Mike Clink is an American record producer. He began his career as an engineer at Record Plant Studios, recording such bands as Whitesnake, Triumph, Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Megadeth, UFO, Jefferson Starship, the Babys, Heart, and Eddie Money.
Career Clink began producing in 1986. "After a series of failed attempts", Steve Kurutz at AllMusic noted, "a young band named Guns N' Roses asked Clink to produce their debut album, Appetite for Destruction." "We could have made it all smooth and polished with (original producer) Spencer Proffer," noted Axl Rose, "[but] it was too fucking radio (i.e., radio-friendly). That's why we went with Mike Clink."
In 1988, Clink began work on Metallica's ...And Justice for All but was replaced with Flemming Rasmussen, who had helmed the band's preceding two albums.
In 1989, Clink produced the Sea Hags' critically acclaimed, self-titled debut album, recorded at Captain and Tennille's Rumbo Recorders. It would be the band's only album. The following year, Clink coproduced the successful Rust in Peace by American thrash metal band Megadeth. He left the project shortly before finishing it in order to work with Guns N' Roses.
Clink has spoken on panels focusing on digital rights, new media technology, and copyright protection.
Selected discography As producer Artist Album name YearTriumphThe Sport of Kings1986SurvivorWhen Seconds Count1986Guns N' RosesAppetite for Destruction1987Mari HamadaIn the Precious Age1987HurricaneOver the Edge1988Guns N' RosesLies1988WhitesnakeSlip of the Tongue1989Sea HagsSea Hags1989Little CaesarStreet Survivors1989MegadethRust in Peace1990Guns N' RosesUse Your Illusion I1991Guns N' RosesUse Your Illusion II1991Roxy BlueWant Some?1992Guns N' Roses"The Spaghetti Incident?"1993I Mother EarthDig1993Slash"Magic Carpet Ride" from Coneheads1993Sammy Hagar(Un)boxed1994Guns N' Roses"Sympathy for the Devil" from Interview with the Vampire1994Slash's SnakepitIt's Five O'Clock Somewhere1995Beth Hart BandImmortal1996Sammy HagarMarching to Mars1997Size 14Size 141997Fuzzbubble"Out There" from Godzilla: The Album1998Fuzzbubble"Bliss" from the Hell City, Hell soundtrack1998PushmonkeyPushmonkey1998Mötley CrüeNew Tattoo2000PushmonkeyEl Bitche2001Pure RubbishGlamorous Youth2001Steve VaiThe Infinite Steve Vai: An Anthology 2003The GlitteratiThe Glitterati2005Camp Freddy"The Jean Genie"2006Warner DriveFully Loaded2006CrushedMy Machine2006Sarah KellyWhere the Past Meets Today2006Brad CoxNew Directions 2008CrushedShadows and Substance2008Camp Freddy"Merry Xmas Everybody"2008The Sonic Graffiti"Mystery Number" from The Haiti Project 2010State Line EmpireOctane EP 2011Mumiy TrollVladivostok2012Shelter DogsTake Me Home2014ArcherCulling the Weak2015Jaime WyattFelony Blues2017Lucie"Nejlepší, kterou znám" from EvoLucie2018Les StroudBittern Lake2018American Bombshell"My Drug" from Tattooed 'N Bruised2019Les StroudMother Earth 2019Archer NationBeneath the Dream2019Capital TheatreA Hero's Journey2021SlashOrgy of the Damned2024Various artistsMagic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph2025
As engineer Artist Album name YearUFOStrangers in the Night1979Jefferson StarshipFreedom at Point Zero1979Eddie MoneyPlaying for Keeps1980Jefferson StarshipModern Times1981707The Bridge1983SurvivorCaught in the Game1983Shooting StarSilent Scream1985Metallica...And Justice for All1988MetallicaGarage Inc.1998Sammy HagarTen 132000
Awards and nominations Several of Clink's productions and recordings have received awards and nominations, including Lucie's single "Nejlepší, kterou znám", from the album EvoLucie. Both the single and the album won Anděl Awards, for Song of the Year and Album of the Year, respectively.
Artist Work / Recording name Award Result CreditGuns N' RosesG N' R LiesGrammy: Best Hard Rock PerformanceProducer, engineerMegadethRust in PeaceGrammy: Best Metal PerformanceProducer, engineerGuns N' RosesUse Your Illusion IGrammy: Best Hard Rock PerformanceProducer, engineerGuns N' Roses"Live and Let Die"Grammy: Best Hard Rock PerformanceProducer, engineerI Mother EarthDigJuno: Best Hard Rock AlbumProducer, engineerSarah KellyWhere the Past Meets TodayGrammy: Best Rock or Rap Gospel AlbumProducer, engineerLucie"Nejlepší, kterou znám"Anděl Award: Song of the YearProducer, engineer, mixerLucieEvoLucieAnděl Award: Album of the YearProducer, engineer, mixerGuns N' RosesAppetite for Destruction – Locked N' Loaded editionGrammy: Best Boxed or Special Ltd Edition PkgProducer, engineer
References
External links
Mike Clink at McDonough Management Biography at Shure.com (archived)