Dave Robinson is, simply put, a right and proper music legend.
Originally a teenage photographer in Dublin, Dave Robinson helped open the first Beat Club in Ireland, Sound City. He took pictures for Rave Magazine at The Cavern with The Beatles, and on The Rolling Stones' first tour of Ireland. He befriended Van Morrison, and briefly managed him, and was with Jimi Hendrix from his first tour of the UK until just before Jimi's death.
He then returned to London and started managing bands, built a recording studio above the legendary Hope and Anchor Pub in Islington and, with Jake Riviera, started Stiff Records. Together, they signed The Damned, Motorhead, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Tracey Ullman, The Plasmatics, Jona Lewie, Ian Dury & The Blockheads, Kirsty McColl, The Box Tops, The Adverts, Lene Lovich, The Pogues, Madness and many more.
Listen: Dave Robinson talks to RTÉ Arena
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And there's more - after Stiff, Dave became president of Island Records, where he oversaw the career of U2 and compiled Bob Marley's Legend, the biggest selling reggae album of all time, ran Def Jam Records and American Recordings outside of North America, and then ran London's Blue Note Club and Acid Jazz label.
This month, he's back in Dublin for The Stiff Records Story, an evening of anecdotes and music at the Liberty Hall Theatre on February 29th. We asked Mr. Roninson for his choice cultural picks...
FILM
Mean Streets - a great Martin Scorsese movie about communities and bars in New York featuring Harvey Keitel & Robert De Niro.
MUSIC
Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll by Ian Dury & The Blockheads. A big song about the creed of Rock & Roll. Big finale to the first Stiff tour back in 1976.
BOOK
The Road to Wigan Pier by George Orwell. An amazing book about the destitution of the poor in England before the Labour movement and the welfare state. Is it different than now, or is it just the size of the TVs?
THEATRE
The Quare Fellow, by Brendan Behan - a great picture of Dublin by a genius.
Listen to RTÉ Drama On One - The Quare Fellow by Brendan Behan
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TELEVISION
Later with Jools on BBC - the only music show on British TV. Not great, but the only one...
GIG
Upcoming: Elvis Costello & The Imposters at the Evintim Apollo, London The Grammy winner with half his original band and how many great songs?
Last Gig Attended: Hardwicke Circus at The Prince of Wales, in Ledbury, Hertfordshire - the smallest music pub in the UK, with the best audience.
ART
Brian Griffin at the MMX Gallery, London - one of the best art photographers in the world.
PODCAST
Bob Lefsetz on Sirius RadioXM, New York - the best pundit about music and politics on the net.
TECH
Wikipedia - how amazing is it that this exists? And it needs our support.
THE NEXT BIG THING...
The Next Big Thing: An Organic Chart for Music by Real Musicians. There should be a chart for real live musicians as against todays Computer programmers.
Dave Robinson: The Stiff Records Story is at Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin on Saturday 29th February 2020 - find out more here.
