Cat Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 New York Times Company Nov 26, 1995 Peter Grant, a strapping British ex-wrestler who once managed Led Zeppelin and other rock groups, died on Tuesday. He was 60 and lived in Eastbourne on the Channel coast south of London. The cause was a heart attack, said his press agent, Judy Totton. In his prime, Mr. Grant, who stood 6 feet 5, was a heavyweight in the rock industry. He once said, "When it comes to 'heavy management,' they don't come any heavier than me." Before he became active in the British music industry in the late 1950's, Mr. Grant had been a professional wrestler. The Daily Telegraph in London observed on Friday: "His fearsome physique blinded more than one business rival to the formidable vision, cunning, imagination and negotiating prowess which he applied to every transaction." Mr. Grant managed Led Zeppelin -- the British group that many music critics have called the definitive rock band of the 1970's -- from the late 1960's until it disbanded in the early 1980's, when he retired as a band manager. One of Mr. Grant's deals involving Led Zeppelin was recounted by two American historians of popular culture, Michael Uslan and Bruce Solomon, in "Dick Clark's the First 25 Years of Rock & Roll" (1981): "October of 1968 found the quartet rehearsing in London, while Peter Grant flew to America to get his boys a deal with a record label. Atlantic signed them without ever seeing or hearing them. Grant returned to England, hustled his band into a studio, and one week later had 'Led Zeppelin' in the can. The band went to the States, started opening concerts for other groups, and methodically blew the headliners off the stage. Within months their first album was in America's top ten." Mr. Grant was known for pushing hard to increase rock performers' incomes. The Guardian in London reported on Friday that Phil Everly, a singer and musician, said in introducing Mr. Grant at a party in London not long ago: "Without his efforts, musicians had no careers. He was the first to make sure the artists came first and that we got paid and paid properly." Mr. Grant's career was not trouble-free. In the late 1970's, when he was 42, he and three Led Zeppelin colleagues were convicted in an Oakland, Calif., court of battery at a concert in Oakland. They were sentenced to probation after pleading no contest. The four had been charged in an incident in which three security guards said they had been beaten with guitars and amplifying equipment. Earlier in his career, Mr. Grant had managed another popular group, the Yardbirds. Mr. Grant, a London native, had quit school in his early teens to help support his family. He initially took a job as a factory worker and then as a Fleet Street messenger before serving in the British Army and working as a wrestler. He is survived by a son, Warren, and a daughter, Helen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swandown Posted January 27, 2008 Share Posted January 27, 2008 Really kind of a choppy review, and doesn't even mention the obvious connection from the Yardbirds to Zeppelin. Nor does it mention Mickie Most, who had hired Grant to manage other acts before he was given The Yardbirds. And what was the context of the Phil Everly quote? Had Grant managed the Everly Brothers on a British tour? Would have been nice to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 And what was the context of the Phil Everly quote? Had Grant managed the Everly Brothers on a British tour? Would have been nice to know. He was indeed hired by Don Arden to manage an Everly Brothers UK tour. I suspect you know this, but are making the point well taken that most readers would not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Dawg Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 A Night to Remember (1958)The Guns of Navarone (1961)Cleopatra (1963)I did not realize he had an acting career. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 A Night to Remember (1958)The Guns of Navarone (1961)Cleopatra (1963)I did not realize he had an acting career. True. However, he was just an extra for Cleopatra and all his scenes were left on the cutting room floor. He does not appear in that film. He does appear in other films and UK televison programs. The guy led a very interesting life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 28, 2008 Share Posted January 28, 2008 Peter Grant's sudden death at 60 was reported in at least 39 newpapers around the world. Please post any additional findings you may have: 23-Nov-95 ARIZONA REPUBLIC, THE "Heart Attack Claims Former Led Zeppelin Manager" 23-Nov-95 BALTIMORE SUN, THE 23-Nov-95 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Obituaries: "Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin Manager" 23-Nov-95 DAILY NEWS of LOS ANGELES "Led Zeppelin Manager Peter Grant, 60" 23-Nov-95 MONTREAL GAZETTE "Led Zeppelin Manager Peter Grant" 23-Nov-95 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS "Peter Grant, Manager of Rock Groups" 23-Nov-95 SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, THE "Hard Rock Groups' Manager Dies" 23-Nov-95 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 23-Nov-95 ST. PAUL TRIBUNE Also Noted: "Peter Grant" 23-Nov-95 ST. PETERSBURG TIMES "Led Zeppelin Manager Dies" 23-Nov-95 TIMES, THE "Rock Group Manager Dies at 60" Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 AKRON BEACON JOURNAL Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 BUFFALO NEWS, THE "Peter Grant, Retired Manager of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 24-Nov-95 CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Peter Grant, Managed Rock Group Led Zeppelin" 24-Nov-95 CONTRA COSTA TIMES "Peter Grant, Manager of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 24-Nov-95 DAYTON DAILY NEWS Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 GRAND FORKS HERALD "Revolutionary Rock Manager Grant Dies" 24-Nov-95 GUARDIAN, THE "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 HAMILTON SPECTATOR, THE "Grant "Turned Rock Music Into A Global Business" " 24-Nov-95 INDEPENDENT, THE "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 MIAMI HERALD "Peter Grant - Led Zeppelin Manager" 24-Nov-95 ORLANDO SENTINEL "Other News to Note - Deaths" 24-Nov-95 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 SACRAMENTO BEE, THE "Led Zeppelin Manager Made Sure Musicians Got Bigger Share of Concert Profits" 24-Nov-95 SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, THE Deaths: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, THE "Peter Grant" Ex-Led Zeppelin manager, 60 24-Nov-95 SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 TIMES, THE Obituaries: "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 TORONTO SUN, THE "Zeppelin Manager Dead of Heart Attack" 25-Nov-95 SUN-SENTINEL "Peter Grant, Manager of Led Zeppelin" 26-Nov-95 AKRON BEACON JOURNAL Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 26-Nov-95 AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, THE "Led Zeppelin's Ex-Manager Dies" 26-Nov-95 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Deaths in the News 26-Nov-95 CHICAGO TRIBUNE Elsewhere 26-Nov-95 NEW YORK TIMES Obituary: "Peter Grant" 26-Nov-95 PALM BEACH POST "Peter Grant, Former Manager Of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 27-Nov-95 COLUMBUS LEGEND-ENQUIRER Death Notices: Peter Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Posted January 28, 2008 Author Share Posted January 28, 2008 Peter Grant's sudden death at 60 was reported in at least 39 newpapers around the world. Please post any additional findings you may have: 23-Nov-95 ARIZONA REPUBLIC, THE "Heart Attack Claims Former Led Zeppelin Manager" 23-Nov-95 BALTIMORE SUN, THE 23-Nov-95 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Obituaries: "Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin Manager" 23-Nov-95 DAILY NEWS of LOS ANGELES "Led Zeppelin Manager Peter Grant, 60" 23-Nov-95 MONTREAL GAZETTE "Led Zeppelin Manager Peter Grant" 23-Nov-95 ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS "Peter Grant, Manager of Rock Groups" 23-Nov-95 SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, THE "Hard Rock Groups' Manager Dies" 23-Nov-95 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 23-Nov-95 ST. PAUL TRIBUNE Also Noted: "Peter Grant" 23-Nov-95 ST. PETERSBURG TIMES "Led Zeppelin Manager Dies" 23-Nov-95 TIMES, THE "Rock Group Manager Dies at 60" Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 AKRON BEACON JOURNAL Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 BUFFALO NEWS, THE "Peter Grant, Retired Manager of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 24-Nov-95 CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Peter Grant, Managed Rock Group Led Zeppelin" 24-Nov-95 CONTRA COSTA TIMES "Peter Grant, Manager of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 24-Nov-95 DAYTON DAILY NEWS Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 GRAND FORKS HERALD "Revolutionary Rock Manager Grant Dies" 24-Nov-95 GUARDIAN, THE "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 HAMILTON SPECTATOR, THE "Grant "Turned Rock Music Into A Global Business" " 24-Nov-95 INDEPENDENT, THE "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 MIAMI HERALD "Peter Grant - Led Zeppelin Manager" 24-Nov-95 ORLANDO SENTINEL "Other News to Note - Deaths" 24-Nov-95 PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 SACRAMENTO BEE, THE "Led Zeppelin Manager Made Sure Musicians Got Bigger Share of Concert Profits" 24-Nov-95 SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, THE Deaths: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, THE "Peter Grant" Ex-Led Zeppelin manager, 60 24-Nov-95 SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS Elsewhere 24-Nov-95 ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 24-Nov-95 TIMES, THE Obituaries: "Peter Grant" 24-Nov-95 TORONTO SUN, THE "Zeppelin Manager Dead of Heart Attack" 25-Nov-95 SUN-SENTINEL "Peter Grant, Manager of Led Zeppelin" 26-Nov-95 AKRON BEACON JOURNAL Deaths Elsewhere: Peter Grant 26-Nov-95 AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, THE "Led Zeppelin's Ex-Manager Dies" 26-Nov-95 CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Deaths in the News 26-Nov-95 CHICAGO TRIBUNE Elsewhere 26-Nov-95 NEW YORK TIMES Obituary: "Peter Grant" 26-Nov-95 PALM BEACH POST "Peter Grant, Former Manager Of Led Zeppelin, Dies At 60" 27-Nov-95 COLUMBUS LEGEND-ENQUIRER Death Notices: Peter Grant I could probably post many more, but they're all very similar; no new info. I will keep looking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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