Robert John “Mutt” Lange, a renowned South African record producer, is celebrated for his profound influence on rock music and his notable collaborations with various artists. Born on November 11, 1948, in Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), and raised in Durban, South Africa, Lange’s musical journey began at an early age.
Mutt Lange
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Facts
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| Birth name | Robert John Lange |
| Born | 11 November 1948 Mufulira, Northern Rhodesia (now Mufulira, Zambia) |
| Origin | Johannesburg, South Africa |
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| Years active | 1974–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Stevie Vann (divorced) Olga Anthony (divorced) Shania Twain (m. 1993; div. 2010)
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Personal life
Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s personal life is as intriguing as his professional accomplishments. A strict vegetarian and follower of Sant Mat teachings, Lange has chosen a secluded life in La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland, away from the limelight. His preference for privacy is evident in his avoidance of interviews for decades.
Lange’s romantic journey has seen its share of twists and turns. He met Stevie Vann during their school days in Northern Rhodesia, and their paths crossed again at Belfast High School in South Africa. Their union led to marriage and relocation to the United Kingdom in the 1970s, although the relationship eventually ended in the same decade.
During his marriage to Stevie, Lange embarked on a five-year relationship with Oonagh O’Reilly, an Irish colleague. However, in 1979, he tied the knot with actress Olga Anthony.
The most notable chapter of Lange’s personal life began when he discovered Shania Twain’s music. Their initial phone conversations blossomed into a deep connection, culminating in their marriage on 28 December 1993. Their wedding, marked by non-alcoholic champagne, reflected Lange’s teetotalism and dedication to Twain.
However, their marriage encountered turbulence in 2008 when it was revealed that Lange had an affair with Twain’s best friend and secretary, Marie-Anne Thiébaud. This revelation led to their separation and eventual divorce in June 2010. Twain later married Frédéric Thiébaud, Marie-Anne’s former husband, on 1 January 2011.
Amidst the personal upheaval, Lange found solace in his love for nature and conservation. In 2011, he purchased Coronet Peak Station in New Zealand, later dedicating a vast portion of his land to the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust covenant, making it the largest private conservation covenant in New Zealand.
Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s journey reflects the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of personal fulfillment beyond the realm of music production.
Career
Robert John “Mutt” Lange’s early musical endeavors laid the foundation for his legendary career as a record producer and songwriter. Following his national service from 1966 to 1967, Lange co-founded the band Sound Reason in 1969, alongside South African actor James Borthwick. Subsequently, in 1971, he embarked on another musical project with the formation of the group Hocus, which produced an album and released several singles.
Lange’s production journey took flight in 1976, marking the beginning of his prolific career in shaping the sound of numerous iconic artists. His breakthrough came in October 1978 with the UK chart-topper “Rat Trap” by The Boomtown Rats, followed by AC/DC’s monumental album “Highway to Hell” in July 1979.
Throughout the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Lange’s signature touch graced albums by rock giants like AC/DC, Foreigner, and Def Leppard. Notably, his collaboration with AC/DC yielded the monumental album “Back in Black,” which remains one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Lange’s diverse portfolio also includes his work with Bryan Adams on the album “Waking Up the Neighbours,” featuring the iconic single “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You,” which dominated the UK singles chart for a record-breaking 16 consecutive weeks.
In addition to his extensive production credits, Lange’s talents as a songwriter shine through in his collaborations with various artists, including his contributions to Tara Blaise’s album “Great Escape.”
Lange’s remarkable career was further immortalized in the 2001 television film “Hysteria – The Def Leppard Story,” with actor Anthony Michael Hall portraying him on screen. Through his unparalleled creativity and groundbreaking productions, Mutt Lange cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of rock music.
Discography
Produced albums
Albums on which Lange produced a majority of the tracks:
- Hocus – “The Swan”/”He”, 1972
- Richard Jon Smith – Superstar Smith, 1974
- Spider – Spider, 1975
- City Boy – City Boy, 1976
- City Boy – Dinner at the Ritz, 1976
- Kevin Coyne – In Living Black and White, 1976
- Mallard – In a Different Climate, 1976
- Graham Parker – Heat Treatment, 1976
- Supercharge – Local Lads Make Good, 1976
- The Motors – 1, 1977
- City Boy – Young Men Gone West, 1977
- Clover – Love on the Wire, 1977
- Clover – Unavailable, 1977
- Supercharge – Horizontal Refreshment, 1977
- The Boomtown Rats – The Boomtown Rats, 1977
- The Rumour – Max, 1977
- Savoy Brown – Savage Return, 1978
- Michael Stanley Band – Cabin Fever, 1978
- City Boy – Book Early, 1978
- Outlaws – Playin’ to Win, 1978
- The Boomtown Rats – A Tonic for the Troops, 1978
- Deaf School – English Boys/Working Girls, 1978
- City Boy – The Day the Earth Caught Fire, 1979
- The Records – Shades in Bed, 1979
- Supercharge – Body Rhythm, 1979
- The Boomtown Rats – The Fine Art of Surfacing, 1979
- AC/DC – Highway to Hell, 1979
- Tycoon – Tycoon, 1979
- Broken Home – Broken Home, 1980
- AC/DC – Back in Black, 1980
- Foreigner – 4, 1981[11]
- Def Leppard – High ‘N’ Dry, 1981
- AC/DC – For Those About to Rock We Salute You, 1981
- Def Leppard – Pyromania, 1983
- The Cars – Heartbeat City, 1984
- Def Leppard – Hysteria, 1987
- Romeo’s Daughter – Romeo’s Daughter, 1988
- Billy Ocean – Tear Down These Walls, 1988
- Bryan Adams – Waking Up the Neighbours, 1991
- Def Leppard – Adrenalize (executive producer), 1992
- Michael Bolton – The One Thing, 1993
- Stevie Vann – Stevie Vann, 1995
- Shania Twain – The Woman in Me, 1995
- Bryan Adams – 18 til I Die, 1996
- Shania Twain – Come on Over, 1997
- The Corrs – In Blue, 2000[10]
- Shania Twain – Up!, 2002
- Shania Twain – Greatest Hits, 2004
- Nickelback – Dark Horse, 2008
- Maroon 5 – Hands All Over, 2010
- Muse – Drones, 2015
- Ashley Clark – Ashley Clark, 2015
Produced album tracks
Albums on which Lange produced at least one track:
- Jessica Jones – “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday”, 1972
- Stephen – “Right On Running Man”, 1974/5
- Graham Parker and the Rumour – The Parkerilla, 1978
- XTC – “This Is Pop” (single version), 1978
- Roman Holliday – Fire Me Up (executive producer), 1984
- Billy Ocean – Suddenly (executive producer), 1984
- Billy Ocean – Love Zone (executive producer), 1986
- Billy Ocean – Greatest Hits, 1989
- Bryan Adams – So Far So Good, 1993
- Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do with It, 1993
- Michael Bolton – Greatest Hits, 1995
- Celine Dion – All the Way… A Decade of Song, 1999
- Backstreet Boys – Backstreet’s Back, 1997
- Backstreet Boys – Millennium, 1999
- Bryan Adams – The Best of Me, 1999
- Def Leppard – Euphoria, 1999
- Britney Spears – Oops!… I Did It Again, 2000
- Celine Dion – A New Day Has Come, 2002
- Bryan Adams – Room Service, 2004
- Various artists – Music from and Inspired by Desperate Housewives, 2005
- Anne Murray – Anne Murray Duets: Friends & Legends, 2007
- Bryan Adams – 11, 2008
- Tara Blaise – Great Escape, 2008
- Lady Gaga – Born This Way, 2011
- Zander Bleck – Bring It On, 2012
- Bryan Adams – So Happy It Hurts, 2022
Album tracks written or co-written
- Britney Spears – “Don’t Let Me Be the Last to Know” from Oops!…I Did It Again, 2000
- Bryan Adams – “I Will Always Return”, “You Can’t Take Me” and “This Is Where I Belong” from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 2002
- Bryan Adams – “So Far So Good” from Anthology, 2005
- Bryan Adams and Sarah McLachlan – “Don’t Let Go” from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, 2002
- Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, and Sting – “All for Love” from The Three Musketeers: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, 1993
- Bryan Adams – “So Happy it Hurts” from So Happy It Hurts, 2021
- Bryan Adams – “On the Road” from So Happy It Hurts, 2021
- Bryan Adams – “Kick Ass” from So Happy It Hurts, 2021
- Jessica Andrews – “I’ll Take Your Heart” from Heart Shaped World, 1999
- Backstreet Boys – “It’s Gotta Be You” from Millennium, 1999
- Blackhawk – “I’m Not Strong Enough to Say No” from Strong Enough, 1995
- Michael Bolton – “Only a Woman Like You” from Only a Woman Like You, 2002
- Michael Bolton – “Said I Loved You…But I Lied” from The One Thing, 1993
- Claude François – “Stop, Stop, Stop” and “Without Your Love I Can’t Live” from Bordeaux Rosé, 1978
- Clout – “Don’t Stop” from Substitute, 1978
- Billy Ray Cyrus – “Only God (Could Stop Me Loving You)” from Storm in the Heartland, 1994
- Celine Dion – “If Walls Could Talk”, from: “All the Way… A Decade of Song”, 1999
- Dana – “Without Your Love (I Can’t Live)” – track produced by Barry Blue from The Girl Is Back, 1979
- Def Leppard – All songs on Pyromania, 1983
- Def Leppard – All songs on Hysteria, 1987
- Def Leppard – “Ring of Fire” and “I Wanna Be Your Hero” from Retro Active, 1993
- Def Leppard – “Promises”, “All Night” and “It’s Only Love” from Euphoria, 1999
- Dionne Warwick – “Without Your Love” – track produced by Richard Landis from Finder of Lost Loves, 1985
- Dobie Gray – “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You” from Dobie’s self titled album, 1979
- Girls Next Door – “Without Your Love” from What a Girl Next Door Could Do, 1987
- Heart – “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You” & “Wild Child” from Brigade, 1990
- Heart – “Will You Be There (In the Morning)” from Desire Walks On, 1993
- Huey Lewis and the News – “Do You Believe in Love” from Picture This, 1982
- Huey Lewis and the News – “It Hit Me Like a Hammer” from Hard at Play, 1991
- Lonestar – “You Walked In” from Crazy Nights, 1997
- Loverboy – “Lovin’ Every Minute of It” from Lovin’ Every Minute of It, 1985
- Reba McEntire – “I’ll Take Your Heart” from Moments and Memories: The Best of Reba, 1998
- Miss Willie Brown – “You’re All That Matters to Me”, 2012
- PJ Powers – “(Let That) River Roll” from Thandeka Talk to Me, 2001
- Starship – “I Didn’t Mean to Stay All Night” from Love Among the Cannibals, 1989
- Carrie Underwood – “Who Are You” from Blown Away, 2012
- Celtic Woman – “Walk Beside Me”, 2015
- Romeos Daughter – “Don’t Break My Heart”, “I Cry Myself to Sleep at Night”, “Wild Child”, “Heaven in the Backseat”, 1988
- Eddie Money – “Heaven in the Backseat”, 1991
- The Corrs – “Breathless”, 2000
- Shania Twain – All songs on The Woman in Me (except “Leaving Is the Only Way Out”), Come on Over, and Up!
- Zander Bleck – “Bring It On”, 2012
- Radioactive – “Move It”, 2022
- Leah Martin-Brown – “Boys”, 2024
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