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The Dust Brothers were a pair of songwriters and record producer consisting of E.Z. Mike (Michael Simpson) and King Gizmo (John King). They were famous for the sample-based music they produced in the 1980s and 1990s, and specifically for their work on the albums Paul's Boutique by Beastie Boys, Odelay, Midnite Vultures and Guero by Beck, the soundtrack to Fight Club, and "MMMBop" by Hanson. They were based in Los Angeles, California.
They developed writing and producing skills creating music for their show and Disc jockey and rapping at parties. In 1987, they began songwriter and record producer for the Delicious Vinyl record label. There they wrote and produced tracks on Tone Lōc's album, Lōc-ed After Dark, Young MC's debut album Stone Cold Rhymin', and other Delicious Vinyl releases. They also worked with the Boo Yaa Tribe on the album New Funky Nation, producing several songs on that album.
Mike D of the Beastie Boys stopped by mutual friend Matt Dike's apartment, where Simpson and Dike played music intended to be a Dust Brothers album, and liked what he heard. The Dust Brothers along with Dike ended up co-writing, producing and mixing the Beastie Boys' second album, Paul's Boutique, considered one of the best albums of all time by Time in 2006.
In 1997, they produced a track with Korn called "Kick the P.A." for the Spawn soundtrack; produced the number one hit "MMMBop" for Hanson's first major label album Middle of Nowhere; and created a song on the number one soundtrack to the Howard Stern film Private Parts named "Tortured Man", featuring vocals by Stern. The Dust Brothers also co-produced three songs on the Rolling Stones album, Bridges to Babylon.
The next year, the duo were approached by director David Fincher to assemble the score for the film Fight Club, including "This Is Your Life", a song featuring lines from the film, including a monologue by the character Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). The same year also saw the Dust Brothers collaborate with Jeymes Samuel aka the Bullitts on the soundtrack for the film Muppets from Space, recording a cover version of the Earth, Wind & Fire song "Shining Star".
In 1999, the two collaborated with Carlos Santana and Eagle-Eye Cherry on the track "Wishing It Was" which appeared on Santana's multi-platinum album Supernatural. For that album they won their first Grammy, after having received numerous nominations for their past work with Beck and with Hanson, and as artists for their instrumental song on the X-Files soundtrack. They also recorded, produced and mixed an album by 'hip pop' group 10 Cents named Buggin Out, and remixed the Styles of Beyond track "Winnetka Exit".
Their last production together was in collaboration with They Might Be Giants, for their 2007 album The Else.
In 1997, the duo announced an album titled Marshall High for release on their own label Nickelbag Records later that year, and shared preliminary album artwork on their website. This album was repeatedly delayed, and eventually shelved in favor of a Greatest Hits album, which was also never saw release. In 2003, Money Mark's Money Mark released a 2xLP compilation titled The Dusted Years (The Complete Dust Brothers), featuring a selection of remixes and productions from across the duo's career. It is unclear how involved Simpson and King were in selecting the tracklist.
King admitted in 2005 "We've been working on a Dust Brothers album since 1987, but songs continually get given to artists we work with. And now we're both so busy with things we're working on, and we both have families, that it's hard to get round to doing your own thing."
| + !Album !Song !Year !Artist | |||
| Lōc-ed After Dark | Cutting Rhythms; Next Episode; Don't Get Close | 1989 | Tone Loc |
| Paul's Boutique | '''''entire album''''' | Beastie Boys | |
| Escape from Havana | Hip Hop Creature | Mellow Man Ace | |
| Stone Cold Rhymin' | Know How; Got More Rhymes {co-produced by Michael Ross} | Young MC | |
| Just a Poet with Soul | Give It Here {co-produced by Def Jef}; Do It Baby; God Made Me Funky {co-produced by Def Jef}; Just a Poet {co-produced by Michael Ross} | Def Jef | |
| New Funky Nation | Rater R; Don't Mess; Once Upon a Drive By; Riot Pump | 1990 | Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. |
| Mercurotones | Libertine | The Buck Pets | |
| Back to Skull | Snail Dust | 1994 | They Might Be Giants |
| Odelay | '''''entire album''''' | 1996 | Beck |
| Feel the Power | '''''entire album''''' | Wesley Willis | |
| Bridges to Babylon | Anybody Seen My Baby?; Might As Well Get Juiced; Saint of Me | 1997 | The Rolling Stones |
| MMMBop | Thinking of You | Hanson | |
| Middle of Nowhere | |||
| Private Parts (soundtrack) | Tortured Man | Howard Stern | |
| Half Baked (soundtrack) | Virgin Girl | 1998 | Smash Mouth & Chopper |
| Mary Jane | Coolio | ||
| Dead Man on Campus (soundtrack) | We Still Need More (Than Anyone Has) | Supergrass | |
| Cowboy Song | Blur | ||
| Supernatural | Wishing It Was | 1999 | Santana |
| Midnite Vultures | Hollywood Freaks; Debra | Beck | |
| Hybrid Theory | With You {additional beating} | 2000 | Linkin Park |
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