Brian Eno helped reinvent rock music. In 1981, he admitted he was sick of it
Producer Brian Eno said in a 1981 interview that he was “pretty sick of rock music”, despite enjoying the process of making it. The comment came after he had completed the experimental album *My Life in the Bush of Ghosts* with David Byrne, and reflected Eno’s preference for more exploratory projects.
Eno had worked with adventurous artists including Talking Heads, David Bowie and Devo, as well as commercially successful acts such as U2 and Coldplay. He said he found playing rock thrilling but expected not to listen to the results afterwards, while his solo work explored ambient music and tape loops.
In short
- Eno said he was tired of rock in 1981.
- He still found making it thrilling.
- Experimental work better matched his creative interests.
Explained simply
Brian Eno is a British musician and producer who has worked both as a recording artist and behind the scenes. He became known for experimenting with sound and production, including through ambient music, which is designed to create a mood rather than follow the usual shape of a rock song.
Eno worked with David Byrne of Talking Heads on My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, an album that combined music with recorded voices and other sounds. He also produced or collaborated with artists including David Bowie, Devo, U2 and Coldplay, helping bring unusual studio approaches to a wide range of music.
His career spans rock records and more exploratory projects, such as solo pieces made with tape loops. That range helps explain why he could enjoy the act of making rock music while feeling less interested in listening to the finished results.