NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Peter Grant (music manager)

Peter Grant, (April 5, 1935 – November 21, 1995) was a manager for The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, and a record executive for Swan Song Records. He is widely credited with improving pay and conditions for musicians in dealings with concert promoters. Image File history File links Peter_Grant_2. ... Image File history File links Peter_Grant_2. ... April 5 is the 95th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (96th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Yardbirds were an early English rock band, noted for starting the careers of several of rock musics most famous guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, and are one of the most successful and influential groups in popular music history. ... Bad Company were a British rock band founded in 1973, consisting of band members from Free (Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople (Mick Ralphs) and King Crimson (Boz Burrell). ... Swan Song Records was a record label launched by Led Zeppelin on May 10, 1974. ...

Early life

Grant was born in the south London suburb of South Norwood, Surrey, England. He attended Sir Walter St John School in Grayshott when evacuated and returned to the secondary school in Norwood until leaving at the age of 13, when he became a sheet metal factory worker in Croydon. Grant was soon attracted to the entertainment industry, and worked as a stagehand for the Croydon Empire theatre until 1953. He worked briefly as an entertainment manager at a hotel in Jersey before working as a bouncer and doorman at London's famous Two I's coffee bar, where Cliff Richard, Adam Faith, Tommy Steele and others got their start. Grant was spotted by a professional wrestler called Paul Lincoln, who gave him the opportunity to wrestle on television as "Count Massimo". This kindled his enthusiasm for acting, and he was hired by film studios as a bit part actor, stuntman, and body double. London (pronounced ) is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. ... South Norwood is a place in the London Borough of Croydon. ... Surrey is a county in southern England, part of the South East England region and one of the Home Counties. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 kmÂ² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq... Grayshott is a village in England on the Surrey Hampshire border 16 miles south of Guildford. ... Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. ... Croydon, Greater London is a major urban town and commercial centre 9. ... A stagehand is a person who aids in a theatrical performance. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ... A doorman (more commonly referred to as a bouncer) is a term for a person who deals with the general security of a bar, pub or nightclub. ... The 2 Iâ€™s Coffee Bar was a coffee bar in Old Compton Street, Soho, London, between the late 1950s and early 1960s and owned by Paul Lincoln, a wrestler and wrestling promoter. ... Sir Cliff Richard OBE, birth name Harry Rodger Webb (born 14 October 1940) is a major pop star and singer from England. ... Terence (Terry) Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith (June 23, 1940â€”March 8, 2003) was an English singer and actor. ... Tommy Steele (born December 17, 1936 in Bermondsey, London, England) is a British entertainer. ... Professional wrestling is generally any form of performance art in which pro-wrestlers receive payment for participating. ... A bit part is a supporting acting role with at least one line of dialogue. ... A stunt double is a type of body double, specifically a skilled replacement used for dangerous film or video sequences, in movies and television (such as jumping out of a building, jumping from vehicle to vehicle, or other similar actions), and for other sophisticated stunts (especially fight scenes). ... A body double is a general term for someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character in any recorded visual medium, whether videotape or film. ...

Acting career

Between 1958 and 1963, Grant appeared in a number of movies, including A Night to Remember (as a crew member on the Titanic), The Guns of Navarone (as a British commando) and Cleopatra (as a palace guard), and in television shows such as The Saint, Crackerjack, Dixon of Dock Green, and The Benny Hill Show. He was Robert Morley's double on many of that actor's films. The money he made from these ventures was invested in his own entertainment transport business. As the acting roles dried up, Grant made more money taking groups such as The Shadows to their concerts. 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... See also A Night to Remember (album) for the Cyndi Lauper album by this name. ... RMS Titanic was an Olympic class passenger liner that became infamous for its collision with an iceberg and dramatic sinking in 1912. ... In military science, the term commando can refer to an individual, a military unit or a raiding style of military operation. ... The Saint was a long-running British action adventure television series, made by ITC Entertainment, that aired on ITV stations between 1962 and 1969, and on American television as a syndicated show (1962-1967) and on NBC (1967-69). ... Crackerjack was a British childrens comedy/variety BBC television series. ... Dixon of Dock Green was a popular BBC television series, which ran from 1955 to 1976, and later a radio series. ... Alfred Hawthorn Hill (January 21, 1924 â€“ April 20, 1992), better known as Benny Hill, was a prolific English comic, actor & singer, best known for his television programme, The Benny Hill Show. ... Robert Morley Robert Morley (May 26, 1908 - June 3, 1992) was a British actor who, often in supporting roles, was usually cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment. ... This article needs cleanup. ...

Artist management

In 1963, Grant was hired by promoter Don Arden to act as tour manager for artists such as Bo Diddley, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard, Brian Hyland, Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and The Animals. By 1964, Grant had started to manage his own acts including The Nashville Teens, The Flintstones, an all-girl group called She Trinity, The New Vaudeville Band, Jeff Beck and Terry Reid. His management was established in the same 155 Oxford Street office used by his friend, record producer Mickie Most, who had previously worked with Grant at the Two I's. Most and Grant together set up the highly successful RAK Records label, which produced a string of hits throughout the 1970s. 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Don Arden (b. ... Bo Diddleys emphasis on rhythm largely influenced popular music, especially that of rock and roll in the 1960s. ... Don (born Isaac Donald Everly February 1, 1937 in Brownie, a small coal-mining town (now defunct) near Central City, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky) and Phil Everly (born Philip Everly January 19, 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) are country-influenced rock and roll performers who had their greatest success in the 1950s. ... Little Richard (born Richard Wayne Penniman, December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist, and an early pioneer of Rock n Roll, influencing generations of R&B and Rock artists. ... Brian Hyland (born November 12, 1943) was a moderately successful pop artist from Queens, New York during the 1960s. ... Charles Edward Anderson Chuck Berry (born October 18, 1926) is an American guitarist, singer, and song writer. ... Eddie Cochran Edward Ray Eddie Cochran (October 3, 1938 â€“ April 17, 1960) was an early American rockabilly musician and an important influence on popular music during the 1960s. ... Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 â€“ October 12, 1971) was an American rockabilly pioneer musician, best known for his hit Be-Bop-A-Lula. // [edit] Early life His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. ... The US edition of The Animals self-titled debut album. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The Nashville Teens The Nashville Teens was a rock group formed 1962 in Surrey. ... The New Vaudeville Band was a group created by songwriter Geoff Stephens in 1966 to record his novelty composition Winchester Cathedral which was a song inspired by the dance bands of the 1920s. ... Geoffrey Arnold (Jeff) Beck (born June 24, 1944 in Wallington, Surrey, England) is a rock/blues guitarist who played in several influential bands in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Terry Reid, (born November 13, 1949), is a singer and guitarist noted for his soulful voice in the same vein as contemporaries Paul Rodgers and Rod Stewart. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the performers, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Mickie Most, born Michael Peter Hayes- (June 20, 1938- May 30, 2003), successful record producer notably with a string of Number 1 hit singles with his own RAK Recordslabel and acts such as The Animals, Hermans Hermits, Donovan, and Suzi Quatro. ... RAK Records is a British record company, founded by record producer Mickie Most in 1969. ... -1...

The Led Zeppelin era

It was in late 1966 that Simon Napier-Bell asked Grant to take over management of The Yardbirds, who were constantly touring yet struggling financially. Mickie Most had suggested to Napier-Bell that Grant would be an asset to The Yardbirds, but as it eventuated, his arrival was too late to save the band. The experience, however, did give him ideas which were put to good use later with Led Zeppelin. Grant's no-nonsense approach to promoters, and his persuasive presence, were influential in The Yardbirds making money from concerts for the first time. Grant travelled closely with The Yardbirds, ensuring that all costs were kept to a minimum, that members were paid on time, and that the band retained artistic control. 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... In the music business, Simon Napier-Bell (born 1939) has been bandboy, manager, producer, songwriter, journalist and author. ...

It is doubtful whether Led Zeppelin would have been as successful without Peter Grant. He negotiated their sizable five-year record contract with Atlantic Records, and his business philosophy would eventually pay off for the label. Grant strongly believed that bands could make more money, and have more artistic merit, by focusing their efforts on albums rather than singles. Live performances were deemed more important than television appearances – if one wanted to see Led Zeppelin, one had to experience one of their performances. By promoting Led Zeppelin's concerts, Grant ensured that ticket profits wound up in the hands of the band rather than in the hands of promoters and booking agents. Grant's famous dressing room scene in the film The Song Remains the Same, where he demands an explanation from concert staff about the sale of illegal photos, was typical of his no-nonsense dealings with people who tried to profit at the band's expense. Image File history File links Peter_Grant. ... Image File history File links Peter_Grant. ... The Song Remains the Same is a concert film by the British blues/rock band Led Zeppelin. ... Atlantic Records (Atlantic Recording Corporation) is an American record label that operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Warner Music Group. ... Throughout the 1970s, Led Zeppelin was one of the worlds most popular live music attractions, smashing several attendance records. ... The Song Remains the Same is a concert film by the British blues/rock band Led Zeppelin. ...

Grant was instrumental in setting up Led Zeppelin's publishing company, Superhype, in 1969. In 1974 he was also the driving force in establishing Swan Song Records, which gave Led Zeppelin further financial and artistic control over its products. He also managed Bad Company and Maggie Bell, who were signed to the label. In 1975, Grant turned down a lucrative offer to manage Queen. When he was once questioned on what was the single most important thing a manager could say, Grant's response was "Know when to say 'no'". In 1977 he was asked by Colonel Tom Parker to manage a proposed tour of Europe by Elvis Presley, but Elvis died on August 16, 1977, just as negotiations had begun. Swan Song Records was a record label launched by Led Zeppelin on May 10, 1974. ... Bad Company were a British rock band founded in 1973, consisting of band members from Free (Paul Rodgers, Simon Kirke), Mott The Hoople (Mick Ralphs) and King Crimson (Boz Burrell). ... Maggie Bell (born January 12th 1945) is a Glaswegian singer. ... Queen are an English rock band formed by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor in London, England in 1970 from the remains of Smile, with John Deacon completing the lineup the following year. ... Colonel Tom Parker (b. ... World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 â€“ August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer and actor. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Post-Led Zeppelin

Marital problems, obesity, heroin addiction and the death of Zeppelin drummer John Bonham all took their toll on Grant's health, and after the official breakup of Led Zeppelin he virtually retired from the music business. Towards the end of his life, however, he conquered his addiction, and lost a significant amount of weight. In 1992, he appeared in the film Carry On Columbus as a cardinal. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... John Henry Bonzo Bonham (May 31, 1948 â€“ September 25, 1980), was an English drummer and member of the groundbreaking rock band Led Zeppelin. ... Carry On Columbus was a 1992 film, part of the Carry On series of films. ...

Death

On the afternoon of November 21, 1995 while driving to his home, Horselunges Manor in Sussex, Grant suffered a fatal heart attack, his son Warren by his side. Grant was buried on December 4, 1995 at St. Peter and St. Paul's churchyard, Hellingly, Sussex. Coincidentally, it was the 15th anniversary of Led Zeppelin's break up. November 21 is the 325th day of the year (326th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sussex is a traditional county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ... December 4 is the 338th day (339th on leap years) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hellingly is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England. ... Sussex is a traditional county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. ...

Filmography

See also A Night to Remember (album) for the Cyndi Lauper album by this name. ... The Guns of Navarone is a 1957 novel about World War II by British thriller writer Alistair MacLean that was made into a film in 1961. ... Cleopatra is a 1963 film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. ... Carry On Columbus was a 1992 film, part of the Carry On series of films. ...

Sources

Welch, Chris (2002), Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin, London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.

Categories: United Kingdom business biography stubs | Music biography stubs | 1935 births | 1995 deaths | Led Zeppelin | Natives of Surrey | English music managers Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, and are one of the most successful and influential groups in popular music history. ... The Song Remains the Same is a concert film by the British blues/rock band Led Zeppelin. ... Led Zeppelin is a digital video disc (DVD) by the British blues/rock band Led Zeppelin. ... Some factual claims in this article or section need to be verified. ... Swan Song Records was a record label launched by Led Zeppelin on May 10, 1974. ... The Yardbirds were an early English rock band, noted for starting the careers of several of rock musics most famous guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. ... XYZ was one of the first supergroups of the 1980s. ... The Firm were a rock group comprising ex-Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, former Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, ex-Uriah Heep drummer Chris Slade, and Roy Harper bass player Tony Franklin. ... Page and Plant is the name that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, both formerly of Led Zeppelin, recorded and toured under in the mid-1990s. ... The Strange Sensation is a back-up band for the legendary Robert Plant. ... English rock band Led Zeppelin were, throughout the decade of the 1970s, one of the worlds most frequently bootleged performers. ... Throughout the 1970s, Led Zeppelin was one of the worlds most popular live music attractions, smashing several attendance records. ...

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