the roof raised to enable drummer Lars Ulrich to get a bigger drum sound. It was nicknamed the “Rumors Studio” because Fleetwood Mac recorded its famous “Rumors” album there.

But the current fate of the world-famous studio is anything but glamorous. In 2008 the building owner fell into financial trouble and the bank foreclosed on it. Its wood-slat walls and front doors decorated with carved wooden bears playing instruments sit in silence.

Singer Mari Tamburo remembers the musical spirits living beyond those doors – she recorded there in the early '80s and went on to become the studio manager. She’s married to Record Plant owner Arne Frager.

“It’s sitting here, not utilized to make music which is what its best purpose is,” said Tamburo. “We’re out to change that.”

For the last few years, Tamburo has lead a campaign to reopen Record Plant. She calls the new nonprofit venture the Plant Studios Artsboretum. Her vision is a music studio that would create music for charities – and provide internships and recording industry training for young people

“We’re looking to preserve its history here because it’s very inspirational,”said Tamburo. “This is one of the last studios of its kind.”

In the fertile music fields of Marin County, Tamburo’s campaign has struck a chord with many performers. Fleetwood Mac founder Mick Fleetwood made a YouTube video talking about the legacy of Record Plant and how he supports the effort to save it.

“It is truly an iconic building,” Fleetwood said. “An iconic studio.”

On Monday night, Maria Maria, a Mill Valley restaurant owned by Carlos Santana, hosted an open-mic benefit for Tamburo’s campaign. The restaurant’s music director, Keith Sanchez, said the talent included Graham Lesh, son of the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, and Zakiya Hooker, daughter of late John Lee Hooker.

“When you visit the halls where some of these legendary licks were laid down and recordings happened, it makes your heart beat faster,” said Sanchez, also a musician himself.

But Tamburo faces a tough road ahead. She figures she needs $50,000 to get the bank to begin playing ball. She said she’ll need $3 million to buy the building, and an entire community to help it refind its voice.

Going out and getting my picture taken in front of the Record Plant's doors is definitely on my "bucket list." Hopefully it will still be there whenever I get around to it. You'd think Fleetwood Mac itself would find a way to help out with this cause, since that building was so very pivotal to their success.

This place is historic!

I was thinking the same thing Louie. For crying out loud, Mick is doing a 'save the Record Plant' spot and he can't even fork over any cash? I thought it was a bit strange that Mari Tamburo is going to have to 'raise' this money from the general public. What about all the artists that have recorded there? I'm sure if they all pooled one royalty check over apiece her dream could be fulfilled. :rolleyes:

I suggested to Ken Calliat in the other thread about donating part of his proceeds from his upcoming book on Rumours to the Plant. Hopefully it pans out.

San Francisco ABC station, February 8, 2010
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?sec...ent&id=7265743
SAUSALITO, CA (KGO) -- A group of Marin County musicians is raising money to preserve one of the world's best known recording studios. The Plant Studios in Sausalito has been closed for a year, but on Monday night the first fundraiser was held at Carlos Santana's Mill Valley restaurant Maria, Maria.

Maria, Maria was one of the first to get on board and many celebrities attended Monday night's event. All of it is to save a historical place.

Carlos Santana recorded his smash album "Supernatural" there. His gold record used to hang on the wall of The Plant Studios.

Fleetwood Mac made "Rumours" at The Plant, along with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Metallica, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis, Mariah Carey and Dave Matthews. From its opening in 1972, the weathered wood building held a unique place in music, but a year ago it shut down.

"Our main clients were major record labels and then financial troubles of our former landlord and now the place is closed," says Mari, a singer.

Mari's husband is a legendary sound engineer who was the last owner of The Plant Studios.

The place is a throwback to the era of fern bars, peacock feathers and hot tubs -- and there is even one inside. Besides the wonderful music that was made here, there was a bit of scandal. In 1985, there was a drug raid and for nearly two years the federal government ran it before it was sold again.

A bank owns it now and Mari is concerned it could be torn down. So she's formed a non-profit called the Arts Boretum Project to save it.

"Preserve it for its rich musical legacy and rich cultural history and then restore the studios and use the facility to make fund raising records for worthy causes," says Mari.

And part of it will be a museum. She is enlisting celebrity help, such as Mick Fleetwood who did a PSA for The Plant. Local musicians are also getting onboard. There is art work by Ron Wood that will be auctioned off. Mari believes there are people who will become what she calls "rock star angels."

"Failure is not an option," says Mari.

Mari needs $50,000 by the end of February to keep The Plant Going.

The Maria, Maria event was so successful that it was quickly sold out and there will be a webcast of the music at the link above.

Hey, that was my idea! Hope it works!

Sad thing is, they only need $50,000 to save it.. how hard is that to come up with, with the likes of our Mick??

- Spike

Or say the Mac each donated $10,000.... :shrug:

I definitely agree that an appeal should be made to the musical community to bail out the current owners of the record plant. I say "bail out" because my feeling is just because the bank now owns it doesn't mean it will be destroyed or made into a starbucks. Perhaps the bank will sell it to someone who would do a better job of managing their finances and keep the record plant a working recording studio.

Here's a video of Mick, recorded to try to help save the studio.

http://www.child-education.net/mick-...plants-legacy/