Category: The Music Business

Ann Boleyn is one busy woman! Besides fronting one of rock’s most exciting groups (“Hellion”), she is also the founder of New Renaissance Records, in Burbank, California. How do you mix singing, with signing acts? That’s what we wanted to find out. Q – Back in 1984, things were looking up for Hellion. You had Niji Management (Ronnie James Dio formerly of Cortland, N.Y. shares the same manager) as your manager. You had major label interest. What happened with Niji Management? A – There were a lot of inside things…

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There’s been a revolution in the music business. Sales of T-shirts, headbands, concert programs and other assorted paraphernalia have become big business. And, just as important to a recording artist as sales of their record. Projected sales for New Kids On The Block merchandise, this year — $400 million dollars. Winterland Productions of San Francisco handle the licensing rights and manufacturing of all New Kids merchandise. Winterland also handles the merchandising for Ozzy, Kiss, Ratt, Rush, Joe Satriani, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Yngwie, Cromags, and the list goes on and…

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When Bruce Springsteen won an Academy Award last year for “Streets of Philadelphia”, he thanked a lot of people. Mike Appel was not one of them. And, without Mike Appel, the world would never have heard of Bruce Springsteen. Mike Appel was Bruce Springsteen’s first Personal Manager. He took care of the business, so Bruce could take care of the music. And, when success finally came Bruce’s way, Mike Appel was dumped. Mike Appel along with Marc Eliot, has written a truly fascinating behind the scenes look at rock management…

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There was a lot of talk a few years ago about the Twenty Fifth Anniversary of Woodstock, which resulted in Woodstock ’94. But, what was it like to attend the original Woodstock in 1969? Rocky Bayer knows. He was there. In fact, Rocky was so touched by what he saw, heard and experienced at Woodstock that he returned there every weekend that Summer of 1969, hoping somehow to hold on to that spirit. We talked with Rocky about that Summer of 1969 and The Woodstock Festival held in Bethel, N.Y.…

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He was the original Idol Maker. He is Personal Manager Bob Marcucci. Bob’s clients included Fabian and Frankie Avalon. And in the late 50’s, outside of Elvis, you didn’t find singers as famous as that. How did Bob Marcucci guide his artists to the top? What exactly was his job? We spoke with Bob recently about his role in rock ‘n’ roll history. Q – Bob are you still a personal manager? A – Yes. I’m still a personal manager. My companies are Chancellor Records and my production company Robert…

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In Rock ‘n Roll history, there are some groups whose managers are just as famous as the acts themselves. For example: The Beatles – Brian Epstein. Grand Funk Railroad – Terry Knight. Led Zeppelin – Peter Grant. And then there’s The Rolling Stones, whose manager was Andrew Loog Oldham in the 1960s. What a fascinating time to have been involved in the management of a Rock ‘n Roll group. Q – Mr. Oldham, the obvious question has to be, what are you doing living in South America? Bogota, Columbia is…

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Philip (Flip) Sloan or P.F. Sloan as he’s known the world over, is truly one of rock’s greatest songwriters. It was P.F. Sloan who wrote “Eve of Destruction” for Barry McGuire, “Secret Agent Man” for Johnny Rivers, She’s A Must To Avoid” for Herman’s Hermits, “You Baby” for The Turtles, and “Where Were You When I Needed You” for The Grass Roots. Between 1965 and 1967, 150 of his songs were recorded of which 45 made the charts. It could be said that Top 40 would have been an empty…

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He wasn’t a singer. He wasn’t a songwriter. He wasn’t even a musician. Yet, he’s one of the all time legends of the rock world. He — is Bill Graham. Bill Graham burst onto the national scene in the 60’s with his Fillmore West and Fillmore East concert halls. He was at the center of the concert promotion business in San Francisco, and later New York. He knew and promoted all of rock’s greatest talents. However, to say that Bill Graham was just a promoter would not do him justice.…

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Few people can claim to have had a ringside seat to the making of Rock ‘n Roll History. Byron Raphael was a William Morris agent-in-training in 1956. That position put him in contact with Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley, just at the precise time Elvis was breaking in a big way. Byron Raphael’s account of that time and his dealings with Elvis and the Colonel are beyond fascinating. Movies are made from material like this. Q – Byron, back in the days when you worked for the William Morris…

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