Top 10 Music Managers Who Fucked Over Their Clients
In light of the surprising news over the reasons Beyonce fired her longtime manager (and longtime father for that matter) Mathew Knowles, we remembered a time when scummy managers were not only the norm, but expected. Here are the Top 10 Managers in Music History Who Fucked Over Their Clients With a Coke and a Smile:
The family Knowles in happier times
10. Colonel Tom Parker (aka Andreas Cornelis "Dries" van Kuijk)
There's not much that wasn't misleading about Parker, considering he was neither an American nor a Colonel. But the fact is, he was raking in 50 percent of Elvis' earnings towards the end of his career. Sure, he helped The King's career, but 50 percent??
9. Tim Collins
You would really trust a guy who looks like this as your manager?
During Aerosmith's huge comeback in the late '80s, Collins was at the helm, making sure things were running smooth, or so they thought. Turns out that he was advancing the notion that some members had relapsed into drug abuse when they insisted they had not. By trying to play them against each other, Collins lost his big gig. (Collins and the band eventually kissed and made up, a rare happy ending.)
8. Mathew Knowles
As we mentioned, Knowles stole money from his moneymaking daughter. Not only is he fucked business-wise, but it should be interesting how those Thanksgiving dinners are with his son-in-law's willingness to do anything for his boo. Mathew better watch his ass, or at least worry about being banished to the kiddie table.
7. Frank Weber
And you wonder why Billy Joel has turned to alcoholism, getting ripped off by your former in-law is a start
Continuing with the theme of "don't let your family fuck with your business," Billy Joel also committed this cardinal sin. In 1989, the Piano Man sued Weber, his former brother in-law, for squandering or illegally taking $30 million of Joel's money. He also sued for a warranted $60 million in punitive damages. The fact that Weber was Joel's one-time close friend and the Godfather of his daughter gives new emphasis to the adage, "NEVER MIX BUSINESS AND PLEASURE."
6. Albert Grossman
The iconic folk manager strong armed many in his day, but his sin was enraging his cash cow, Bob Dylan, who eventually wrote two scathing songs about him (figure out which they were and you get a prize). Grossman took an astonishing 25 percent (when the industry norm was 15), which managed to piss off his biggest client to the point of writing several songs about how pissed off he was about his situation. His other clients included Todd Rundgren, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Lee Hooker, Phil Ochs, Gordon Lightfoot, Richie Havens, The Band and Janis Joplin. But again, anytime you piss off Bob Dylan, you make this list.
Barry Feinstein
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