Brian interview!

[nemperor]

Someone posted another Brian interview on YouTube. This is from October, 1964, when Cellarful of Noise was released. Very interesting in terms of his managerial approach. Why do interviewers always accuse him of "exploiting" his artists?

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Comments

Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[abbihalsey]

Because nearly every pop star or group WAS exploited at that time. Check out the number of groups calling themselves "The Platters."Many major acts from the 1960's lost their copyrights and other assets to the cut-throat nature of a fledgling rock music industry.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[nemperor]

Fair point. It just seems particularly galling looking back from the perspective of the 21st century, knowing that Brian was one of the few exceptions.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[abbihalsey]

Some believe this is true and some do not. If there was a grand consensus, I'm sure Brian would be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, the Beatles themselves seem to have levied so much public criticism at him he may never get there, especially in light of Lennon's death. I've never read where he ever corrected what he said in the Rolling Stone interview, charging Brian with ripping them off. I've posted the comment in the beatlesresearch section and am interested in the origins of such a charge.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[nemperor]

Some believe this is true and some do not. If there was a grand consensus, I'm sure Brian would be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

While many people doubt that Brian was a good businessman, I really haven't seen any credible arguments that he was a dishonest businessman. I don't count an offhanded remark by John Lennon as a credible charge against him.

Do you believe otherwise? Do you think it can be said that he did exploit the Beatles?

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[abbihalsey]

Oh, no. Please don't misunderstand me. I don't think he did at all, but that Lennon quote throws me. What I meant was critical comments made by rock stars that have gone unchecked for years probably plays a role in him being overlooked, no matter how famous and how much artistic freedom he attained for them. What I know of numbers and accounting could paint anyone either a brilliant businessman or a poor businessman, depending if certain factors are considered. Having it broadcast worldwide that your manager was a loser doesn't help. The people participating in this forum are not the average rock fans by any means.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[nemperor]

Personally I don't know a great deal about the criteria that the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame uses to induct people. I've had a browse through the list and I don't see that many managerial names that I recognize, so it doesn't seem like Brian got left out while many of his colleagues were included.

Critical comments by rock stars may have had some influence in diminishing his reputation, but then the Beatles and his other artists have had a lot of good things to say about him as well. eppylover would argue that coverage of the more scandalous aspects of his life also didn't help his reputation. Really I don't know. In the grand scheme of things I'm not sure how much the Hall of Fame matters.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[abbihalsey]

I only think it matters in the sense that it has an influence in the public's consciousness- it's a validation of sorts. For younger people who are into music, they hear "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" and give it a credibility that older people, and I'm 35, do not. The interesting thing here is that the RRHF has a three-person chairmanship of deciding who gets in and who doesn't. Wanna know who heads that 3 person delegation and who is the mack daddy decider? Jann Wenner, of Rolling Stone. I somehow do not think it is by co-incidence although I allow it may be.

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[nemperor]

I have to admit I've never even heard of Jann Wenner, because I don't read Rolling Stone. Can you elaborate on your comment there?

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[abbihalsey]

By the way, as I was hunting for the info about the calculating of record sales for the UK charts, I came upon this excerpt from Paul McCartney which is the source for a discussion we had before about Brian having girlfriends. It is from the Geller book, p.57:
" I remember sitting in his car one night talking about a girl that he'd once sort of loved at RADA and this was his lost love. His family hadn't liked her. She'd not been up to par or something. Brian had a bit of sorrow about this. I don't know what the strength of it was but we talked a long time about that and he seemed quite sad that it had not worked out."

Re: Why do interviewers always charge him with exploiting his acts?

[nemperor]

Joanna Dunham was her name. She was quoted in "Shout!" about her relationship with Brian and possibly also in the Coleman biography.