Dave Robinson (music executive)

Last updated

Dave Robinson
Dave Robinson (founder of Stiff Records)-46495688074 873d5dfb64.jpg
Born (1944-05-14) 14 May 1944 (age 79) [1]
Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland [2]
Other namesRobbo [3] [4]
Occupation(s)Music executive, music video director, record producer, music manager, photographer
Known forCo-founder of Stiff Records

David Robinson (born 14 May 1944), nicknamed Robbo, [1] [3] [4] is an Irish music executive, music video director, record producer, music manager, and photographer. He is best known as the co-founder with Jake Riviera of Stiff Records where he signed up The Damned, Tracey Ullman, Kirsty MacColl, The Pogues, and Madness. He had also managed Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds and Ian Dury before signing them up to Stiff.

Contents

Early life

Robinson was born in Drumcondra, Dublin. [2] He left Ireland while he was still a teenager and was hired as a photographer at Butlins Bognor Regis. [5] From there he had jobs in London. He started with Rave magazine, where he a photographer. He took photographs of The Beatles in The Cavern Club in Liverpool and then went onto photograph The Rolling Stones as the official photographer for their first tour Ireland. [6]

Robinson went onto manage Irish band Eire Apparent on a tour bill that included The Nice, The Move, Pink Floyd, Amen Corner and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. [7] He went onto become a tour manager for Jimi Hendrix from his first tour of the UK until just before his death. [8] He also managed The Animals, [9] The Young Rascals and Vanilla Fudge. [10] He also then went onto manage Van Morrison, Graham Parker, Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Ian Dury and Elvis Costello, amongst others. [8] [10] Robinson also built a makeshift eight-track recording studio in the downstairs of the Hope and Anchor, Islington, [8] [11] and he created a network of 35 pubs in London where bands could play what they liked. [12]

Stiff Records and beyond

Robinson co-founded Stiff Records in August 1976 with his business partner Jake Riviera, with a £400 loan from the Dr. Feelgood lead singer Lee Brilleaux. [9] He started as managing director, [13] and started signing up The Damned, Motörhead, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tracey Ullman, The Plasmatics, Jona Lewie, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Kirsty MacColl, The Box Tops, The Adverts, Lene Lovich, The Pogues, and Madness, amongst others. [8]

Stiff merged with Island Records between 1984 and 1985, [9] with Robinson becoming President of the record company, while still head of Stiff. [8] [14] Later Robinson admitted that the merger was a mistake. He said "Island was in a bad financial state and I spent too much time worrying about his label and not enough about my own. I had a big hand in the success of Legend, the Bob Marley compilation; U2 went multi-platinum; and I had a lot to do with the marketing of Frankie Goes to Hollywood. (Chris) Blackwell (the founder of Island Records) kind of double-crossed me after I'd essentially saved his arse". [9] Stiff again became an independent again after the demerger, however by 1986 Stiff had gone into liquidation and was sold to ZTT records for £300,000 [15]

By 2004, Robinson had established Shell Records to be able to release Best Laid Plans by Sandra McCracken. [16] He was a director of the label for just 6 days, from 7 May 2004 until 12 May 2004. [17]

Discography

Record producer

Selected albums:

Filmography

Music video director

  • Madness: One Step Beyond (1979)
  • Madness: Bed and Breakfast Man (1979)
  • Madness: Baggy Trousers (1980)
  • Madness: Take It or Leave It (1981)
  • The Belle Stars: The Clapping Song (1982)
  • Robert Plant: Burning Down One Side (1982)
  • Madness: Our House (1982)
  • Madness: House of Fun (1982)
  • Madness: Driving in My Car (1982)
  • Madness: Cardiac Arrest (1982)
  • Lene Lovich: It's You, Only You (Mein Schmerz) (1982)
  • Madness: Tomorrow's (Just Another Day) (1983)
  • Tracey Ullman: Breakaway (1983)
  • Tracey Ullman: They Don't Know (1983)
  • Robert Palmer: Pride (1983)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney Bubbles</span> English graphic artist (1942–1983)

Barney Bubbles was an English graphic artist whose work encompassed graphic design and music video direction. Bubbles, who also sketched and painted privately, is best known for his distinctive contribution to the design practices associated with the British independent music scene of the 1970s and 1980s. His record sleeves, laden with symbols and riddles, were his most recognisable output.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Costello</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1954)

Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus, better known by his stage name Elvis Costello, is an English songwriter, singer, record producer, author, television presenter and occasional actor. Critics consider Costello to be one of the most gifted and versatile songwriters of his generation. His first album, My Aim Is True (1977), is widely regarded as one of the best debut albums in the history of popular music. The album spawned no hit singles, but contains some of Costello's best-known songs, including the ballad "Alison". Costello's next two albums, This Year's Model (1978) and Armed Forces (1979), recorded with his backing band the Attractions, helped define the music genre of new wave. From late 1977 through early 1980, each of the eight singles he released reached the UK Top 30. His biggest hit single, "Oliver's Army" (1979) sold more than 400,000 copies in Britain. He has had more modest commercial success in the US but has earned much praise among music critics. From 1977 through the early 2000s, Costello's albums regularly ranked high on the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics' poll, with his 1978 album This Years Model and his 1982 album Imperial Bedroom voted the best album of their respective years. His biggest US hit single, "Veronica" (1989), reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stiff Records</span> British record label

Stiff Records is a British independent record label formed in London, England, by Dave Robinson and Jake Riviera. Originally active from 1976 to 1986, the label was reactivated in 2007.

Brinsley Schwarz were a 1970s English pub rock band, named after their guitarist Brinsley Schwarz. With Nick Lowe on bass and vocals, keyboardist Bob Andrews and drummer Billy Rankin, the band evolved from the 1960s pop band Kippington Lodge. They were later augmented by Ian Gomm on guitar and vocals.

Eggs over Easy were an American country rock band, of the early 1970s, who visited London to record an album, and then became a resident band in a London pub, launching what subsequently became known as pub rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Lowe</span> British singer, songwriter and producer (born 1949)

Nicholas Drain Lowe is an English singer-songwriter, musician and producer. A noted figure in power pop and new wave, Lowe has recorded a string of well-reviewed solo albums. Along with vocals, Lowe plays guitar, bass guitar, piano and harmonica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Parker</span> English singer-songwriter

Graham Thomas Parker is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Thomas (drummer)</span> British musician

Peter Michael Thomas is an English rock drummer best known for his collaboration with singer Elvis Costello, both as a member of his band the Attractions and with Costello as a solo artist. Besides his lengthy career as a studio musician and touring drummer, he has been a member of the band Squeeze during the 1990s and a member of the supergroup Works Progress Administration during the early 2000s.

Jake Riviera is a British music business entrepreneur, best known for his management of such performers as Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe and as co-founder of the pioneering British indie label, Stiff Records.

<i>Fool Around</i> 1978 studio album by Rachel Sweet

Fool Around is the debut album by American singer Rachel Sweet. It was first released in the United Kingdom on October 13, 1978 by Stiff Records. The album was released in the United States in July 1979, by Stiff and Columbia Records, with a revised track listing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding</span> 1974 single by Brinsley Schwarz

"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" is a 1974 song written by English singer/songwriter Nick Lowe. Initially released by Lowe with his band Brinsley Schwarz on their 1974 album The New Favourites of... Brinsley Schwarz, the song was released as a single and did not chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockpile</span> British rock and roll band

Rockpile was a British rock and roll band of the late 1970s and early 1980s, noted for their strong pub rock, rockabilly and power pop influences, and as a foundational influence on new wave. The band consisted of Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, Billy Bremner and Terry Williams (drums).

<i>Howlin Wind</i> 1976 studio album by Graham Parker and the Rumour

Howlin' Wind is the debut album by English singer-songwriter Graham Parker and his band the Rumour, released in 1976. The Rumour were mainly former pub rock musicians, including guitarist Brinsley Schwarz and keyboardist Bob Andrews of the band Brinsley Schwarz; Parker's recent jobs included working as a petrol pump attendant. The music is a blend of rock and roll, R&B, reggae and folk music, behind Parker's searingly intelligent lyrics and passionate vocals. Critics likened Parker's spirit to British punk rock, then in its early stage, and retrospectively to that of singer-songwriters Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, who would release their debut records within a few years of Howlin' Wind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Andrews (keyboardist)</span> Musical artist

Robert Charles Andrews is an English keyboardist and record producer.

<i>Live Stiffs Live</i> 1978 live album by various artists

Live Stiffs Live is a live album released in 1978 by Stiff Records. It compiles concert performances by several of the record label's artists recorded during the "Live Stiffs Tour", which ran from 3 October to 5 November 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So It Goes (song)</span> 1976 single by Nick Lowe

"So It Goes" is a song written and recorded by Nick Lowe in 1976. The single was Nick Lowe’s solo debut following his departure from Brinsley Schwarz, and was the first single released on Stiff Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Lowe discography</span>

Nick Lowe is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and producer. His discography consists of 14 studio albums, 1 live album, 3 EPs, 23 singles, and 6 compilations. In addition, he has been a performer and producer on numerous albums by other artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stiff Records discography</span>

The British independent record label Stiff Records has released 259 singles and 65 albums on general release in the United Kingdom with a prefix catalogue number of BUY and SEEZ respectively. Just under a quarter of all BUY singles releases charted in the UK Singles Chart and 22 of these have gone on to receive either a silver or gold disc from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Over one third of all SEEZ albums releases charted in the UK Albums Chart and 13 of these have gone on to receive either a silver, gold or platinum disc from the BPI. This list excludes non-BUY singles catalogue numbers such as DAMNED 1, DEV 1 and NY 7. It also excludes non-SEEZ album catalogue numbers such as FIST 1, GET 1, and LENE 1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Caught Me Out (song)</span> 1979 single by Kirsty MacColl

"You Caught Me Out" is a song written by Kirsty MacColl, Pete Briquette and Simon Crowe. It was originally recorded by MacColl in 1979 but the intended single release was shelved. Versions have also been recorded by Australian singer Christie Allen and British-American singer/actress Tracey Ullman.

References

  1. 1 2 "Shell Records Limited" (To access, click on PDF for the second entry for 21 May 2004 (New director appointed)). Companies House . Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  2. 1 2 Andrews, Kernan (13 July 2020). "'Stiff was an attitude against the major record companies'". Galway Advertiser . Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  3. 1 2 Clerk, Carol (4 November 2009). Kiss My Arse: The Story of the Pogues. Omnibus Press. pp. 385–387. ISBN   978-0-85712-019-9.
  4. 1 2 Abrahams, Ian (5 October 2014). "Be Stiff: The Stiff Records Story". Record Collector . Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  5. ↑ Nolan, Larissa (9 February 2020). "Dave Robinson: There was no bright side of the abode with Van as a flatmate". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Byrne, Stephen (26 February 2020). "Dave Robinson – Interview". GoldenPlec. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  7. ↑ "The spirit of Stiff Records lives on". The Independent . 25 January 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Something for the Weekend – Dave Robinson's Cultural Picks". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Stiff Records: If it ain't Stiff, it ain't worth a debt". The Independent . 9 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Dave Robinson – co-founder of Stiff Records and Tour Manager of Jimi Hendrix". Music Majors. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  11. ↑ Rossi, Richard (17 September 2017). "Pub Rock Venues: The Hope & Anchor Revisited". powerpopnews.com. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  12. ↑ Cole, Angela (17 October 2019). "Stiff Records founder Dave Robinson brings his one man show to Folkestone". KentOnline . KM Media Group . Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  13. ↑ Bell, Max (28 March 2018). "The story of Stiff, the most anarchic record label of all time". LouderSound.com . Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "Dave Robinson talks to Phacemag". Phacemag.com. 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  15. ↑ John Shepherd; David Horn; Dave Laing; Paul Oliver; Peter Wicke (6 March 2003). Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 1: Media, Industry, Society. A&C Black. p. 760. ISBN   978-1-84714-473-7.
  16. ↑ Sexton, Paul (24 July 2004). "New U.K. Indies Mine Music City". Billboard . p. 61 – via Google Books.
  17. ↑ "Shell Records Limited". Companies House . Retrieved 7 June 2021.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.