Politicians and stars pay tribute to ‘force’ of Irish music scene
TRIBUTES poured in yesterday for John Reynolds, the concert promoter who died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday.
He was 52 when he died at home in Milltown, Dublin, on Thursday evening.
It’s believed that a family member became concerned after they did not hear from Mr Reynolds.
They found his body at his home. He did not have a history of health problems.
Culture minister Josepha Madigan said: ‘I was very saddened to hear of the sudden passing of John Reynolds. John was a creative force on the Irish music scene, and a visionary who was one of our leading independent festival and concert promoters.
‘I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.’
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also offered his sympathy, tweeting: ‘Very sorry to hear the news. Man who gave us all so many great experiences from the PoD to EP. Ireland is less today for his passing.’ And musician James Vincent McMorrow also paid tribute on Twitter. He said: ‘U may not have heard of John before, but if u’ve been to Electric Picnic, Forbidden Fruit, shows at Pod Venues in Dublin, then u know John’s work. He gave me a lot of shows when I was starting out. So sad. RIP’.
Mr Reynolds, a Co. Longford native, managed Boyzone in their early days and was known in the music industry for giving new artists a leg up.
He once owned the PoD nightclub in Harcourt Street, Dublin, and was famous for staging the first Electric Picnic in Co. Laois in 2004 as well as the Forbidden Fruit festival in Kilmainham, Dublin.
He was a very private person. It is known that he was in a relationship that broke up in 2009 and had a series of relationships since then.
He was known as a committed and hands-on manager, who learned the concert promotion business from his family. His uncle, former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds, began in business by promoting showbands and marquee shows in the midlands.
John Reynolds was often in the courts in high-profile cases.
He was often looking for new music venues to open and purchased a former sausage factory in Dublin in the hope of turning it into a nightclub. He was refused a music licence but was allowed to turn it into a restaurant and bar.
He sold half the business after a chance meeting on the street with another bar owner and together they opened the Market Bar in Fade Street, Dublin.
He purchased Bellinter House in Meath after reading about it in a newspaper while waiting for his parents at the airport. He left them to find their own way home and rushed to see the house.
It was owned by the Congregation Of Our Lady Of Sion order of nuns. He put on an English accent and pretended to be a visitor before buying it and turning it into a hotel.
He loved music and decided to change the concert experience, borrowing from Glastonbury to create a concert environment that included good food, political discussions and art.
The first Electric Picnic, in Stradbally House, Co. Laois was a one-day event that he put together in just two months and grew into a much bigger all-weekend spectacle.
The Metropolis festival was one of Mr Reynolds’s last ventures and it has been confirmed it this year’s event, featuring Roisín Murphy, Villagers and David O’Doherty, is going ahead as planned at Dublin’s RDS this weekend.
dora.allday@dailymail.ie
Pretended to be a visitor