MIKE FRASER
Engineer/Mixer

AC/DC's Black Ice debuts at #1

in 29 countries!

Released globally on Monday October 20th 2008, Black Ice has topped the Canadian charts with the biggest sales week for any album in five years with 119,000 units sold, marking the band's first ever debut entry at #1 on the album charts. In the US, Wal-Mart had reported 193,000 units sold its first day of release, while first US week sales are estimated in the range of 700,000 to 800,000 units. Black Ice has topped sales charts in over 29 countries including the US, UK, Germany, Canada, France, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and more. Black Ice was recorded and mixed at The Warehouse Studio in Vancouver, British Columbia and is Mike Fraser's 4th album with AC/DC. Black Ice is available for purchase everywhere in Canada, in the US - exclusively at Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and at http://www.acdc.com. Also mixed by Mike Fraser is "AC/DC Live: Rockband Track Pack," an expansion to the popular music game that will be sold exclusively at Wal-Mart for PS2, PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii.

Alex Kapranos Talks “Sinister” New Franz Ferdinand Album

When Rolling Stone checked in with Franz Ferdinand last December, the band was testing out new material at small overseas shows and heading in a direction that was more dance than rock. Now the band’s frontman, Alex Kapranos, tells us their long-awaited third album may be released in January. “The album is finished but there is a little bit of mixing left, a lot of which is being done by Mike Fraser who’s known for doing a lot of heavier rock stuff like Aerosmith and AC/DC,” Kapranos says. “All those sweaty little gigs really helped shape the character of this record a lot and we might even do some more of those smaller shows in America because they were really enjoyable for us.”....... more

Various news clips



From a Bob Lefsetz email Aug 20:

I'm sitting here at Shutters listening to the new AC/DC album on Steve Barnett's MacBook Air. To tell you the truth, I usually avoid this. What are you going to say as the label head watches you listen to his baby. But after discussing the Wal-Mart deal at lunch, hearing all about the plans for release, I was eager, the same way you are after school, when you ride your bike to the record store to buy the album the day it comes out.

You rush home, rip off the shrinkwrap, drop the platter on the turntable, lay the needle down and you hear...

ANGUS' GUITAR!

Now this isn't far from the master, THIS IS THE MASTER! And suddenly, my whole body starts to throb, THIS IS THE SOUND! Oh, Phill Rudd's bass drum. You know that "Back In Black" sound, kicking you in the gut, so powerful, yet so pure!

Every AC/DC album sounds the same. Only the songs are different. "Black Ice" continues the tradition. I could sit here and digest the 55.5 minutes over and over again. But not having all day, I've played the single, "Rock N' Roll Train", a few times, and am now sampling...

I'm gripped by "Smash N' Grab".

This ain't Crocs music. This ain't made for Sephora. This is the sound that drove your parents away, that they didn't only tell you to turn down, BUT THROW OUT!

It's a rough tough tumble world we live in. Where sold-out whores tell us what to like and try to make us believe we're losers. What are we supposed to do?

Listen to AC/DC. Turn it up and nothing else seems to matter. The sound obscures the rest of the world, it's just you, equal to everyone you hate, who's got you down, your dad, your principal, the President...

Wow, you should hear the intro to "Spolin' For A Fight"! This is "Shoot To Thrill"!

Dressed to kill!

The groove to "Decibel"... Like you've just stripped naked and are sauntering to the bed to stick your rod into a woman who's BEYOND FANTASY! Wow, this is too much, PURE SEX!

There's a slide on "Stormy May Day" straight off a sixties English blues record, followed by another guitar in the other ear with a stinging report. There's a FULL MINUTE INTRO!

I don't remember any other AC/DC track sounding like "Rock N' Roll Dream", it's positively SENSITIVE! Kind of like something off "Straight Shooter", the second Bad Company album... Wow, this is my favorite so far, at least until the freight train/explosive chorus. I love the intimacy, like you've stayed up all night drinking after you've been dumped.

This ain't no "Ballbreaker", no "Stiff Upper Lip"... It's like the band believes, it's the best thing they've done in EONS!

How good is it?

WHO GIVES A FUCK! I'm sitting here, with the headphones cranked, listening to NEW AC/DC!

Doesn't matter how many stars the album gets in "Rolling Stone", what the "New York Times" says, never mind Pitchfork or Stereogum. If you're a fan of a band, in this case one of the most legendary in the business, only eclipsed by the Beatles in sales, you're EAGER! It's like Moses, it's like JESUS has come back to Earth... You want to hear what he's got to say!

Maybe AC/DC is the band at the second coming. That's what it sounds like, THUNDER! Drowning out all that's irrelevant. All that matters is the music.

I'm in hog heaven.

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Vancouver Music Industry Raises 60K for Sarah McLauchlan

Left to Right: Terry David Mulligan, Jeff Dawson, Red Robinson, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Allen, Mike Fraser

Vancouver, B.C. - July 29, 2008 - The Vancouver Music Industry held it's 3rd annual non-profit gala and golf event at the Canvas Lounge on July 29th and the UBC Golf Course on July 30th.

The goal of this annual event is to raise money for several charitable organizations including the Sarah McLachlan Foundation’s Music Outreach Program, while bringing together members from the local music industry. Thanks to the dedication of the Vancouver Music Industry Committee, and this year's fabulous turn out, $60,000 was raised, surpassing last year's total by $10,000.

Live and silent auctions were held at the gala, bringing in a pretty penny with items such as a signed Avril Lavigne guitar, a signed Alanis Morissette acoustic guitar, and a signed telecaster from Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer Bruce Springsteen. The evening was hosted by Terry David Mulligan, and featured the Bruce Allen / Sam Feldman Legend Award, which was presented by Bruce Allen to Red Robinson for being an individual who has significantly contributed to the local music industry for many years. Several local artists performed live in the intimate setting of the Canvas Lounge including Art of Dying, Aliqua, Ryan McMahon, Christina Maria, and Sherry St Germain.

Founded in 2005 by producer Jeff Dawson (State of Shock, Daniel Powter, Kelly Rowland), the Vancouver Music Industry Committee focuses on creating unity, and ensuring continued growth among members of Vancouver’s local industry. Also on the committee are mix engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica , Aerosmith), and from Hipjoint Productions, Mike James, Troy Samson, and Jordan Thorsteinson.

State of Shock & Mike Fraser PLATINUM

State of Shock Goes Platinum

Vancouver’s own State of Shock has just reached digital platinum sales mark in Canada with the first single “Money Honey” from their sophomore album Life, Love and Lies (Cordova Bay/Fierce Panda).

This morning lead singer Cameron Melnyk stopped by the Warehouse Studio to give Mike his plaque.


Matt Mays having a cold one on the Canadian Recording Services electric beer cooler scooter between mixes at the Warehouse Studio. Matt and drummer Tim (above) came to Vancouver to have Mike mix their new record.

Matt Mays & Cooter

Hedley Hits #1 on the Billboard Canadian Top 100

Vancouver based Hedley has taken the top spot on the Billboard Canadian Top 100 Airplay Chart for the week of March 9, 2008. See full story here. Their latest album Famous Last Words was produced by Greg Nori and mixed by Mike Fraser.


State of Shock Wins #1 Radio Single of the Year

Astral Media, Canada's largest radio network, has voted State of Shock's single "Money Honey" (Cordova Bay) as the #1 Radio Single of the Year in the 2008 Independent Music Awards. State of Shock beat out Feist, Arcade Fire and many others.

"Money Honey" was produced by Jeff Dawson and mixed by Mike Fraser.


Stone Gods Debut at #2

One of Mike's recent projects, the Stone Gods (formerly the Darkness) debuted at #2 on the UK Rock Charts last week. The band will also be opening for Velvet Revolver on their upcoming UK tour. Go here for the full story.


Jackie Greene

Singer-songwriter Jackie Greene and Mike worked together over the holidays on 3 tracks from Jackie’s new record "Giving Up The Ghost" to be released April 1, 2008 on 429 Records.


Five A.M.

California's Five A.M. was recently in studio with Mike mixing some songs from their new record "Raise The Sun". Check out their new video featuring Ice T here



Billy Duffy and Mike at the 2008 Juno's in Calgary




Elvis Costello & Mike Fraser

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello connected with Mike to have him engineer and mix Elvis’ new iTunes Original release. Mike also worked with Elvis and his wife Diana Krall at the taping of their special Christmas performance on CBC’s The Hour.




Sam Roberts

Juno award winning singer-songwriter Sam Roberts made the trip out west to work with Mike on his latest release in Mike’s famous mix room in Vancouver. The yet to be named record will be Sam’s 4th studio album and his first with mixer Mike Fraser. The new album will be released on Universal Records in 2008.
Sam Roberts & Mike Fraser



Mike Fraser Camping With Son
Mike keeping it Canadian as he rocks out at the campfire with his son Cody (left) and one of Cody's friends.



Jacob of Hedley, Mike Fraser and Jeff of Simple Plan
Mike Fraser with Hedley & Simple Plan



Mike Fraser & Theory of a Deadman
Mike and Dave Brenner of Theory of a Deadman working on a mix at the Warehouse studio in Vancouver



Grass City

Vancouver based Grass City was recently in studio working with Mike on a few songs. The band has been relentlessly touring the Northwest and has begun to receive spins on rock radio with Mike’s production and mix of “The Crown”. In the picture above is Dave Brenner of Theory of a Deadman, the boys from Grass City, Mike Fraser and Mike's manager Mimi Northcott.
Mike Fraser - Grass City



Mike Frazer - Bob
Bob Clearmountain, Mike Fraser and Bryan Adams



Rockin' out to the new mix of the Stone Gods "O Whereo My Beero" with Warehouse studio assistant Eric Mosher.
Mike Fraser Rockin Out



Mike Fraser - reading
Mike reading up on the world of mixing



Mike with grandma and grandpa
Mike Fraser as a baby



Mike Fraser with Family
Big brother Mike watching over his younger siblings. Mike didn't play with dolls or little red wagons - he was a rocker!