U2 France

by Noel Murray

Chris Carlson/WireImage for The Recording Academy

Rock music would’ve had a very different feel in the early ’80s if it weren’t for Steve Lillywhite, one of the era’s most in-demand producers and the architect of the “Big Music” sound of bands like U2, Big Country, and Simple Minds. Lillywhite has maintained a relatively high profile in the industry ever since, whether working with modern acts like Dave Matthews Band, for whom Lillywhite produced four albums (the fourth of which was never officially released, though it’s had a long afterlife on the gray market) or serving as an executive at Columbia Records. Recently, Lillywhite has made headlines with his campaign to take over Simon Cowell’s spot as judge on American Idol when Cowell defects for The X Factor at the end of this season. Lillywhite spoke with The A.V. Club about that campaign and about his long run in the music business.

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