New York Times: The Gay Architects of Classic Rock

Fascinating article about how many of the managers of classic rock bands were gay; Brian Epstein (the Beatles) obviously, but also Kit Lambert (the Who), Robert Stigwood (Cream and the Bee Gees), Simon Napier-Bell (the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan), Billy Gaff (Rod Stewart), Ken Pitt (David Bowie), Barry Krost (Cat Stevens) and Larry Parnes (Tommy Steele and Billy Fury).

The Gay Architects of Classic Rock

 

The article should have mentioned Leee Black Childers - Wikipedia

 

Did Joe Meek shape his acts' appearance and style?

Little Richard was his own architect.

 

They left out Bill Aucoin. Figures.

 

"Out magazine ranked David Geffen first in its list of the fifty Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America" - Wikipedia

 

And John Reid.

Dum-dums.

 

Is Nicky Nichols convincing Todd Rundgren to dress like this for his first Midnight Special appearance considered a positive or a negative impact by a gay man?

 

Gino Emprey here in Canada: a groundbreaking promoter.

 

Todd is a weird-lookin' dude. I'm of the mind that making him look like an alien or inhuman thing or whatever that is makes his weird-lookin'-dude-ness less obvious. YMMV on whether that's a good thing or not. (Total genius either way!)

 

Fascinating article. I read it this morning and was struck by the loyalty and respect the straight band members gave their gay managers. It was a symbiotic relationship. The gay manager got to express his maleness through the band. Kit Lambert could tell Townshend to "leave a wound" when giving an interview. Brian Epstein's inability to love someone openly in life found expression in the Beatles' message of "all you need is love."

For those upthread whose favorite gay rock personality wasn't included, this article concentrated on British rock of the 1960s and early 1970s.

 

I don't believe that Heinz Burt was a "blonde" before he encountered Joe Meek,

 

That must be why it mentioned Danny Fields, David Geffen and Clive Davis.

 

Picky. I said "concentrated", not "exclusively." It also mentioned Jann Weiner. Still, the majority of the article is about British bands at the beginning of the classic rock era. Do you disagree with that?

In that context, I agree, John Reid should have been mentioned.

 

The article concentrated on those who had to remain closeted.

 

What was The Rutles manager’s name? Wasn’t he referenced as being gay in “All You Need Is Cash”?

Interesting article. I kind of read The Times over breakfast but missed it, so thanks!

 

Leggy Mountbatten. A joke about Brian Epstein, who got off fairly easy compared to the film's Yoko, who's father invented WWII.

 

Clive Davis? Oh man, I feel so stupid.

 

Thank you very much for pointing out the article.

 

Glad to. Some of the more interesting things it points out, things that are such an accepted part of rock and roll culture that we barely notice them, like how freaking camp Mick Jagger's whole stage persona has always been. (What Richard Belzer described as a "rooster on acid.")

Another part I especially liked was how the Beatles defended Brian:

Jock McLean, who worked as an assistant to George Harrison 50 years ago, noticed the depth of the relationship between the Beatles and Mr. Epstein one August day not long before the manager’s death. Mr. McLean’s job was to pick up the singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, a promising new artist in those days, and drive him to a meeting with Mr. Harrison at the house he was renting on Blue Jay Way in the Hollywood Hills, Calif.

There was talk of Mr. Nilsson perhaps joining the Beatles’ nascent company. That’s when things went sour, Mr. McLean said.

“George was talking about how wonderful the whole thing was going to be, trying to convince Harry to join the company,” Mr. McLean recalled. “It was all great until Harry said, ‘The only thing is, I don’t think I could be managed by a gay man.’” (Mr. Epstein’s sexuality was known by many in the industry at the time.)

Incensed, Mr. Harrison gave his assistant a nod.

“In a heartbeat, Harry was out of the house,” Mr. McLean said. “George, like all the Beatles, was extremely supportive of Brian. To them, Brian was the man.” (After Mr. Epstein died, Mr. Nilsson had a rapprochement with the band and worked closely with John Lennon.)
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The article also points out that, up until 1967, it was illegal to be gay in Britain! How insane is that?

 

I wonder if it wasn't a sort of secret super power to know what would appeal to girls and boys?

 

Thanks for pointing that out with the link.
It also reminded me of that movie about Kit Lambert and Chris Stamp. I've got to watch that soon.

 

Great article. Thanks. Really interesting and totally unknown aspect. Didn't know many of these guys were gay. Jan Wenner? Didn't know that. Thanks for the article.

 

Who cares if a bands manager is gay, straight or whatever? It's individual talent and skill that matters, not orientation.

I look forward to the day when none of this matters anymore - I'll likely be long dead by then though.

 

It's a useful thing to look at rock of that era through this lens. The article, and at least one of the books mentioned, make the case that gay managers encouraged performers to be more flamboyant, delivering a better show.

 

Good point.