What’s Online: Walker, Fiscal Ranger The federal government’s fiscal crisis is so great that it threatens the future of the republic, David M. Walker, the comptroller general of the United States, warned.... Read Full Article Gulf States May Soon Need Coal Imports To Keep The Lights On They are countries so rich in oil and gas that they would never want for fuel to drive their booming economies and the lavish lifestyles of their rulers.... Read Full Article Inventories Up 0.3% Inventories rose a smaller-than-expected 0.3 percent in March while sales rose to their highest in a year and a half.... Read Full Article Music Review | Fall Out Boy: Heartthrob Swooning And Concert T-Shirts Pete Wentz,the bassist and lead celebrity of Fall Out Boy, seems like the perfect rock star for our age, as self-conscious as he is shameless.... Read Full Article Success Overcomes Qualms In E.A.’s Iraq-Themed Game A marketing campaign playing on the controversy without being explicit made a new video game themed around military contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan a success.... Read Full Article |
Paul Wasserman, 73, Publicist To Rock Stars, Is DeadPaul Wasserman, a publicist for the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, U2, the Who and other top musical acts whose career collapsed when he was caught using some of his famous clients names in a financial scheme, died on Sunday in Los Angeles. He was 73. The cause was respiratory failure, said Joan Myers, a friend and fellow publicist who had once worked for Mr. Wasserman. Known throughout the music industry as Wasso, Mr. Wasserman was one of the most sought-after publicists from the mid-1960s into the 90s. He was a sophisticated operator who began his career at a time when public relations for pop music often meant little more than setting up airport news conferences and photo shoots. He offered legitimacy instead of stunts and gimmicks, said Larry Solters, a Los Angeles publicist whose clients include the Eagles and Ticketmaster. Until his time it was all P. T. Barnum. Born in the Bronx, Mr. Wasserman moved with his family to Los Angeles at the age of 3. A Stanford University law-school dropout, he was working as a journalist when he entered public relations. After writing what he thought was a tough article on Bob Hope, Mr. Wasserman was offered a job by Hopes publicist. He quickly joined with another Hollywood public relations man, Jim Mahoney, and was assigned to work with Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys and the Beatles company, Apple Records. By the late 60s Mr. Mahoney had made Mr. Wasserman a partner, and the firm was renamed Mahoney/Wasserman Public Relations. Mr. Wasserman was a tenacious advocate for his clients who could also go to great lengths for journalists. He once waited outside Mick Jaggers hotel room until 4 a.m. to make sure that a reporter got his interview. His client list over the years included Neil Diamond, Tom Petty, Paul Simon, the Mamas and the Papas, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper. But after three decades as one of the most powerful publicists in Hollywood, Mr. Wasserman was arrested in 2000 on charges of grand theft. He had been using his clients names — including those of Yahoo and Mr. Nicholson — to swindle tens of thousands of dollars from friends and business associates by selling nonexistent stock options and other phony financial instruments. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six months in jail and ordered to pay $87,000 in restitution. In an interview with The Los Angeles Times, Mr. Wasserman blamed greed for his crimes: Sure, Im the best in the business. But I dont have a million dollars. No immediate family members survive. Tag CloudExternal InformationAdditional InformationJazz at Lincoln Center Unveils New Season...Music: Bayreuth Star Goes on to Ovations in Her 60s... Music Review | International Contemporary Ensemble: The Diligent Undertake the D... Music: ?Ring? Pilgrims: On the Horns of a Devotion... Where Am I?News Main Page - Business - Paul Wasserman, 73, Publicist To Rock Stars, Is Dead |
i8news.com |