Bernie Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Bernard Rhodes is the former manager
of English punk rock
band The Clash
. He previously worked with Sex Pistols
manager Malcolm McLaren
and once claimed to have "invented punk".
(aka Johnny Rotten) in the Kings Road
and recommended that he audition as singer for the Sex Pistols in McLaren and Westwood's shop SEX
.
After his offer to co-manage the Sex Pistols was rejected, Rhodes was instrumental in The Clash's formation in 1976. His acceptance from CBS Records
of an overly onerous and poorly financed record contract on behalf of the group caused tensions, and he was replaced in 1978 by the journalist and Release
founder Caroline Coon
. In turn Coon was replaced by management company Blackhill and, in 1981, Rhodes was brought back in and managed The Clash until their break-up in 1986, having been instrumental in manipulating the departure of principal songwriter and musical overseer Mick Jones
.
Rhodes also managed Subway Sect
, Dexys Midnight Runners
and The Specials
in 1979, shortly after these bands formed.
, the working title of the Clash
's last studio album, released in 1985, was Out of Control; the title was changed to Cut the Crap
by Rhodes shortly before its release without consulting the band. Rhodes also produced the record, using the alias of Jose Unidos (presumably to suggest Joe Strummer was the producer). He is credited, together with Joe Strummer
, for co-writing all the tracks of that album.
, Rhodes said he had been taken out of context.
Films and documentaries
|people=Letts Don
; Rick Elgood, Joe Strummer
, Mick Jones
, Paul Simonon
, Topper Headon
, Terry Chimes
, The Clash
|date=2001 |title=The Clash: Westway to the World |medium=DVD |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment
; Dorismo; Uptown Films |location=New York, NY |accessdate=2011-09-20 |isbn=0-7389-0082-6 |oclc=49798077 }}
Web
|url=http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/daily/070504.html |title=UNLIMITED / CMU Daily 04.05.07 |accessdate=2007-12-04 |date=2007-05-04 |work=CMU Daily - on the inside |publisher=CMU Music Network }}
Talent manager
A talent manager, also known as an artist manager or band manager, is an individual or company who guides the professional career of artists in the entertainment industry...
of English punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
. He previously worked with Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
manager Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm McLaren
Malcolm Robert Andrew McLaren was an English performer, impresario, self-publicist and manager of the Sex Pistols and the New York Dolls...
and once claimed to have "invented punk".
Management
Rhodes claims he was responsible for spotting John LydonJohn Lydon
John Joseph Lydon , also known by the former stage name Johnny Rotten, is a singer-songwriter and television presenter, best known as the lead singer of punk rock band the Sex Pistols from 1975 until 1978, and again for various revivals during the 1990s and 2000s...
(aka Johnny Rotten) in the Kings Road
Kings Road
King's Road or Kings Road, known popularly as The King's Road or The KR, is a major, well-known street stretching through Chelsea and Fulham, both in west London, England...
and recommended that he audition as singer for the Sex Pistols in McLaren and Westwood's shop SEX
SEX (boutique)
SEX was a boutique run by Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood at 430 King's Road, London between 1974 and 1976. It specialized in clothing that defined the look of the punk movement.-History:...
.
After his offer to co-manage the Sex Pistols was rejected, Rhodes was instrumental in The Clash's formation in 1976. His acceptance from CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
of an overly onerous and poorly financed record contract on behalf of the group caused tensions, and he was replaced in 1978 by the journalist and Release
Release (agency)
Release, founded in 1967 by Caroline Coon and the late Rufus Harris , is a UK agency that provides legal advice and arranges legal representation for people charged with the possession of drugs...
founder Caroline Coon
Caroline Coon
Caroline Coon is an English artist, journalist and political activist. Her artwork, which often explores sexual themes from a feminist standpoint , has been exhibited at many major London galleries, including the Saatchi Gallery and the Tate.Coon was born to a family of Kent landowners and had...
. In turn Coon was replaced by management company Blackhill and, in 1981, Rhodes was brought back in and managed The Clash until their break-up in 1986, having been instrumental in manipulating the departure of principal songwriter and musical overseer Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
.
Rhodes also managed Subway Sect
Subway Sect
Subway Sect were one of the original British punk bands. Their influence was limited by the very small amount of recorded material they released.-The early days:...
, Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
and The Specials
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
in 1979, shortly after these bands formed.
Cut the Crap
According to guitarist Vince WhiteVince White
Gregory Stuart Lee White , better known as Vince White, was one of the guitarists recruited by The Clash to replace Mick Jones after he was fired from the band in 1983.-Biography:...
, the working title of the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
's last studio album, released in 1985, was Out of Control; the title was changed to Cut the Crap
Cut the Crap
Cut the Crap is the sixth and final album by the English punk rock band The Clash, released on 4 November 1985 by Epic Records.Following the ejection of founding member Mick Jones from the group, The Clash hired guitarists Nick Sheppard and Vince White to replace him...
by Rhodes shortly before its release without consulting the band. Rhodes also produced the record, using the alias of Jose Unidos (presumably to suggest Joe Strummer was the producer). He is credited, together with Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
, for co-writing all the tracks of that album.
Clash Culture incident
On 2 May 2007 Rhodes caused outrage at an event called "Clash Culture", which took place at Central St Martins College of Art and Design in London, when he said "If you want to sort out crime in London, sort out the niggers in Peckham". In the July 2007 issue of Mojo magazineMojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
, Rhodes said he had been taken out of context.
Sources
BooksFilms and documentaries
|people=Letts Don
Don Letts
Don Letts is a British film director and musician. He is credited as the man who through his DJing at clubs like The Roxy brought together punk and reggae music.-Biography:...
; Rick Elgood, Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
, Mick Jones
Mick Jones (The Clash)
Michael Geoffrey "Mick" Jones is the former lead guitarist, secondary vocalist and co-founder for the British punk rock band The Clash until his dismissal in 1983. He went on to form the band Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts before line-up changes led to the formation of Big Audio Dynamite II and...
, Paul Simonon
Paul Simonon
Paul Gustave Simonon is an English musician and artist best known as the bass guitarist for punk rock band The Clash. Recent work includes his involvement in the album The Good, the Bad & the Queen with Damon Albarn, Simon Tong and Tony Allen, released in January 2007...
, Topper Headon
Topper Headon
Headon was extensively interviewed for the Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten documentary film about the late Clash frontman. He related his experiences during this period, how he became addicted to heroin and how there were problems before his dismissal...
, Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes
Terry Chimes was the original drummer of punk rock group The Clash. He originally played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from May 1982 to February 1983. He was the drummer for Hanoi Rocks in 1985, before the band broke-up that same year...
, The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
|date=2001 |title=The Clash: Westway to the World |medium=DVD |publisher=Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
; Dorismo; Uptown Films |location=New York, NY |accessdate=2011-09-20 |isbn=0-7389-0082-6 |oclc=49798077 }}
Web
|url=http://www.cmumusicnetwork.co.uk/daily/070504.html |title=UNLIMITED / CMU Daily 04.05.07 |accessdate=2007-12-04 |date=2007-05-04 |work=CMU Daily - on the inside |publisher=CMU Music Network }}