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Tom Watkins (music manager)

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Tom Watkins
Born(1949-09-21)21 September 1949
Died24 February 2020(2020-02-24) (aged 70)
Occupations
  • Music manager
  • music producer
  • designer
  • composer

Tom Watkins (21 September 1949 – 24 February 2020) was an English pop impresario, music manager, songwriter, producer, designer and fine art collector. With a background in art and design, Watkins set up the XL Design agency in the early 1980s and was responsible for designing record sleeves and music graphics of the period.[1] Watkins moved into music management by the mid-1980s and managed Pet Shop Boys, Bros and East 17 among others.[2] Watkins has been described by Neil Tennant as "a big man with a loud voice"[1] and by David Munns as "an unstoppable creative powerhouse."[3]

Early life

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Watkins was born Thomas Frederick Watkins on 21 September 1949 at St. Alfege's Hospital, Greenwich, London,[3] the son of Patricia Daphne Diett and Frederick Joseph Watkins.[3] He lived in Blackheath, London[4] and was educated at Invicta Road School, Sherrington Road School and Raine's Foundation School in Tower Hamlets, London.[3] Watkins later attended Sir John Cass School of Art, Architecture and Design[3] and went on to study art and design at London College of Furniture, London Metropolitan University.[3]

Early career

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In the early 1970s after graduating from the London College of Furniture, Watkins worked as a designer for Terence Conran and Rodney Fitch as part of the team that designed Heathrow Terminal 3 and the London Stock Exchange.[5][6]

In 1981, Watkins and business partner Royston Edwards set up the graphics design company XL Design with an office in Welbeck Street, London,[7] initially designing music graphics and marketing campaigns, then later record sleeves.[8] In 1982, XL designed the record sleeve for Wham!'s debut single "Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do)"[9]

When the British record label ZTT became clients in 1983, XL designed record sleeves for Art of Noise[10][11] and for "Relax", the 1983 debut single of Frankie Goes to Hollywood.[12] XL designed many of the Frankie Goes to Hollywood ads, promo posters and graphics[12] including the record sleeves for their next three singles "Two Tribes", "The Power of Love" (both 1984) and "Welcome to the Pleasuredome" (1985).[13] In 1984, XL designed the sleeve for their debut album Welcome to the Pleasuredome.[14]

In 1983, Trevor Horn and Jill Sinclair of ZTT Records commissioned Watkins to design the interior of their new recording studios, Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill.[15][11]

The XL Design agency was responsible for creating iconic logos, music advertising graphics and record sleeve art of the 1980s including those of Frankie Goes to Hollywood,[12] Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD),[16] Art of Noise,[11] Wham!,[9] Kim Wilde,[17] Nik Kershaw,[18] Duran Duran[18] and the Pet Shop Boys.[1]

Music management

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In 1984, Watkins moved his XL Design agency to larger offices in Poland Street, Soho[19] and set up a new company, Massive Management, developing a parallel career in music management.[20] Mark Farrow joined Watkins' XL Design agency in 1985. Watkins felt the minimal aesthetics of his designs would be perfect for the Pet Shop Boys.[21] In 1986, Watkins, Farrow and business partner Mick Newton set up a new design agency, Three Associates.[22] The Three Associates agency were responsible for creating record sleeve art throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s for artists including Pet Shop Boys, Bros, Liza Minnelli and Kim Wilde.[23] Watkins went on to manage Pet Shop Boys (1984 to 1989), Bros (1986 to 1990), East 17 (1992 to 1997), Electribe 101 (1989 to 1990),[24] Faith Hope & Charity (1990),[25] 2wo Third3 (1994 to 1995)[26] and Deuce (1994 to 1996).[27]

Watkins was also a songwriter and music producer. In collaboration with Nicky Graham,[28] Watkins wrote all the tracks on the debut Bros album Push[1] including the hit singles from the album; "When Will I Be Famous", "Drop the Boy" and "I Owe You Nothing" which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in June 1988.[29]

In 1999, Channel 4 produced Mr Rock & Roll, a four-part documentary series "looking at the lives and the careers of the most powerful, most outrageous and most astute managers in the history of Rock and Roll".[30] The series featured the stories of Tom Watkins, Colonel Tom Parker, Don Arden and Peter Grant.[31]

Pet Shop Boys

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In late 1984, the Pet Shop Boys hired Watkins as their manager signing to his management company, Massive Management. In March 1985, Watkins signed them to EMI subsidiary Parlophone.[32] Under Watkins' management, the Pet Shop Boys released twelve singles achieving four number ones on the UK Singles Chart; "West End Girls" (1985), "It's a Sin" (1987), "Always on My Mind" (1987) and "Heart" (1988), and three studio albums. The debut, Please, was released in April 1986 and peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The second album Actually was released in September 1987 and peaked at number 2 in the UK and certified triple platinum by the BPI. In October 1988, their third album Introspective peaked at number 2 in the UK and was certified double platinum. Also, in November 1986 a remix album, Disco was released peaking at number 15 in the UK and certified platinum.[33]

Bros

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In 1986, Matt and Luke Goss and Craig Logan (Bros) signed to Watkins' management company, Massive Management.[34] Watkins signed the band to CBS.[35] Their first single, "I Owe You Nothing" was released in September 1987 and peaked at number 80 in the UK. Their next two singles, "When Will I Be Famous" (November 1987) and "Drop the Boy" (March 1988) both peaked at number 2. The re-release of "I Owe You Nothing" in June 1988 reached number one.[29] Bros' debut album Push was released in March 1988 and peaked at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified quadruple platinum status by the BPI.[36] Their second album, The Time was released in October 1989 and peaked at number 4.[29]

Bros toured the UK on their ‘Big Push Tour’ in June/July 1988 and Europe and Australia on their ‘Global Push Tour’ late 1988 to early 1989.[37] In February 1989, Bros won the Best British Newcomer Award at the Brit Awards[38] and in August 1989 they played Wembley Stadium at their ‘Bros in 2 Summer’ concert.

East 17

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East 17 signed to Massive Management in April 1992. Watkins signed the band to London Records.[39] Under Watkins' management between 1992 and 1997, East 17 released 16 singles; 11 of which entered the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. "Stay Another Day" was released in December 1994 and became the group's only number one remaining at the top for 5 weeks.[40] East 17 released their debut album, Walthamstow in February 1993. The album reached number one and was certified platinum by the BPI. Their second album, Steam (October 1994) reached number 3 and was certified double platinum by the BPI and the third album Up All Night (November 1995) reached number 7 and was certified platinum. Around the World Hit Singles: The Journey So Far was the group's first greatest hits compilation album, released in November 1996 and was certified double platinum.[41][40]

Design

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Watkins was a fine art collector, specialising in works from the Memphis Group which was an influential Italian design and architecture movement of the 1980s.[6] In 2001, Watkins loaned much of his Memphis collection to the Design Museum, London for their Memphis Remembered exhibition[42] held to mark the 20th anniversary of the debut of the Memphis movement.[43] An admirer of Bauhaus-inspired architecture he designed and built The Big White House in Pett Level, East Sussex in 2004, which was featured in the Channel 4 Grand Designs television series.[44] In 2006 Watkins received the Sussex Heritage Trust Award for The Big White House project.[45]

Author

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Published in July 2016, Watkins co-wrote with Matthew Lindsay his autobiography titled Let's Make Lots of Money: Secrets of a Rich, Fat, Gay, Lucky Bastard.[4] In December 2016, the book was longlisted for the Penderyn Music Book Prize[46] and in July 2017 the book was released in paperback under the title Let's Make Lots of Money: My Life as the Biggest Man in Pop.[47]

Death

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Watkins suffered from poor health in his later years. He had type 2 diabetes and in 2014, had a liver transplant. He died on 24 February 2020, and his funeral was held on 10 March.[48]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Tom Watkins - Let's Make Lots of Money". Electricity-club.co.uk. 2 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  2. ^ McLean, Craig (12 November 2006). "Craig McLean on the difficulties of being a pop star and gay". the Guardian. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Let's Make Lots of Money". Penguin.co.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Watkins, Tom". Johnsonandalcock.co.uk.
  5. ^ "A place where collectables feel at home". Telegraph.co.uk. 25 August 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Me And My Home: Pop, punk and passion". Independent.co.uk. 23 February 2005.
  7. ^ Let’s Make Lots of Money – Watkins, 2016. p. 139.
  8. ^ Let’s Make Lots of Money – Watkins, 2016. p. 141.
  9. ^ a b "Wham! - Wham Rap (Enjoy What You Do) (Special US 12" Remix)". Discogs.
  10. ^ "The Art Of Noise - Into Battle With The Art Of Noise". Discogs.
  11. ^ a b c "Interview with ZTT Records designer, David Smart". Orbellcomms.wordpress.com. 26 March 2011.
  12. ^ a b c "One February Friday In Full". Failedmuso.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Art Of ZTT – (Who's Afraid of the)". Artofztt.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Frankie Goes To Hollywood 'Welcome To The Pleasuredome' LP". Artofztt.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ^ Purists, Irk The. "Sarm Studios brochure from Music Week | Art Of ZTT".
  16. ^ "OMD DISCOGRAPHY | ALBUMS 1980 - 98". Omd-messages.co.uk.
  17. ^ Rijs, Marcel (25 June 2014). "Kim Wilde on Top of the Pops". Medium.
  18. ^ a b "XL Design". Wilde-life.com.
  19. ^ Let’s Make Lots of Money – Watkins/Lindsay, 2016. p.139.
  20. ^ O'brien, Stephen (27 December 2017). "Kean Canter Mattowski: Mis-Spelt?".
  21. ^ "Meet Mark Farrow, designer for the Pet Shop Boys". Sound Matters.
  22. ^ "Eye Magazine | Feature | Knowing". Eyemagazine.com.
  23. ^ "Three Associates". Discogs.
  24. ^ McMurray, Niall (3 August 2017). "Electribe 101 – You're Walking".
  25. ^ "Dani Behr | A Talented Realtor". Focusmag.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  26. ^ "2wo Third3 | Fade 2 Grey". Fade2grey.com.
  27. ^ "WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Deuce". Talkaboutpopmusic.com. 26 August 2018.
  28. ^ "Bros: 'Without the cameras there would have been blood'". Theguardian.com. 25 January 2019.
  29. ^ a b c "Bros | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  30. ^ "VTVC Portfolio". Vtvc.co.uk.
  31. ^ "Mr Rock And Roll Tom Watkins". Licensing.screenocean.com.
  32. ^ Pet Shop Boys : Introspective. Michael Cowton, 1991. p. 22.
  33. ^ ""British certifications – Pet Shop Boys". British Phonographic Industry. Type Pet Shop Boys in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter".
  34. ^ Let’s Make Lots of Money – Watkins/Lindsay, 2016. p.231.
  35. ^ Let’s Make Lots of Money – Watkins/Lindsay, 2016. p.236.
  36. ^ "BRIT Certified - bpi". www.bpi.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  37. ^ "Bros Concert Setlists". setlist.fm.
  38. ^ "History". BRIT Awards.
  39. ^ "East 17 | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  40. ^ a b "East 17 | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
  41. ^ "British certifications – East 17. British Phonographic Industry. Type East 17 in the "Search BPI Awards" field, choose album and then press Enter".
  42. ^ "Memphis. Twenty years on". Domusweb.it. 4 October 2001.
  43. ^ "Memphis, Tennessee? No, Memphis, Winchelsea". Theguardian.com. 2 September 2001.
  44. ^ "Grand Designs - On Demand - All 4". Channel4.com.
  45. ^ "Sussex Heritage Trust Award". Sussex Heritage Trust.
  46. ^ "Penderyn Music Book Prize 2017". Fredperry.com.
  47. ^ Let's Make Lots of Money. Penguin.co.uk. 6 July 2017.
  48. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (10 March 2020). "Tom Watkins, pop manager behind Pet Shop Boys, Bros and East 17, dies aged 70". The Guardian.