Manager Spotlight offers a small insight into the heads of incredible managers. This week in the spotlight is Andy Farrow.

How long have you worked in management? 

33 years professionally

Who do you manage now?

Opeth, Devin Townsend, Paradise Lost, Katatonia, The Wildhearts, Bloodbath

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?

If we are speaking of first professional client it was a thrash metal band called slammer who were local to me. I signed them in 1987 and in 1988 they were signed to Warner’s.

What’s a good/bad day at work look like for you? 

A good day is getting chart positions and selling out gigs, a bad day is dealing with the stress of managing artists, who often being creative have what psychologists called a lot of ‘free child‘ in them, so sometimes not always rational in situations.

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?

Many, Opeth getting to number 1 in Germany with their sorceress album, Devin Townsend selling out the Royal Albert Hall in 4 days, Opeth selling out Red Rocks and Sydney Opera House, managing Paradise Lost for over 30 years and with their last album obsidian having their best worldwide chart positions ever, and putting The Wildhearts last album in the Uk Charts at number 8.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2021?

With Covid and now the challenges of Brexit the biggest challenge is how to alter a bands income streams model to make up for the fact that live was up to 40% of a bands income and was wiped out.

What music are you currently listening to?

I’m listening to the hope by ferocious dog that I’m releasing on my label graphite. My general music taste is varied but definitely with a punk, alternative metal slant.