David Bowie signed a publishing deal with Chrysalis on Friday 23 October 1970.
The deal came about after Bowie’s previous contract with Essex Music expired. Bowie was signed to Chrysalis by the organisation’s London manager Bob Grace.
Bowie’s deal was for £5,000, 20% of which went to Gem Management, the management company run by Tony Defries and Laurence Myers.
With new management and publishing deals in place, and a third album recorded and ready for release, Bowie’s prospects were looking good. All he needed were breakthrough hits. But those would elude him for more than 18 months, until the game-changing success of ‘Starman’.
Last updated: 31 March 2023
Also on this day...
- 2003: Live: Forum di Assago, Milan
- 2002: Live: Orpheum Theater, Boston
- 1997: Live: Foro Sol, Mexico City
- 1974: Live: Arie Crown Theater, Chicago
- 1969: Live: Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Want more? Visit the David Bowie history section.
I’m interested in knowing when the contract with Chrysalis ended. In the latest (number 64) Mainman podcast, reference is made to Tony Defries attempt in mid 73 to end the Chrysalis publishing rights contract with Bowie. The Mainman archive also shows correspondence with Chrysalis to this effect.
However, I see that Diamond Dogs, Young Americans and, I think, Station to Station continued to list Chrysalis as the song publisher. From Low onwards, the publisher would be Bewlay Bros,
What happened? Did Defries secure a better deal from Chrysalis in 1973 that allowed the relationship to continue for a few more years?
Interesting (but very long!) podcast series!