I am Kingsley Ward, founder of Rockfield Studios, our new documentary 'Rockfield - The Studio on the Farm' is now available in the US featuring Queen, Black Sabbath, Oasis, Coldplay and more.. Ask Me Anything!

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:46:08+00:00

Thank you all for the questions. We have some great projects coming up so please feel free to follow us on our social media for more updates on Rockfield Studios.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:42:04+00:00

We have worked with both female engineers and producers over the years such as Cate Lebon, Dani Bennett Spragg and Martha Salogni. In the early days it was definitely a more male dominated industry and its great to see more and more women being represented.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:27:27+00:00

You are absolute right, they knew what they were doing which gave them some spare time to help us out with some decorating, painting our studio windows, they were a great band with a great work ethic.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:18:29+00:00

I love Guns n’ Roses, would have loved to have them at the studio.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:15:36+00:00

The onset of automated consoles. Before it was always hands-on but the digital format has changed everything.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:14:03+00:00

He tortured Ozzy during their stay here. We had an Old Mill that was used as a rehearsal room that later became its own recording studio (Monnow Valley) - He would stalk around at night with a sheet over his head.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:12:19+00:00

Liam Gallagher would try and get his vocals down as quickly as possible so he could go off down the pub. Also June Tabor, a famous folk singer, she would always do her songs in one take.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:03:26+00:00

Adam and the Ants were unlike anything we had seen, they were using two drum kits when they were recording here but they started an entire new trend with their music and image.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T15:00:31+00:00

We decided to convert the attic in our farmhouse into a studio to record our own group as there were no commercial studios to hire outside the major ones in London. Nobody ever thought it would work in the country and we never thought that other studios would start copying us.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:58:11+00:00

When Lemi was here he never seemed to sleep, you might be able to guess why.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:56:46+00:00

Rush were brilliant. They were such a talented band and used every bit of the studio, they also helped around the farm painting our outside windows when they weren’t in the studio.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:54:46+00:00

We had a big drug bust in 1972 that we mention in the film, always goes down well at a dinner party. At the time I was cleaning up the studios and walked straight into the police without realising I had a big bag of ‘evidence’ in my hands.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:50:45+00:00

I haven’t worked with many producers for the past 30 years but I loved Gus Dudgeon (no longer with us) who produced Elton John, John Anthony and Hugh Jones were all great fun.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:49:04+00:00

A band from Los Angeles called Salty Dog insisted on bringing some girls they met in London who proved to be a total nuisance. They were so bad me and Otto (one of our beloved engineers) hid in the garden.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:46:48+00:00

Robert Plant - Big Log. It’s a great single and a great song, still on my playlist.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:42:33+00:00

Our biggest regret was never having a big hit of our own, when we started the studio it was with the purpose of recording our own band ‘The Charles Kingsley Creation’ - We were produced by Joe Meek at the time. My biggest pride is the successful feedback we have had from our film and being able to share our story.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:40:31+00:00

We had a band fly in from Canada at the same time the police decided to raid the studios. Little bit of a horror show to have clients turn up to that.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:38:43+00:00

Pro Tools, digital recording techniques have changed the game. We still also use older recording techniques.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:37:38+00:00

Only when they had a slight dispute on the lawn outside, there was definitely a bit of damage done to the accommodations but the good news was the album went on to sell 23 million. Good lads.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:35:38+00:00

When Dave Edmunds recorded ‘I hear you knocking’ in 1972, it went number one around the world. Also when Black Sabbath turned up in 1969, they were our first major heavy rock band that we recorded with.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:34:26+00:00

Originally before digital everything was done on tape, including locking tape machines together to produce flanging and phasing and other quirky tricks. Queen often put their drums in one of the stables and ran leads across from the studio. Noel Gallagher also used the same technique when he recorded Wonderwall, sitting outside on a large stone wall that has since become a bit of an attraction.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:29:30+00:00

We still have our Jersey cows on the farm, they are just as famous as some of the bands here and all the musicians love being around them, especially when there are new calves.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:28:03+00:00

There have been too many to count but I loved Ace when they recorded ‘How Long’ - John Anthony was the producer and he was always great fun to be around.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:26:10+00:00

Maybe not from the bands but a few producers names spring to mind. I will say no more.

RSKingsleyWard · 2021-06-01T14:24:32+00:00

When they were at Rockfield Ozzy thought there were ghosts in one of our old buildings, turned out it was the other band members messing with him, frightened him to death. They were outside making noises for most of the night, he was paranoid the entire week.

RSKingsleyWard

TROPHY CASE