Mark Ronson on New Projects and At the Drive-In: Video Interview and Radiohead Cover Footage

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Mark Ronson (of Bob Dylan remix and Amy Winehouse-producing fame) and his band hit New York's Webster Hall Friday night with a crew of special guests that included Breaking Artist Santogold. Rock Daily cornered the British musician in his dressing room to get the latest on his upcoming projects and a window into his recording process. Check out the interview, plus footage of Phantom Planet's Alex Greenwald joining the band during soundcheck for a warm-up of their cover of Radiohead's "Just." And keep reading for our Six-Pack Interview with Ronson, where he reveals bands he'd like to cover next (the unlikely list includes At the Drive-In).

What's the most rock-star thing you've ever done?
I know I did something really rock-star the other day, but I can't remember what it was. Probably drugs.

Who's the most famous person you've ever met?
Unfortunately George W. Bush, at the White House

What's on your current playlist?
Richard Swift, I'm still listening to the Arcade Fire record because it's amazing, and I like the Pipettes.

When will it be time to retire?
When I'm 52.

What was your favorite album when you were fourteen?
Appetite for Destruction.

If you had to cover another song right now, what would it be?
There's good songs all the time, but I kind of wanted to do "Down In It" by Nine Inch Nails, from their first record. I like that song "Don't You Evah" by Spoon. I wanted to do an At the Drive-In song too, but their stuff is so proggy and complicated, but I do love their first record.

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Song Stories

“Everyday People”

Sly and the Family Stone | 1968

"Everyday People" managed to trailblaze in two different ways -- it was one of the first pop hits to deal with the subject of racial harmony, and it utilized Larry Graham's "slap" technique on the bass guitar, which would soon be copied by countless other bassists. Graham once said about his pulsating style, "I'd never done that before … that's where the freedom of creativity came in for the band, that we'd be allowed to do that." In 1978, the song's line "Different strokes for different folks" would be borrowed for the title of the hit television show Diff'rent Strokes.

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