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{{Short description|English Tour manager of rock bands (1943–2023)}} |
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{{Infobox musical artist |
{{Infobox musical artist |
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| name = Sam Cutler |
| name = Sam Cutler |
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| image = Sam Cutler.jpg |
| image = Sam Cutler.jpg |
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| image_size = 200px |
| image_size = 200px |
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| birth_date = {{Birth |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1943|3|10}} |
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| origin = [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]], |
| origin = [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire]], England |
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2023|07|11|1943|3|10}} |
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| death_place = [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], Australia |
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| genre = [[Rock music]] |
| genre = [[Rock music]] |
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| occupation = [[Tour manager]], [[band manager]] |
| occupation = [[Tour manager]], [[Talent manager|band manager]] |
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| years_active = |
| years_active = 1969–1974 |
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| past_member_of = [[The Rolling Stones]], [[Grateful Dead]], [[The Band]], [[The Allman Brothers Band]], [[New Riders of the Purple Sage]], [[Sons of Champlin]], [[Mike Bloomfield]], [[Ramblin' Jack Elliott]] |
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'''Sam Cutler''' (born '''Brendan Lawrence Lyons''' |
'''Sam Cutler''' (born '''Brendan Lawrence Lyons'''; 10 March 1943 – 11 July 2023) was an English tour manager for [[The Rolling Stones]],<ref>{{cite book | title = Let It Bleed: The Rolling Stones, Altamont, and the End of the Sixties | author= Gerard Van der Leun | publisher = Grand Central Publishing |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=C8LGu1jCvZ0C&q=%22Sam+Cutler%22 | date = 2009 | isbn = 9780446558334 | access-date = 13 August 2018 }}</ref> [[Grateful Dead]],<ref>{{cite book | title = Living with the Dead: Twenty Years on the Bus with Garcia and the Grateful Dead | author1 = Rock Scully | author2 = David Dalton | name-list-style = amp | publisher = Rowman & Littlefield |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=UiKt6VaTkAEC&q=%22Sam+Cutler%22 | date = 2001 | page = 303 | isbn = 9780815411635 | access-date = 13 August 2018 }}</ref> and other acts. |
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==Early life and career== |
==Early life and career== |
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He |
Cutler was born on 10 March 1943.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVQP-F47B|title=Brendan L Lyons, "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008" — FamilySearch.org|website=[[FamilySearch]]}}</ref> He was an Honours Graduate in [[Contemporary History]] ([[Open University]] (OU)) and a qualified teacher ([[University of Cambridge]] Institute of Education 1963–66). Cutler's OU degree was gained at the end of the 1980s.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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Cutler worked for Blackhill Enterprises |
Cutler worked for [[Blackhill Enterprises]] as [[Stage management|stage manager]] and [[master of ceremonies]] on a series of 1960s gigs in the United Kingdom and Europe with different artists, including [[Pink Floyd]], [[Eric Clapton]], [[The Rolling Stones]] and [[Alexis Korner]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} In 1969, he acted as master of ceremonies at The Rolling Stones concert in [[Hyde Park, London]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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Following the Hyde Park show, Cutler was asked to be the personal road manager to The Rolling Stones during their 1969 Tour of America, which culminated in the |
Following the Hyde Park show, Cutler was asked to be the personal road manager to The Rolling Stones during their 1969 Tour of America, which culminated in the [[Altamont Free Concert]] where Afro-American arts student [[Killing of Meredith Hunter|Meredith Hunter]] was killed in front of the stage by one of the [[Hells Angels]] security team.{{citation needed|date=August 2019}} |
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Cutler |
Cutler was credited with first uttering The Rolling Stones' famous intro line, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World...The Rolling Stones!"{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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Cutler can be seen in many scenes in the documentary film ''[[Gimme Shelter (1970 film)|Gimme Shelter]]'' which covers the events of the 1969 American tour, and can be heard on The Rolling Stones live album ''[[Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!]]'' introducing the band. He can also be seen in the film ''[[Festival Express]]'' and ''Stones in the Park''. |
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| ⚫ | Following the events at [[Altamont Free Concert|Altamont]], Cutler stayed in the United States to deal with the aftermath, was befriended by [[Jerry Garcia]], and subsequently hired by the [[Grateful Dead]] as their tour manager. He went on to become a co-manager of the band (with Jon McIntire and David Parker) and eventually became their agent and tour manager.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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| ⚫ | Cutler organised the Dead's appearances at a number of events including: the 1970 [[Festival Express]] Tour of Canada, The [[Summer Jam at Watkins Glen]] and the 1972 European Tour of the Grateful Dead, the musical results of which can be heard on the Dead's triple live album ''[[Europe '72]]''.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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Throughout his [[rock and roll]] career, Cutler was around and was agent for some of the largest rock and roll shows in history outside of [[Woodstock]] including The Rolling Stones in Hyde Park, the [[Grateful Dead]]'s [[Europe '72]] tour and the Dead's participation in the Festival Express train tour across [[Canada]].{{citation needed|date=April 2013}} However, the Festival Express was a huge loss for the promoters and Europe ‘72 wasn’t as profitable as promised. |
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==Altamont== |
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<!-- {{Editor-Note}} This section duplicates text in the [[Altamont Free Concert]] Wikipedia article. --> |
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| ⚫ | In 2006, Cutler collaborated with Melbourne (Australia) indie-rock group [[Black Cab (band)|Black Cab]] on the track "Valiant" which appeared on the band's 2006 release ''Jesus East''. In the track, Cutler reminisces on his days with the Grateful Dead and preaches advice for the kids of today.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} Cutler toured around Australia and Asia promoting his book.{{Citation needed|date=January 2023}} |
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The [[Altamont Free Concert]] was planned by the Grateful Dead and included [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] [[United States|American]] [[Band (music)|bands]] which included the [[Grateful Dead]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], [[Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young]], [[Santana (band)|Santana]], and others. |
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==Death== |
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The [[Hells Angels]] were hired as security to protect the generators, as they had done at Grateful Dead shows in the past, on the recommendation of the Grateful Dead, for $500 worth of beer. |
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Cutler died from cancer in [[Brisbane]], [[Queensland]], on 11 July 2023, at the age of 80.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cashmere |first1=Paul |title=Former Rolling Stones Tour Manager Sam Cutler Has Died Aged 80 |url=https://www.noise11.com/news/former-rolling-stones-tour-manager-sam-cutler-has-died-aged-80-20230714 |access-date=14 July 2023 |publisher=Noise11 |date=14 July 2023}}</ref> |
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In the documentary ''Gimme Shelter'' Hells Angels Oakland chapter head [[Ralph 'Sonny' Barger]] states that the Hells Angels were not interested in policing the event, and that organizers had told him that he and his fellow Angels would be required to do little more than sit on the edge of the stage and drink beer. Other accounts also state that the initial arrangement was for the Hells Angels to watch over the equipment, but that Cutler later moved them, and their beer, near the stage to placate them or to protect the stage.{{Citation needed|date=October 2008}} |
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Fights broke out from the very arrival of the Hells Angels at the event, i.e. since noon. During the performance by [[Jefferson Airplane]], lead singer [[Marty Balin]] was knocked out by a Hells Angel on stage. The [[Grateful Dead]] opted not to play after learning of the incident with Balin. By the time the Stones appeared on the stage, the crowd was especially restless. |
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While The Rolling Stones were performing "[[Under My Thumb]]", [[Meredith Curly Hunter, Jr.]] who had been severely beaten by the Hells Angels already<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-rolling-stones-at-altamont-what-went-wrong-19700430|title=The Rolling Stones at Altamont: What Went Wrong?|work=Rolling Stone|access-date=2018-06-22}}</ref>, attempted to escape from the mob and took out his revolver. Hunter died during the stabbing and thrashing that followed, and the revolver was stolen from him. Hells Angel Alan Passaro was exonerated from murder on grounds of "self-defense". Cutler can be seen whispering to [[Mick Jagger]] and [[Keith Richards]] onstage, rushing towards the mortally wounded [[Meredith Curly Hunter, Jr.|Meredith Hunter]] and returning to the stage to convince the band to retreat. |
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The subsequent mess was blamed on The Rolling Stones—although nobody employed by The Rolling Stones was directly involved in organizing the Altamont gig until shortly before it was meant to happen. Sam Cutler arrived on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] to help co-ordinate the event two days before it was staged. |
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Following the concert, The Rolling Stones left for [[England]], leaving Cutler behind to deal with the aftermath. While his friends, the Stones, promised to "take care of him", Sam never spoke to the Stones again until many years later. He had been left practically penniless and left to deal with the mess on his own. |
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Cutler was eventually called to testify in court proceedings relating to the matter some time later. |
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Since that time, Cutler has been somewhat vindicated as various authors have recognized the role of some particularly strong, or possibly tainted [[LSD]] circulating at the event, a bad choice of venue, bad staging area design, and the role of Hells Angels prospects, non-patch wearing Hells Angels "wannabes", rather than bona-fide, full-patch wearing Angels themselves, as contributory factors in the bad vibes and violence that consumed the day.<ref>{{Cite book|url=|title=You Can't Always Get What You Want|last=Cutler|first=Sam|date=|publisher=ECW Press|year=2010|isbn=978-1-55022-932-5|location=Toronto|pages=|language=English}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Following the events at [[Altamont Free Concert|Altamont]], Cutler stayed in the |
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| ⚫ | Cutler |
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| ⚫ | In 2006, |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==External links== |
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* {{IMDb name|2113280}} |
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* {{discogs artist|Sam Cutler}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutler, Sam}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cutler, Sam}} |
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[[Category:Alumni of the Open University]] |
[[Category:Alumni of the Open University]] |
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[[Category:Grateful Dead]] |
[[Category:Grateful Dead]] |
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[[Category:The Rolling Stones]] |
[[Category:The Rolling Stones]] |
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[[Category:British music industry executives]] |
[[Category:British music industry executives]] |
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[[Category:People from Hatfield, Hertfordshire]] |
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[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Queensland]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:50, 22 July 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Sam Cutler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 10 March 1943 |
| Origin | Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | 11 July 2023 (aged 80) Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Genres | Rock music |
| Occupation(s) | Tour manager, band manager |
| Years active | 1969–1974 |
| Formerly of | The Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, The Band, The Allman Brothers Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Sons of Champlin, Mike Bloomfield, Ramblin' Jack Elliott |
Sam Cutler (born Brendan Lawrence Lyons; 10 March 1943 – 11 July 2023) was an English tour manager for The Rolling Stones,[1] Grateful Dead,[2] and other acts.
Early life and career
[edit]Cutler was born on 10 March 1943.[3] He was an Honours Graduate in Contemporary History (Open University (OU)) and a qualified teacher (University of Cambridge Institute of Education 1963–66). Cutler's OU degree was gained at the end of the 1980s.[citation needed]
Cutler worked for Blackhill Enterprises as stage manager and master of ceremonies on a series of 1960s gigs in the United Kingdom and Europe with different artists, including Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and Alexis Korner.[citation needed] In 1969, he acted as master of ceremonies at The Rolling Stones concert in Hyde Park, London.[citation needed]
Following the Hyde Park show, Cutler was asked to be the personal road manager to The Rolling Stones during their 1969 Tour of America, which culminated in the Altamont Free Concert where Afro-American arts student Meredith Hunter was killed in front of the stage by one of the Hells Angels security team.[citation needed]
Cutler was credited with first uttering The Rolling Stones' famous intro line, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Greatest Rock and Roll Band in the World...The Rolling Stones!"[citation needed]
Rock and roll management career
[edit]Following the events at Altamont, Cutler stayed in the United States to deal with the aftermath, was befriended by Jerry Garcia, and subsequently hired by the Grateful Dead as their tour manager. He went on to become a co-manager of the band (with Jon McIntire and David Parker) and eventually became their agent and tour manager.[citation needed]
Cutler organised the Dead's appearances at a number of events including: the 1970 Festival Express Tour of Canada, The Summer Jam at Watkins Glen and the 1972 European Tour of the Grateful Dead, the musical results of which can be heard on the Dead's triple live album Europe '72.[citation needed]
Through his company, Out of Town Tours, Cutler coordinated the appearances of Grateful Dead, The Band, The Allman Brothers Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Sons of Champlin, Mike Bloomfield, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and others.[citation needed]
In 2006, Cutler collaborated with Melbourne (Australia) indie-rock group Black Cab on the track "Valiant" which appeared on the band's 2006 release Jesus East. In the track, Cutler reminisces on his days with the Grateful Dead and preaches advice for the kids of today.[citation needed] Cutler toured around Australia and Asia promoting his book.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]Cutler died from cancer in Brisbane, Queensland, on 11 July 2023, at the age of 80.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Gerard Van der Leun (2009). Let It Bleed: The Rolling Stones, Altamont, and the End of the Sixties. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 9780446558334. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ Rock Scully & David Dalton (2001). Living with the Dead: Twenty Years on the Bus with Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 303. ISBN 9780815411635. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
- ^ "Brendan L Lyons, "England and Wales Birth Registration Index, 1837-2008" — FamilySearch.org". FamilySearch.
- ^ Cashmere, Paul (14 July 2023). "Former Rolling Stones Tour Manager Sam Cutler Has Died Aged 80". Noise11. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
External links
[edit]- Sam Cutler at IMDb
- Sam Cutler discography at Discogs
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