Former Beatles and Rolling Stones manager dies
Controversial music mogul Allen Klein, who was business manager for both the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, died in New York on Saturday (July 4th) after a battle with Alzheimer's disease, a spokesman told Reuters. He was 77. Klein managed both bands at the same time in 1969 and is blamed by some for the eventual break-up of the Beatles.
Klein was known as a ruthless businessman and according to Pollstar he once sent out a holiday card which read: "Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of evil, I have no fear, as I am the biggest bastard in the valley."
He got his start suing record companies for unpaid royalties owed to his artist clients and then splitting the settlement. His first big management deal was with soul legend Sam Cooke.
He managed the Rolling Stones for five years in the 1960s. The band fired him in 1970 after Klein bought the rights to some of their 1960s songs and recordings from one of their former managers.
John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr out-voted Paul McCartney into hiring Allen Klein to run their company Apple Corps in 1969. After that, the rift between McCartney and the rest of the group began to deepen. Klein went on to run Apple Corps. until 1973.
McCartney told the London Times in November how in early 1971 he had to file suit against Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in order to formally breakup the band and keep the Beatles' earnings out of Klein's grasp: "I was placed in the most awkward position I've ever been placed in. I had to fight three mates to save their legacy, their money, as well as mine, and I did so knowing it would put me in a very dodgy position. Anyone who didn't thoroughly review the whole thing would be forgiven for thinking 'What a tosser.' So yes, that matters to me, it is still a haunting episode? It was pretty scary having to say to Johnny, Georgie, Ringo, I'm suing you!"
Klein bought the rights to the Bright Tunes Music catalog in 1976 and sued Harrison for ripping off the catalogue's 1963 Chiffons hit "He's So Fine." Harrison, who testified with a guitar in his hand to demonstrate how he stumbled upon the tune, was eventually found guilty of "subconscious plagiarism" and ordered to pay $587,000.
He also co-produced the 1971 Concert For Bangladesh.
Klein was known as a ruthless businessman and according to Pollstar he once sent out a holiday card which read: "Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of evil, I have no fear, as I am the biggest bastard in the valley."
He got his start suing record companies for unpaid royalties owed to his artist clients and then splitting the settlement. His first big management deal was with soul legend Sam Cooke.
He managed the Rolling Stones for five years in the 1960s. The band fired him in 1970 after Klein bought the rights to some of their 1960s songs and recordings from one of their former managers.
John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr out-voted Paul McCartney into hiring Allen Klein to run their company Apple Corps in 1969. After that, the rift between McCartney and the rest of the group began to deepen. Klein went on to run Apple Corps. until 1973.
McCartney told the London Times in November how in early 1971 he had to file suit against Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr in order to formally breakup the band and keep the Beatles' earnings out of Klein's grasp: "I was placed in the most awkward position I've ever been placed in. I had to fight three mates to save their legacy, their money, as well as mine, and I did so knowing it would put me in a very dodgy position. Anyone who didn't thoroughly review the whole thing would be forgiven for thinking 'What a tosser.' So yes, that matters to me, it is still a haunting episode? It was pretty scary having to say to Johnny, Georgie, Ringo, I'm suing you!"
Klein bought the rights to the Bright Tunes Music catalog in 1976 and sued Harrison for ripping off the catalogue's 1963 Chiffons hit "He's So Fine." Harrison, who testified with a guitar in his hand to demonstrate how he stumbled upon the tune, was eventually found guilty of "subconscious plagiarism" and ordered to pay $587,000.
He also co-produced the 1971 Concert For Bangladesh.
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