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

[rooftopconcert]

I think I can help you with the "exploiting" bit. In the music biz, exploit doesn't hold the same connotation as it does in the real world. To exploit is just to promote the hell out of something, and to milk everything out of it, as you might expect, but it's not a naughty word. We talk about exploiting artists and especially singles all the time.

My .02 that I'm paying NYU shit-tons to teach me! Hahaha

[nemperor]

Interesting!

If you watch the interview, though, I'm not sure that's the sense in which the word is being used. The interviewer calls managers "parasites" and asks Brian whether he's careful to make sure that he's not exploiting his artists. So I believe it's being understood in the negative sense.

[rooftopconcert]

Ah, yeah I haven't gotten a chance to watch it yet. Maybe in that context, the interviewer meant it that way, but generally, it's not a bad thing. :)

[nemperor]

I wonder if terminology in the music industry has changed since the 1960s...

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?

[abbihalsey]

I also found it interesting that he says his being famous was accidental in light of his famous acts. Peter Brown makes it sound otherwise when he writes of him having his own fan club and being very vain.

[nemperor]

Brian was certainly vain in a personal sense--wanting to be well-dressed, in style and so on--but that doesn't necessarily mean that he thought he deserved to be famous in his own right. Contradictory as always. I can imagine him trying to stay out of the spotlight in the early years of the group and then, after accepting the situation, deciding to run with it.

[abbihalsey]

I agree. I know some shy people who are fashion savvy and pride themselves on their appearance but would rather die than to be in the spotlight. I guess what I have to question is the way Brown characterizes his handling of it all. I doubt any shy person- and we all agree he was shy- would start publicizing himself as a manager, of all things.

[nemperor]

Brian was such a paradox, that's all there is to it. He was shy and yet he did court publicity to some extent. He did write his autobiography, after all. And he loved being the "Nemperor."