My Artists, 1984 - 2000

Here are some photos and anecdotes about some of the artists I had the pleasure of looking after during my music-business career in Germany. You can see more on my "Photos" page!

BON JOVI 

Yep, that's me in the top photo keeping journalists at bay after Bon Jovi arrived at Hamburg Airport for a concert in 1995. The photo shows Jon, David Bryan and Tico Torres getting off the airport bus. Altogether I looked after Jon and the boys from 1988 to 1996, accompanying them on 7 German tours and countless promotion appearances. I am very proud to have been part of a team that took the group to superstardom in Germany through the early Nineties, with #1 albums and countless single hits.

METALLICA

Celine Dion

I was introduced to Celine and Rene Angelil (at that time her manager, now of course her husband) by composer Eddie Marnay in Paris in 1986. I subsequently promoted Celine in Germany, and our friendship continued after I went to Switzerland to join VIP AG in 1987. The highlight of our relationship was undoubtedly in May 1988, when we traveled to Dublin and Celine won the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland singing "Ne partez pas sans moi". The picture on the left was taken in Montreal, when we visited Celine and her family at home to record the German version of the Eurovision hit.

KISS

I looked after KISS from 1992 to 1996, both with and without make-up! This picture was taken in 1992 when Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were on a promotion tour in Germany and stopped by our Phonogram offices in Cologne.

Melissa Etheridge

Without a doubt one of the most charismatic artists I ever had the honor of working with. She did various showcases to promote her "Your Little Secret" album in Germany in 1995, and this photo was taken at the Hamburg gig.

Cliff Richard

One of the UK's most famous and best-loved artists. In 1991 he came to Hanover to perform in what was then Germany's biggest TV show, "Wetten, dass", where he sang a duet with Phonogram recording artist Alexander Mezek.

Elton John

All in all I was responsible for Sir Elton's promotion in Germany for 8 years, from 1988 to 1996. My team and I would prepare for his visit weeks in advance to make sure everything went off without a hitch and to make his trip a satisfying and successful one. He demanded the same perfection from us as he gave to his audience, and Phonogram Germany was proud to provide it. The other person in this photo is my friend and ex-boss Louis Spillmann, one of the most successful and unique managing directors in the history of the record business in Germany.

INXS

I looked after Michael Hutchence and the other members of INXS from 1988 to 1996 on their numerous TV, radio and hall promotion tours of Germany. This photo was taken at a TV show in Munich. Michael was going out at that time with supermodel Helena Christiansen, who would fly in to visit him at every opportunity. Michael tragically took his own life in Sydney, Australia, in 1997.

Texas

When we first heard "I don't want a lover" in 1988, we all knew that Texas was going to be big. We loved the band coming to Germany and had a lot of fun with all of them over 8 years. Their Glaswegian accents were so heavy that even I had difficulties understanding them, let alone the Germans! This photo of lead singer Sharleen Spiteri and me was taken on a particularly cold night in Hamburg.

Swing Out Sister

Def Leppard

Great band, far more famous at that time in the States than in the UK or Germany. I had a wonderful 7 years looking after them when they came to Germany, accompanying them from city to city promoting their singles and albums and going on tour with them. They also made fantastic videos(think "Let's Get Rocked"). One of my highlights with Def Leppard was taking journalists from Germany to see their concert at the Colisseum in Cleveland, Ohio, where they performed on their famous round stage. This photo with lead singer Joe Elliot was taken backstage at a gig in Hamburg.

Donna Summer

In 1994 I had the privilege of accompanying Donna Summer around Germany on her promotion tour. I remember that I was the proud owner of about 15 of Donna's vinyl albums, and brought them into a Hamburg restaurant one evening for her to sign. She patiently gave each individual album a different dedication, smiling and joking around the whole time! A true professional who had spent as much time in Germany as in the USA, she spoke fluent German. A very gracious and generous lady! This photo was taken in Berlin, where Donna performed on ZDF's "Der Grosse Preis". 

Lionel Richie

I had the pleasure and privilege of heading Lionel Richie's TV, press and radio promotion in Germany from 1993-1996. I especially remember his great sense of humour, his politeness and courtesy towards all around him, and of course his magnetic charisma on stage. A gentleman.

Oleta Adams

Aah, the one and only Oleta Adams. How proud I was to have been part of her success story in Germany. She was "discovered" by Tears for Fears during their US tour when they heard her in a Kansas City hotel piano bar - and took her with them. Daughter of a Baptist minister, she had the voice so many dream of ; "Get Here" was her US hit during the 1991 Gulf War, but her voice complemented Tears for Fears' "Woman in Chains", and her albums and single chart-hits, in particular "Window of Hope", made her even more popular in Germany. In this photo she is being hugged by husband John Cushon, who also plays drums in her band. 

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