Frank Zappa and Tom Waits’ Manager Herb Cohen RIP
RIP Herb Cohen – manager of Frank Zappa and Tom Waits, tough and litigious, described as resembling “a bearded fire hydrant”.
He was born in the South Bronx, had been a Marine, fireman and discharged from the Army as “incompatible” before arriving at the early 1950s Los Angeles folk music scene.
He was running nightclubs, including one busted for obscenity during a Lenny Bruce performance.
He kept a pistol under the bar and would drive around with a box of hand grenades in car.
He also managed Captain Beefheart and Tim Buckley and set up Straight and Bizarre record labels whose artists also included deranged street singer “Wild Man” Fischer and groupie group The GTOs.
He was sued in 1993 by the artist/rock groupie Cynthia Plaster Caster for return of collection of moldings made from the genitalia of rock stars.
He died of unknown causes at 77.
RIP.
Posted: 27th, March 2010 | In: Music Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
