Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Garbage, Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins... Butch Vig’s worked on classic records by all of them. As his group 5 Billion In Diamonds return with their arresting second album this month, here the legendary producer reflects on his stellar career. And failing to make an impression on Pete Townshend...

I never decided I was going to become a record producer…  

“It just sort of happened. People would say, ‘Hey, man, will you work with us on this ...