Matt Warnock from Guitar International spoke recently with famed producer Andy Johns, known for his work with LED ZEPPELIN, THE ROLLING STONES, VAN HALEN and being involved in albums that have sold more than 160 million copies. Here are a few excerpts from the chat:

Guitar International: You’ve been in the studio for many classic rock records, including Exile On Main Street, Led Zeppelin IV and countless others. Do you think that artists today could produce an enduring album like one of these in today’s economic climate?

Johns: "I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do know that a lot of people went out and bought themselves Pro Tools rigs, but the atmosphere is not the same as being in a proper, cool studio. That’s why it was great working in Skywalker studio on two projects, because I felt very at home. You’re surrounded by professionals and it drives you on a bit. So many people buy a Pro Tools rig and think they’ll record an album, but it doesn’t really work that way. A lot of people will figure out how to get signal paths, mic the bass drum and then think, 'I’m an engineer.' [Laughs] 'Let’s put a tambourine on that. Great I’m a record producer as well.' But, it took me years and years to really figure it all out. The first record I produced was in ’69, and though it was a hit, I didn’t feel that comfortable with things back then. It wasn’t until the ‘80s when I felt good about doing it exclusively, which carried me through the ‘80s and ‘90s. The GODSMACK record I did was number one, CHICKENFOOT was I think number four. So, even when you’re having a bad day you can think, 'Well wait a minute, I’ve got a record that’s at number one.' [Laughs] But, as far as sales go now, it’s abysmal, and to make money out of downloads can be tough. The money’s not really there anymore man. I’m still having fun in the studio, but the in-depth projects that I like to work on just aren’t bloody well out there anymore."

Guitar International: When you were in the studio working on Led Zeppelin IV, did you have a sense for how big that album and 'Stairway To Heaven' was going to be when it was released?

Johns: "Well, I didn’t think that 40 years down the road people would still want to know about 'Stairway to Heaven'. [Laughs] I knew it was going to be a good record because those guys were phenomenal musicians and Jimmy Page really knew how to get things done in the studio very quickly. They were very fast because Page and John Paul Jones were very experienced studio musicians who had played on thousands of dates over the years. I don’t think we knew that the album would have the legs that it had, and back then we didn’t think that rock n' roll would have the legs that it’s had to be quite honest. You were thinking much beyond the next few years, it was just, 'We’ll see what happens and go from there.'"

Read the entire interview here.