Producer Kevin "The Caveman" Shirley (IRON MAIDEN, AEROSMITH) has answered the following fan-mail:

Question: "Hey, I know I'm behind the times here, but I just got my hands on a copy of the METALLICA Videos DVD. I'm hearing Jason Newsted on 'One' for the first time in my life. THANK YOU"

Shirley: "Well, it was such an interesting thing to mix the multitrack masters into 5.1 but the most challenging thing was to be true to the spirit of the original mixes. Copying mixes in a very short time frame (less than a day a song) when the originals were mixed over MUCH longer periods, on different consoles etc., was pretty complicated, and on 'One' I did three different mixes. The first, reflecting the original mix, the next adding bass to that mix and another making the drums sound a lot stronger - to suit the tracks following it on the DVD ( from the Black album and much punchier) - where I filtered the bass in, not making it too present. The guys considered all three and chose this third one in the end, and I'm glad you liked it.

Question: "I regularly read your diary and now the Live After Death DVD has been officially announced just wondered if you'll be making any more comments in your diary about the remix - e.g. how quick did you mix it, were the multi-tracks in good shape etc?"

Shirley: "Live After Death is an awesome concert and DVD. I never wanted to touch Martin Birch's original mixes, which I thought were great, but the cool thing was I discussed the nature of the 5.1 mix with Steve Harris (bassist), who wasn't at all concerned with the surround mix reflecting the original stereo mix - so I had carte blanche and I think the result is a huge, warm sound which I was very happy with. The tapes were in astounding condition. All the instruments sounded huge, and there's something about just having 2 guitar players that creates a wonderful space, thats hard to achieve with 3. Also, the guys didn't have those horrible distortion stomp boxes they rely on now, which I can't stand, and try very hard to minimize during album recordings (at the very least) but which seem to ALWAYS creep back into the signal chain, and I guess that's just part of the new Maiden sound now! But I do love a slightly cleaner guitar tone and have always loved Malcolm Young's (AC/DC) and Jimmy Page's (LED ZEPPELIN) tones, which sound ballsier to me. I may need my whips in the future........ Full details of the release here."

Shirley adds: "Speaking of Jimmy Page - the new versions of both the DVD and CD of The Song Remains The Same are out next week - and I am really excited to hear what you have to say about it. I was introduced to Led Zep through the original soundtrack (very long story, but I grew up with classics and church music), and it changed my life and I love it, so it was a pilgrimage to gilt and shine the Holy Grail, and very dear to me - and I only hope there are not too many who take issue with it. Certainly, we have given the Garden Tapes guy a whole new challenge as it is entirely revisited, but he's pretty good - he missed a few on the DVD 'tho!"