Official Press Release: Autobiography from guess who?
August 8 2007 at 11:09 PM
Paul K (Premier Login paulkinder) Forum Owner from IP address 62.252.32.13
LEGENDARY ARTIST MANAGER AND MEDIA MOGUL, TONY DEFRIES BREAKS FORTY YEAR SILENCE TO PUBLISH AUTOBIOGRAPHY
GODS AND GANGSTERS REVEALS THE UNTOLD TRUTH BEHIND REAL RISE OF ZIGGY STARDUST, IGGY POP, LOU REED AND OTHER STORIES
Los Angeles, August 8, 2007 - Tony Defries, the legendary rock manager who launched David Bowie and whose groundbreaking innovations form the bedrock of modern media presentation, is breaking a career-long silence to publish his long-awaited autobiography, Gods And Gangsters.
A key figure behind some of the most crucial events and developments in contemporary music history, Defries was present at the birth of Madonna, the reincarnation of Stevie Wonder, the death of the Beatles and the ignition of Iggy. But he has never been interviewed, never made public declarations, never opened up and revealed his innermost truths.
Told now for the very first time, Gods And Gangsters is the story behind a career spent managing, marketing, and branding superstars - from the fashion idols of the Pop Art 60s to the rock gods of the 70s and 80s. Written with renowned music historian Dave Thompson, the book is projected for publication in 2008.
Operating on the frontlines of Britain's Swinging Sixties, Defries was instrumental in establishing the iconic glamour of photographers, models and designers who continue to influence modern tastes and techniques. On the music scene, he worked with such legends as Mickie Most and Allen Klein, Stevie Wonder, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones before turning his attention to David Bowie, a Space Oddity whose best days already seemed in the past. That was in 1970. Eighteen months later, the pair was preparing to unveil some of the most audacious imagery and influence that the entertainment industry had ever witnessed. Or, as Mojo magazine put it, Defries was “the manager, the mentor and the visionary who went to the theatre with an unfocussed dilettante, and raised the curtain on a superstar.”
Defries masterminded Bowie's career through the most astonishing PR campaign in rock history, a worldwide blitz that elevated the singer to global stardom. He established MainMan, a unique management structure that combined the best ingredients of the old-time motion picture studio with the futuristic zeitgeist of independent producer/record label/music publisher and, between 1972 and 1977, was responsible for launching the careers of Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, Mott The Hoople, Luther Vandross, John Mellencamp and many others. His innovations in lighting, special effects, costume and staging reinvented media presentation, to become the model for all future music and media events. All this was conducted from within a firestorm of creativity and excitement that remains synonymous with glamour and success.
That firestorm still blazes today, as Defries brings his experience, intellect and enterprising spirit to bear on creating new technology for the Solar Age, with a process that transforms light and matter into unlimited, affordable, clean, green, solar power. "I have always been fascinated by the properties of light,” he says. “Once, I used it to focus attention on artists. Today I plan to harness it for Energy.”
Packed with candid revelations, private insights and hitherto unrevealed facts and figures. Gods And Gangsters is one of the most avidly anticipated autobiographies of the 21st century.
Dave Thompson has written over 100 books on music, film and pop culture. His latest book, the first ever history of vintage erotic movies, Black and White and Blue - Adult Cinema from the Victorian Age to the VCR will be published by ECW Press in September.The book is a dramatic survey of American (and western) society as it inched its way out of the darkness of prudish censorship, as seen through the eyes of the men and women who actually made these startling films, and those who watched them.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Literary Agent / Press Contact: Veronique Cordier - V Entertainment Network
If this is genuine, it could open the floodgates. Bowie might want to make a literary reply, so we could see his official biography appearing at some point, or a book by Coco.
They rarely if ever mention third party books, Hallo Spaceboy didn't get a mention last year. The only books which get mentioned are by friends EG TV, Geoff MacCormack, Mick Rock. Nick Pegg gets a write up but that is about it.
I can see this causing DB some difficulties as its bound to have things in it that we don't already know and a possible embarassment to him. Personally, I can't wait.
Well DB's always got the chance to set the record straight himself. I think they both get on fairly well these days so I wouldn't expect anything too stinging. Be juicy to read about those Mainman years though. Great stuff!
I honestly think the most boring book we could ever get would be Bowie's autobiography, because he would be writing it from the perspective of 'now' and would be hiding some of the more 'interesting' stories for fear of upsetting people, especially his family now.
Also he would be revising his views to that of how he is now. The only way it would work is if he kept a diary/journal and let someone make a book out of the entries written at the time of events happening.
We should , of course, have Cowboyman there - John Cambridge (on drums) sadly Gangsterman is no longer with us, and I'm sure Rainbowman can't be persuaded to attend
They played the Roundhouse four times:
1970:
February 22
March 11 (Atomic Sunrise Fest)
July 5 (Implosion)
1971:
April 29
Anoy of those dates would make for good symbolism, if we decide not to wait until 2010 for the full 30 year anniversary ....
Dearie Me (Login DearieMe) BW Member 195.93.21.100
Re: Official Press Release: Autobiography from guess who?
August 9 2007, 10:25 PM
I look forward to the TV interviews!
Regardless of what we think of him, and some of the claims in the press release seem a little dubious, it has to be a fascinating read, as long as you don't take everything he says as gospel.
Re: Official Press Release: Autobiography from guess who?
August 10 2007, 5:06 AM
sorry.i wont be buying or reading this....he must be skint,,,looks like his alledged ill gotten gains have ran out.....to me he was just a liar and a cheat and this book will probably be full m of unsubstanciated bullshit.....
think il get a copy of Viz instead,at least you know that is made up
Re: Official Press Release: Autobiography from guess who?
August 10 2007, 8:51 PM
Ooh! I suspect a few people are going to be mightily pissed off about this one. I'm definitely going to buy it, but I feel it'll just be a heap of self-glorification with very little actual juice .
subterranean (Login subterranean-BA) BW Member 213.132.99.189
Re: Official Press Release: Autobiography from guess who?
August 10 2007, 11:43 PM
Thanks. That's about my thoughts too, but I would add, Bowie is a one in thousand (+000) talent. DeFries' talent is nothing more than of thousand others. His work with Bowie or others could have been done by any other among thousands of primitive squareheads... That's an irony of this high selling promotion text.
