Doc McGhee(born September 5, 1950 in Chicago, IL, as Harold Millard McGhee) is an Americanmusic manager,best known for working with hard rock bandsKiss,[1]Bon Jovi[2]andMötley Crüe.[3]The latter two groups experienced their rise to stardom under his management. He has also worked withHootie & the Blowfish.
He was in a reality series forVH1calledSupergroupalong withScott Ian,Ted Nugent,Evan Seinfeld,Sebastian BachandJason Bonham.He was also seen on theAMCreality series4th and Loud,which chronicled his,Gene Simmons', andPaul Stanley's roles as owners of theLos Angeles KissArena Football Leagueteam.
Moscow Music Peace Festival
editIn 1989 McGhee joined with Russian musician and promotorStas Naminto create theMoscow Music Peace Festivalwhich brought together hard rock and metal bands from the United States, Europe and Russia to benefit programs to help drug addicts.[4]The lineup consisted of Bon Jovi, Scorpions, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Gorky Park (the local Russian outfit), Ozzy Osbourne, and Cinderella.[5]Aerosmith was also scheduled to perform there, but not only pulled out at the literal last minute, but also insisted their contribution, their rendition of The Doors' "Love Me Two Times", be lifted from the officialMake A Differencealbum's final pressing, on the grounds of being suspicious as to where the money was actually going.[5]Over 100,000 people attended and it was broadcast in 59 countries.[6]The concert inspired one of the bands, the McGhee-managedScorpions,to write the top-selling songWind of Change.[7]McGhee's life and involvement in the Festival is featured in episodes 5 and 6 of the podcastWind of Change.[8][9]
Drug smuggling conviction
editIn November 1982, McGhee was arrested for contributing to the import of 20 tons of marijuana into North Carolina via shrimp boat. The 21-count indictment said that McGhee and the smugglers had the intent to distribute the marijuana. McGhee would have to serve 30 years in jail and be fined $140,000, but the possession-with-intent-to-sell charge was changed.[10]Identified as a link between US smugglers and the Colombian drug suppliers (his soon-to-be-ex-business partner being none other than the infamous Noriega), McGhee pleaded guilty and was ordered to spend $250,000 and 3,000 hours dedicated to his Make a Difference Foundation, a non-profit aimed at deterring youth drug use.[11][12]After the sentence, neither McGhee nor his office would comment on the sentencing.[10]
Bands managed
edit- Niteflyte(1978–1982)
- Pat Travers(1978-1981)
- Mötley Crüe(1982–1989)
- Bon Jovi(1984–1991)
- Guns N' Roses(2010–2011)
- Kiss(1995–2023)
- Skid Row(1988–)
- The Front(1989–1994)
- Hootie & the Blowfish
- Lovehammers
- Scorpions
- Benise
- Jypsi(2007–2010)
- Nico Vega(2009–2010)
- Night Ranger(2007–)
- Crooked X(2007–2008)
- Vintage Trouble(2010–)
- TNT
- Drew Davis Band
- Down
- Chasin' Crazy(2015–2016)
Solo artists managed
edit- Bonnie McKee(2004–2009)
- Cheyenne Kimball(2007–)
- Darius Rucker
- Ted Nugent
- Paul Stanley
- Sacha Edwards
- Bob Schneider
- Richie Sambora
- Yoshiki
- Orianthi
- Mallary Hope
Discography
edit| Year | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Niteflyte-Niteflyte | executive producer |
| 1982 | Pat Travers-Black Pearl | management |
| 1983 | Mötley Crüe-Shout at the Devil | management |
| 1984 | Bon Jovi-Bon Jovi | management |
| 1985 | Bon Jovi -7800° Fahrenheit | management |
| 1985 | Mötley Crüe -Theatre of Pain | direction |
| 1986 | The Unforgiven-The Unforgiven | direction |
| 1987 | Bon Jovi -Slippery When Wet | management |
| 1987 | Mötley Crüe -Girls, Girls, Girls | management |
| 1988 | Bon Jovi -New Jersey | management |
| 1989 | Skid Row-Skid Row | management |
| 1989 | Mötley Crüe -Dr. Feelgood | management |
| 1989 | Stairway to Heaven/Highway to Hell | executive producer |
| 1990 | Scorpions-Crazy World | management |
| 1991 | Richie Sambora-Stranger in This Town | management |
| 1993 | Scorpions -Face the Heat | management |
| 1994 | Roger TaylorandYoshiki-Foreign Sand | executive producer |
| 1994 | Roger Taylor -Happiness? | executive producer |
| 1995 | God Street Wine-$1.99 Romances | A&R |
| 1998 | Kiss-Psycho Circus | management |
| 2003 | Kiss -Kiss Symphony: Alive IV | Kiss management |
| 2011 | Night Ranger-Somewhere in California | management |
References
edit- ^Criss, Peter(2013).Makeup to Breakup: My Life In and Out of Kiss.Simon and Schuster. p. 279.ISBN9781451620832.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
- ^Olson, Margaret (2013).Bon Jovi: America's Ultimate Band.Scarecrow Press. p. 56.ISBN9780810886629.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
- ^Neil, Vince(2010).Tattoos & Tequila: To Hell and Back with One of Rock's Most Notorious Frontmen.Grand Central Publishing. p. 99.ISBN9780446574693.RetrievedSeptember 13,2014.
- ^Keller, Bill; Times, Special To the New York (August 13, 1989)."Leather Rockers Take Moscow, A New Market for West's Fringes".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
- ^abWall, Mick (September 20, 2022)."Parties and Punch-ups: Behind the Scenes at the 1989 Moscow Peace Festival".loudersound.
- ^Hilburn, Robert (August 12, 1989)."ROCKIN', ROLLIN' RUSSIA".The Washington Post.
- ^Bienstock, Richard (September 2, 2015)."Scorpions' 'Wind of Change': The Oral History".Rolling Stone.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
- ^"5. I Follow The Moskva".Crooked Media.RetrievedJune 1,2023.
- ^"6. The Doctor Is In".Crooked Media.RetrievedJune 1,2023.
- ^abRosenbluth, Jean (February 13, 1988). "Doc McGhee Pleads Guilty to Drug-Smuggling Charges".Billboard.Vol. 100, no. 7. p. 82.ProQuest226974297.
- ^"SMUGGLING TRIAL. A government witness in a..."The Orlando Sentinel.December 8, 1989.RetrievedOctober 18,2020.
- ^Jarvis, Charles (February 17, 1989)."Rock star makes anti-drug appearance for convicted manager".UPI.RetrievedOctober 18,2020.
- ^Billboard 20. jul 1985,p. 33, atGoogle Books
External links
edit- McGhee Entertainment
- Doc McGheeatIMDb
- Interview with Doc McGhee- The Unwritable Rant podcast