Michael Jeffrey (manager)
Encyclopedia
Michael Frank Jeffery was a music business manager
of the 1960s who is best known for his management of British band The Animals
and American guitarist-composer Jimi Hendrix
, whom he co-managed for a time with former Animals bassist Chas Chandler
. A former associate of noted British pop impresario Don Arden
, Jeffery was and remains a controversial figure. He was killed in 1973 in a mid-air collision over Nantes
, France, whilst aboard an Iberia Airlines
DC-9.
in northern England; the Marimba coffee bar and the Downbeat jazz club. Eric Burdon
of the Animals
was a patron of the latter, which eventually became a beat music
venue featuring local bands such as The Alan Price Combo (originally The Pagans and soon to be The Animals) as well as The Kylastrons and The Invaders.
After the club was closed due to fire regulations, both establishments burned down. Jeffery then opened the Club A’Gogo in partnership with Ray Grehan, sales manager for the Automaticket company. The Club A'Gogo was to become Newcastle's most celebrated venue, particularly after it was the subject of a best-selling song by The Animals who were house band there (to be replaced by The Junco Partners when they became an international act), and saw 1960s concerts by Captain Beefheart, Cream, Fleetwood Mac, The Graham Bond Organisation, Howlin’ Wolf, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Yardbirds among others. It attracted younger Newcastle clientele such as Sting and Bryan Ferry
.
. After the success of their second record "The House of the Rising Sun" the Animals embarked on a tour of the USA. Despite this success Jeffery has been openly condemned by members of The Animals, who blame him for the breakup of the band, claiming that he worked the group into the ground and appropriated most of their earnings.
, taking care of business while Chandler produced.
Jeffery has received almost unanimous criticism from biographers of Hendrix. Several have alleged that Jeffery siphoned off much of Hendrix's income and channeled it into off-shore bank accounts, that Jeffery had dubious connections to US intelligence services (it has been reported that insiders often claimed that he worked for MI5, British Secret Intelligence and that he had connections to European organised crime). When Experience bassist Noel Redding inquired as to where Jeffery was going with briefcases of the band's money, he was asked to leave. Jeffery was played by actor Billy Zane
in the movie Hendrix.
In October 2006 a $15 million auction took place of items of Michael Jeffery's estate including the rights to many of Jimi Hendrix's hits including "Purple Haze
" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
". Experience Hendrix, a company formed and owned by Hendrix's family, have said they will prove they own the titles to these songs and that they intend to sue.
Jeffery is quoted by Wright as telling him: "I was in London the night of Jimi's death and together with some old friends.. we went 'round to Monika's hotel room, got a handful of pills and stuffed them into his mouth...then poured a few bottles of red wine deep into his windpipe." The manager was allegedly worried that Hendrix was about to sack him.
In May 1968 Chandler & Jeffery took out a life insurance [not $2 as Wright incorrectly has claimed] on Jimi Hendrix. Details of payment (when and how much) have not been revealed, but it is understood that no money was paid out while Michael Jeffery was alive. It should also be noted that Michael Jeffery may have been in Majorca, Spain (confirmed by three people thus far) and not in London when Jimi Hendrix died...
At the time of Hendrix's death, the coroner recorded an "open verdict," stating that the cause was "barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit". However Dr. John Bannister, the doctor who attempted to resuscitate Hendrix has mentioned the possibility that Hendrix actually died from forced inhalation of copious amounts of red wine. The pathologist, Prof. Teare, failed to detect any wine when he performed an autopsy on Jimi Hendrix. In fact the alcohol level detected by Prof Teare was so low it would have failed the drink-drive test in 1970. This is still considered controversial, as the wine that may have been forced down Hendrix's throat would not have got into his bloodsteam.
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
of the 1960s who is best known for his management of British band The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
and American guitarist-composer Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, whom he co-managed for a time with former Animals bassist Chas Chandler
Chas Chandler
Bryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
. A former associate of noted British pop impresario Don Arden
Don Arden
Don Arden , born Harry Levy, was an English music manager, agent and businessman, best known for overseeing the careers of rock groups Small Faces, Electric Light Orchestra and Black Sabbath....
, Jeffery was and remains a controversial figure. He was killed in 1973 in a mid-air collision over Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, France, whilst aboard an Iberia Airlines
Iberia Airlines
Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., commonly known as Iberia, is the flag carrier airline of Spain. Based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main bases of Madrid-Barajas Airport and Barcelona El Prat Airport....
DC-9.
Beginnings
Mike Jeffery started his career in music as the owner/manager of venues in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in northern England; the Marimba coffee bar and the Downbeat jazz club. Eric Burdon
Eric Burdon
Eric Victor Burdon is an English singer-songwriter best known as a founding member and vocalist of rock band The Animals, and the funk rock band War and for his aggressive stage performance...
of the Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
was a patron of the latter, which eventually became a beat music
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
venue featuring local bands such as The Alan Price Combo (originally The Pagans and soon to be The Animals) as well as The Kylastrons and The Invaders.
After the club was closed due to fire regulations, both establishments burned down. Jeffery then opened the Club A’Gogo in partnership with Ray Grehan, sales manager for the Automaticket company. The Club A'Gogo was to become Newcastle's most celebrated venue, particularly after it was the subject of a best-selling song by The Animals who were house band there (to be replaced by The Junco Partners when they became an international act), and saw 1960s concerts by Captain Beefheart, Cream, Fleetwood Mac, The Graham Bond Organisation, Howlin’ Wolf, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Yardbirds among others. It attracted younger Newcastle clientele such as Sting and Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry
Bryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
.
The Animals
Jeffery contracted to manage The Animals and obtained a recording contract with Columbia, the recordings to be produced by Mickie MostMickie Most
Mickie Most was an English record producer, with a string of hit singles with acts such as The Animals, Arrows, Herman's Hermits, Donovan, Suzi Quatro and the Jeff Beck Group often issued on his own RAK Records label....
. After the success of their second record "The House of the Rising Sun" the Animals embarked on a tour of the USA. Despite this success Jeffery has been openly condemned by members of The Animals, who blame him for the breakup of the band, claiming that he worked the group into the ground and appropriated most of their earnings.
Jimi Hendrix
When Chas Chandler decided to move into management himself and signed Jimi Hendrix, he needed financial support to launch The Experience and so went into partnership with his old manager, with very mixed feelings. Hence Jeffrey became co-manager of The Jimi Hendrix ExperienceThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Jimi Hendrix Experience were an English-American psychedelic rock band that formed in London in October 1966. Comprising eponymous singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix, bassist and backing vocalist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell, the band was active until June 1969, in which...
, taking care of business while Chandler produced.
Jeffery has received almost unanimous criticism from biographers of Hendrix. Several have alleged that Jeffery siphoned off much of Hendrix's income and channeled it into off-shore bank accounts, that Jeffery had dubious connections to US intelligence services (it has been reported that insiders often claimed that he worked for MI5, British Secret Intelligence and that he had connections to European organised crime). When Experience bassist Noel Redding inquired as to where Jeffery was going with briefcases of the band's money, he was asked to leave. Jeffery was played by actor Billy Zane
Billy Zane
William George "Billy" Zane, Jr. is an American actor, producer and director. He is probably best known for his roles as Caledon Hockley in Titanic, The Phantom from The Phantom, John Wheeler in Twin Peaks and Mr...
in the movie Hendrix.
In October 2006 a $15 million auction took place of items of Michael Jeffery's estate including the rights to many of Jimi Hendrix's hits including "Purple Haze
Purple Haze
"Purple Haze" is a song written in 1966 and recorded in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and released as a single in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It appeared on their 1967 album Are You Experienced...
" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
"Voodoo Child " is the closing track on Electric Ladyland, the third and final album by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. The song is known for its wah-wah-heavy guitar work. It is #101 on Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs of all time....
". Experience Hendrix, a company formed and owned by Hendrix's family, have said they will prove they own the titles to these songs and that they intend to sue.
Hendrix death allegation
Jimi Hendrix died on 18 September 1970 at St. Mary Abbotts Hospital, Kensington, London. He was found unconscious that morning at ca. 11:00 in the basement flat of Monika Dannemann, who was Hendrix's girlfriend at that time. In May 2009 the UK media reported claims that Michael Jeffery had murdered Jimi Hendrix. James "Tappy" Wright, who was a roadie for The Animals in the 1960s, claimed he met Michael Jeffery in 1971, one year after Hendrix's death, and Jeffery confessed to having murdered Hendrix by plying him with pills and a bottle of wine in order to kill him and claim on the guitarist's life insurance.Jeffery is quoted by Wright as telling him: "I was in London the night of Jimi's death and together with some old friends.. we went 'round to Monika's hotel room, got a handful of pills and stuffed them into his mouth...then poured a few bottles of red wine deep into his windpipe." The manager was allegedly worried that Hendrix was about to sack him.
In May 1968 Chandler & Jeffery took out a life insurance [not $2 as Wright incorrectly has claimed] on Jimi Hendrix. Details of payment (when and how much) have not been revealed, but it is understood that no money was paid out while Michael Jeffery was alive. It should also be noted that Michael Jeffery may have been in Majorca, Spain (confirmed by three people thus far) and not in London when Jimi Hendrix died...
At the time of Hendrix's death, the coroner recorded an "open verdict," stating that the cause was "barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit". However Dr. John Bannister, the doctor who attempted to resuscitate Hendrix has mentioned the possibility that Hendrix actually died from forced inhalation of copious amounts of red wine. The pathologist, Prof. Teare, failed to detect any wine when he performed an autopsy on Jimi Hendrix. In fact the alcohol level detected by Prof Teare was so low it would have failed the drink-drive test in 1970. This is still considered controversial, as the wine that may have been forced down Hendrix's throat would not have got into his bloodsteam.