How AC/DC Got Manager In Hot Water
Former AC/DC manager Peter Mensch says the stupidest request he’s ever had during his career came from drummer Phil Rudd.
The big-name boss formed management firm Q Prime with Cliff Bernstein in 1982 and looks after the affairs of Metallica, Jimmy Page, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Muse and many others.
But he can’t forget a particular moment during his first role as representative in his twenties.
Speaking on a Reddit Ask Me Anything session Mensch says: “The dumbest request I’ve ever received was while managing AC/DC. I was in London. They were in Paris. Phil Rudd wanted hot water because his kettle was broken. He called at midnight to ask me to bring over hot water…
“Wish I had told him I would charter a flight to bring him a kettle, and billed it back. Needless to say, I didn’t go.”
And he admits: “Every act we manage can be difficult at times, but usually the highs outweigh the lows.” But he says times have changed, especially when it comes to tour riders: “Craziest I’ve ever seen was Guns n’Roses. Riders have gone downhill in the last few years in terms of craziness. Most popular item is water, which isn’t too rock’n’roll.”
Asked about news of Page’s solo album, he says: “No progress yet. Currently focused on rooting around in the Led Zeppelin archives.”
Mensch talked about plans for a series of Led Zep remaster box sets last year. Now he adds: “Jimmy is digging through the archives for material that’s never been released to the public before. (We haven’t heard it yet either, so don’t ask!) Covers for the boxes will be the same as the original album covers. As for complementary material, that’s top secret.
“Some of the reissued box sets will come out this year, but in the world of Led Zeppelin, time is a fungible thing. Hopefully will have a box set for Coda too. Depends on what’s in the archives.”
Led Zep singer Robert Plant recently hinted that he might be persuaded to change his mind about never performing with the band again. But Mensch says: “Honestly, my gut tells me they won’t.”