Tony DeFries
Encyclopedia
Tony Defries is a British
former record producer and pop manager, and more recently inventor.
DeFries worked in the 1960s music scene with such figures as Mickie Most
, Allen Klein
, before turning his attention to David Bowie
. Defries' company MainMan had a management structure that combined ingredients of the movie studio with those of the independent producer/record label/music publisher.
Defries represented Bowie through his rise to stardom, as well as helping to launch the solo careers of Iggy Pop
, Lou Reed
, Mick Ronson
, Mott the Hoople
, Luther Vandross
and John Mellencamp
.
His MainMan Group of companies assisted in the creation of many independent record and publishing companies that were later acquired by major conglomerates. He pioneered work in mixed media by using digital controls for sound, light and special effects in live performance.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
former record producer and pop manager, and more recently inventor.
DeFries worked in the 1960s music scene with such figures as Mickie Most
Mickie 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....
, Allen Klein
Allen Klein
Allen Klein was an American businessman, talent agent and record label executive. His clients included The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.- The accountant :...
, before turning his attention to David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
. Defries' company MainMan had a management structure that combined ingredients of the movie studio with those of the independent producer/record label/music publisher.
Defries represented Bowie through his rise to stardom, as well as helping to launch the solo careers of Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop
Iggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, Mick Ronson
Mick Ronson
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. He is best known for his work with David Bowie, as one of The Spiders from Mars...
, Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
and John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
.
His MainMan Group of companies assisted in the creation of many independent record and publishing companies that were later acquired by major conglomerates. He pioneered work in mixed media by using digital controls for sound, light and special effects in live performance.