MUSIC BOSS REVEALS HOW STARS’ MANAGER STEPPED IN T
To say John Reid enjoyed spectacular success as a manager in the music business is a bit like saying his two most famous acts could write the odd hit.
The Scot was Elton John’s manager from 1970 until 1998 and managed Queen between 1975 and 1978.
It’s why he features in two major new films – the upcoming Sir Elton biopic, Rocketman, which sees him portrayed by Bodyguard star Richard Madden, and Freddie Mercury film Bohemian Rhapsody, in which he is played by Irish actor Aidan Gillen (Littlefinger in Game Of Thrones). Reid, 69, also managed Billy Connolly. But, as far as fellow former manager Bruce Findlay is concerned, he also deserves to be recognised for his role in saving one of Scotland’s most famous venues, the Edinburgh Playhouse.
Bruce, who guided Simple Minds to world domination and managed The Silencers and China Crisis, met Reid in the early 70s.
He said: “I met John a couple of times through Billy Connolly, who I knew quite well from his Humblebum days.
“Like a lot of Scots from that era who made it in the music business, John moved to London. I didn’t really know him professionally but he was obviously enormously successful.
“It isn’t just his management of these amazing artists – truly remarkable superstars – however. John was instrumental in the reopening of the Edinburgh Playhouse in the 70s.
“The Playhouse was seen as a white elephant. It was in line to be demolished and it was a bit run down but he took it over and got Elton John in and Queen, really big acts.
“The Playhouse survived, unlike the Apollo in Glasgow, and he was instrumental in saving it, which makes him a hero in my eyes.” The theatre, one of the largest in
t he U K , h a d originally opened as a cinema in 1929 but, by the 70s, audiences were in decline.
It was sold to a property development company in 1973 and the last film to be screened there was Roger Moore’s James Bond debut, Live And Let Die. Nobody knew it then but it was a sign of t h i ng s t o c ome . Wh i l e t he developers planned to demolish it and replace it with an off ice block and shops, a campaign to save the building got under way with a petition gaining 15,000 signatures.
A class B list preservation order was granted to the building in 1974 but it was in danger of becoming a folly.
With the developers left with an empty building they couldn’t demolish, they decided to open the building for occasional rock and pop concerts, which is when John stepped in. In 1976, he ran a spectacular, if not exactly catchily titled, Festival of Popular Music, featuring 21 gigs over 21 days at the venue.
The biggest acts of the day came to Edinburgh including Queen, Rainbow, Kiki Dee, Crosby And Nash and, of course, Elton. It was a special night for the singer, his first solo concert without a band.
It also proved pivotal to the building. The campaign to see it reopened and used for other purposes – including opera, ballet and theatre – was under way and the success of the Festival of Popular Music proved its potential.
David McCowan Hi l l helped get Reid involved. The Edinburgh- based advertising producer and director had talked about opening the Playhouse after a drunken night with actors Anthony Andrews and Peter Straker.
Straker, a close friend of Freddie Mercury, knew Reid and months later he announced his ambitious plans.
According to David, having to get the derelict building ready for public use turned around its fortunes. He said: