MUSIC WEEK MARCH 11, 1978 TRIER Quarrying Quo round the world by CHRIS WHITE days publishing pluggers were the thoughExclusiveArtistsmerged A CHANCE meeting at a music basis of the business, and I used to with Starlight Artists which had such business party more than 13 years meet people like Jimmy Henney and actsasChristie,LoveAffair, ago was the foundation stone for Syd Green. They all thought I was Manfred Mann andEdison one of Britain's leading management actually in the business and when it Lighthouse. We changed the name andagencycompanies,Quarry dawned on them that Iwasn't, of the two companies to Acorn Productions,basedinWardour somebody offered me a job as a Artists and with the addition of the Street, W.1. It was at that event that `booker'.I wasn't even sure what Equals, Middle Of The Road, Amen Conn Johnson, who new heads the that meant at the time!" Corner and Status Quo, became Quarryempire,had his first In August 1964 Johnson joined probably the biggest pop agency of introduction to the mysteries of the Ponte-Oates Productions, a that time." popmusicindustry,viaradio company partly run by Terry Oates, Status Quo, is now undoubtedly producer Ron Belchier. now in publishing, and whose main Johnson and Quarry Productions' Today, Quarry Productionsis client at the time was Tony Rivers biggestasset, buttheirinitial responsible for the career of Status with the Castaways. "The company relationship got off to a very shakey Quo, who recently had their biggest wasn't making too much money so I start. "Quo had recently signed to hit ever with Rocking All Over The decided to go out on my own, but Pye and had a hit with Pictures Of COLIN JOHNSON (third from right), co-founded of Quarry Management World. In addition the company then an offer came from Brian Matchstick Men,but before the which handles the career of Status Quo. He is pictured at the recent signing of alsohandlesRoryGallagher, Epstein to join Nems Enterprises. I record broke a friend at the record the British Lions, composed of ex -members of Mott the Hoople, to the Graham Bonnet, the British Lions ended up going there, taking Tony company had played me the tape company. Left to right: Morgan Fisher, John Fiddler, Overend Watts, Mike (composed of former members of Rivers with me, and stayed at Nems and I told him that I would like to Hudson (managing director, RSO Records international), Johnson, Buffin and theMott theHoopleband), for almost five years, until 1970." meet the group and their managers. Ray Major. Newcastle group Federation, and In fact I only met the managers but I product the band became one of the world tour. The British dates alone Nutz. Quarry has also been involved agreed an agency deal with them for biggestontheliveperformance accountedformore than30 in various other projects including Biggest asset Status Quo and signed the band to circuit,touringwithsuchother concerts, one of the largest tour The Snowgoose, composed by Ed Nems' agency. groups as T. Rex, Mott the Hoople, schedules undertaken by a band in Welch, and which has been released From that debut hit, Status Quo, East of Eden and Edgar Broughton. the UK last year - and since then as an album by RCA and also the His main job at Nems was looking followed with three more hit records they have played dates in France. subjectof a Royal AlbertHall after agency work and putting artists and then went 'cold' as a recording "We have lost a great deal of concert. tours together. "I met my Quarry act. "I didn't actually meet the band money in the US market in the past, Johnsonrecallsthatfirst partner David Oddie in 1968 while at until two years later when they called Mirky but the Rdtkin' Around The World introduction to the business: "I was Nems, but in 1970 when my contract me, and said that they were unhappy album has been getting quite a good 24 at the time and had already been came up for renewal I decided to withthemanagementoftheir Theircareersincetheearly reaction overthere. One of the working for several years, but in a again go out on my own, and take careers. It transpired that they had Seventies has been part of a big problemssofarastouringis very mundane job. Ron Belchier was Tony Rivers with me although by never actually signed a management build-up and even now they still do concerned has been the vast amount at that particular party and he was this time the group had changed deal so I took them over in March gigs in such places like Bridlington ofequipmentthathastobe then the producer of the popular their name to Harmony Grass. My 1970. The first thing I did was get rid because the kids there want to see transported around, it makes BBC radio pop series Easybeat - we first tasteofsuccess as an of the Pye deal which resulted in a the band just as much as their fans in touringthereaveryexpensive began talking about pop music and independent pop manager followed lot of litigation, and after a fairly London do. My philosophy with exercise.Therehavealsobeen he invited me to go along and see shortly afterwards when the group lengthy gap Isigned the band to Status Quo has always been that problems with radio plays, Quo's oneoftheprogrammesbeing had a Top 20 hit with Move In A Phonogram in 1972. Because of the they should do plenty of touring, early product just wasn't right for recorded,it was at the time that LittleCloserBaby,whichwas legal problems no product could be despitetheveryheavy expenses the US. The Americans are much people like Cilia Black and Gerry produced by Chris Andrews. released for a long time. which are now involved. The band more sophisticated than their UK andthePacemakerswerevery "The company I formed was "The band'ssecondleaseof also like to go out and gig, they just counterparts and early Status Quo popular." calledExclusiveArtistsand we success, which has lasted to this day, don't want to stop working live." was muchtoorawforthem. Such was Johnson's fascination operated from Hyde Park Corner, came with the single Paper Plane in 1977 was a particularly busy year However sales of product released thatheattendednotjustthat the only other management act on January 1973 and the LP Piledriver for Quo and this year looks set to there recently have been improving particularrecording,butevery thebookswasabandcalled soonafterwards,whichreached emulateit."The UK tourlast and we hope to crack the market subsequent one too - "In those Playground. Soonafterwards number five. In fact, even without autumn was really the start of a yet."

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