He doesnt think in terms of controversy and isnt up on rock and roll conspiracy theories.
He prefers the harmony of musicians, and notes any dissonance as a passing tone.
Like many CEOs, he started near the bottom of the industrys jobs.
Den of Geek: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame CEO sounds like a contradiction of terms.
What was your introduction to rock and roll?
I remember watching them onThe Ed Sullivan Showwith my sister and going crazy in my living room.
Just a lot of exposure to rock and roll and it really just took off from there.
You started out in concert promotions.
I did that in Pittsburgh, where I grew up.
I figured that was a way to get in for free and make money at the same time.
Then eventually going to school in Texas, the concert scene in Austin was incredible.
It really furthered my interest to stay in the music business.
We dont see it as a controversy.
We have always looked at it that rock and roll, by definition, is very broad.
If you really want to siphon and push everything together, where it came from.
How that influenced a lot of different people who went in a lot of different directions.
Some went into country.
All these genres of music had their roots pretty much in the same place.
You worked at Madison Square Garden.
Do you have a favorite concert that you oversaw or attended?
I worked at Madison Square Garden for about almost ten years.
A lot of great shows.
Some of the first big rock shows that came in after that.
It was interesting to see people coming in and really letting go.
He was as hot as can be.
Then you get into the awards shows like the Grammys and the concerts.
There were so many great shows.
Was there anything different about theConcert for New York Cityafter Sept. 11 and how the artists were with you?
I think everybody really came together because everyone had a common goal.
Everyone in the city and the country was hurting at that time.
I think artists were really looking to see what they could do to help.
International Talent Group represented David Bowie when you worked there.
One of the centrals of the company was Davids agent, going back to the mid-seventies.
When we started that company, David hadnt toured in a while, and that was for theSerious Moonlighttour.
It was the first big tour he had done in a long time.
We did that tour and theGlass Spidertour.
He had a side project, Tin Machine.
We booked that as well.
Did you get to work with him?
People dont really realize what agents do.
Do you have any particular memories or thoughts to share?
I remember him wanting to be very involved in the shows.
He wasnt a guy whod just show up and play.
You mention being a hands-on worker.
In your interviews you give special thanks to stagehands and crew.
How hands-on are you when it comes to production on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows?
Part of it is historical, the foundation started well before there was a museum in Cleveland.
Part of it has to do with raising money.
Were funding that to the tune of millions of dollars that weve raised.
Weve done it in Cleveland a few times.
Well be back in Brooklyn next year.
After that, well flip every other year between New York and Cleveland.
Is the Hall of Fame award like getting a medal from the Queen of England?
Do the bands have to pre-confirm that they will accept the honor before being officially nominated?
People are picked on whether theyre worthy; whether theyre influential; whether they important in the business.
Its interesting you say that.
You hear that a lot, that the artists are pissed off because they havent been inducted.
Once people hear what I do, they always ask why so and so didnt get inducted.
But theyre over the moon about being inducted.
Its just that when it happens, it happens.
Nine times out of ten, people are really happy about it.
You mention Deep Purple.
I read there was a problem with Ritchie Blackmore being a part of it.
Does the fan in you ever get disappointed by the legal wrangling of the bands involved?
Well as a fan you hate to see that.
A lot of these artists have been together forty or fifty years and its like being married.
They have these issues.
Its really no different for bands.
Any fun stories of rock star ego clashes that wont get you in trouble for talking about?
No, most of them will get me in trouble talking about it.
[Laughs] Good answer.
Is there anyone who youre surprised isnt in yet?
Its nice to see Chicago and Deep Purple and Steve Miller finally get in.
But theres a process we go through that hopefully these people will get their time.
Are there bands that youre surprised havent come up in the conversation?
But then you start digging in and you see that they were important.
Steve Cropper was one of the greatest guitar players of all time, and he talks about him.
How does one become a Rock Hall scholar or historian?
One is that you grow up loving and listening.
They want to soak it in and really want to know everything they can.
Some people are just focused on a certain genre or act.
Some people know everything there is about progressive rock.
Some guys know everything about heavy metal or country rock.
You mentioned prog rock.
Id like to ask about one specific band, Jethro Tull.
You worked at Madison Square Garden and they held sellout concerts there for years straight.
They played there a bunch of times.
And I saw them every time.Does anyone at the Rock Hall have anything against prog rock?
How do Jon Landau and Jann Wenner play into the selection process?
Do they have special influence?
They get a vote like everybody else.
Jann isnt on the nominating committee.
Hes the chairman of the Rock Hall Foundation.
He fills out a ballot just like everybody else does.
He can put together two or three options but everybody votes on it.
He doesnt get a weighted vote.
He gets one vote and it counts just as much as anybody else on the nominating committee.
The story that these guys sit in a dark room and pick these people really isnt true.
It is a relatively democratic process.
So bands dont put themselves into the race, its just drawn from nominations.
No, they have a really together crew and theyve been doing this for a very long time.
They know how to get things around and make them happen.
Is there anyone whos been consistently lobbying that you think has no chance of getting in?
People always think they have a chance so I dont know.
There are people who you think are kind of silly.
Sometimes it comes up and sometimes it never does.
No, but you know what I do?
You find yourself noticing things you didnt see the first time and its like wow, thats really cool.
Then you have the people who really know the business.
They can give you the whole history of everything and its great.
Is there any exhibit you find yourself going back to more often than others?
Different cities have different cityscapes, like San Francisco or Texas and thats really cool.
We also have this great new exhibit about rock in politics that opens in May.
When does the exhibits time period start?
Really back to the fifties and we found a variety of things that have to do with politics.
Would something like Brown Eyed Handsome Man by Chuck Berry be considered as a political allegory?
Im not sure whether thats in the exhibit or not.
Once its up and open there will be more stuff online.
Will you be exhibiting Lee Atwaters guitar?
[Laughs] We have a go at be equitable and include Republicans and Democrats.
Im a John Lennon Socialist.
Do you have a desert island band?
I like the message.
I like the beat.
I like the music.
I like the way his voice sounds.
Its just one of those things.
They are that kind of band.
Do you prefer his protest music or his love songs, which are beautiful?
There really is nothing he does that I dont like.
They are one of the best acts Ive ever seen.
Live they were a great act.
That music never gets boring.
Do you miss the simple days of concert promoting?
Nah, I like this.
I like what I do.
Ive been lucky to have been able to stay in the same business and still do different things.
Im still promoting shows.
Its great working with the museum in Cleveland.
The Museum is really the only place dedicated solely to the preservation and exhibition of rock and roll.
The exhibits and the wonderful education programs we have for kids.
Its really a magical place to walk through if you have a shred of love for rock and roll.
What the most fun part of the job?
Just the way it changes, dealing with musicians and artists and people who love rock and roll.
Its been such a big part of my life, my whole career.
Since I was a little kid I liked it, so having a job like this is just great.
I dont know what else I would have done.
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