Thought I re-open this thread because I do not really have any "news" (or "no-news"). But Guy answered one of my queries today (about the way they work BEFORE the band comes in, who does bass and drums etc., and he gave me a really good, detailed answer). I now see a lot clearer: Guy is really playing some kind of "temp" drums and bass on SOME songs, and they obviously really produce some kind of demo to play to the band. That however is how I understand it when he says that
"all the drums and bass (played by me) will be replaced (by the band.)" So it is much more work than I always had the feeling after some of Guy's earlier answers: The impression came up (for me) that Mark only strummed the new songs in front of the band, then everybody listened once or twice, had their ideas, went into their corner and then played and recorded and once. That would have disturbed me somehow because I like the idea of a little work before recording.
So the band gets some pretty well prepared stuff before they come in and play... Apart from some other stuff which WILL be done by this "easy" way as Guy states. Seems Mark and Guy do a pretty intensive and "brainy" job inside BG in this part of production. I never have been in any recording studio obviously so please forgive me my rather "naive" way of thinking. Thank god Guy does these diaries so we have a little more insight in what exactly is happening behind these walls.
Sorry too long post.
LE