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Starting his career at Island Artists in the early 1970s, John worked with the likes of Free, Mott the Hoople, Jim Capaldi and Paul Kossoff. His company, Blueprint Management, now overseen by his son Matt, would go on to represent Go West, ABC, Alison Limerick, Tony Hadley and many others.

John was widely recognised within the management community for his advocacy – both for artists and other managers – and, alongside Alan McGee, was instrumental in helping develop the Labour Government’s New Deal for Musicians, which enabled unemployed artists aged 18-24 to opt out of Welfare to Work schemes and access instruments and studio time.

Under his Chairmanship, John established the British Music Roll of Honour in 1995, the precursor to the Artist & Manager Awards.

His own contribution to music management was recognised at the inaugural Artist & Manager Awards in 2011, when he received the Peter Grant Award for lifetime achievement.

He was a lovely man, and will be sorely missed by everyone at the MMF.

 

TRIBUTES: 

Tim Clark, MMF Custodian 

I was fortunate to meet John Glover in the heady days of the 60’s, when Island as a label, agency and management company, was flying the flag for independent music companies. He was a stellar part of Island’s success and never lost its ethos of putting artists first as he went on to run his own successful management company. He was a true gentleman.

 

Paul Craig, Nostromo Management, MMF Chair 

That’s immensely sad about John. Lovely man, legendary manager and supported the best football team. Condolences to his family.

 

Diane Wagg, Deluxxe Management and former MMF Chair

I’m so sad to know that we’ve lost one of the music industry’s true gents. John was a fabulous and much loved manager for his artists and a joy to know.

A co-founder, long-term supporter and Custodian of the MMF, his experience was invaluable and always openly shared.

Personally, I’ll miss his kindness, humour and love of a good old chat as well as knowing I can pick up the phone any day for advice. It was an honour to know John and I send my heartfelt sympathies to Matt, his family and friends.

 

Stephen Budd, Record Producers, former MMF Chair

He was so helpful to me personally several times, especially when I had a terrible personal tragedy.  We often went to the football together and as both life-long Arsenal fans celebrated some very significant moments.

His contribution to co-founding the MMF is of course inestimable.

Such a gentleman and a truly wonderful human being who I loved dearly. He will be sorely missed.

 

Gary McClarnan, Sparklestreet, MMF Custodian

A great man.  I learned a lot from John’s generous guidance.  Will miss his charm and wit.

 

Jackie Davidson MBE, MMF Custodian

Extremely sad news to hear of the passing of John Glover. A great Man and Manager

 

Merck Mercuriadis, MMF Custodian

Godspeed John Glover and family!

 

Annabella Coldrick, MMF Chief Executive

I first met John when I joined the MMF nearly 10 years ago on what was then our advisory board comprised of former Chairs and Board Directors of the MMF.  He was such a kind and generous man with the most amazing stories from the music industry that I got to hear over a series of long lunches. He stayed involved in the MMF his whole career and was still offering us support and guidance through the Custodians Council even this year when he was ill.  We shall miss him deeply and are very thankful for his contribution to the MMF and the wider management community.

 

Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, Chosen Music / InterTalent Group Chairman

“My memories of John Glover will always be filled with deep fondness. He was a tremendous mentor early in my career, generously sharing wisdom that I still call upon to this day. John’s philanthropy and kindness in supporting others matched his professional brilliance. He will be remembered not only for his extraordinary achievements and successes, but also for the way he gave back so selflessly to our great industry.”

 

Ed Bicknall, Manager and MMF Founder

Sometime in the early 2000’s I was in the architecturally splendifereous Toronto “interviewing” Sir George Martin for Canadian Music Week, (75 minutes which ran to well over 2 fascinating hours).
Afterwards, in what for me was a unique experience, EMI had PAID for Sir George, Lady Judy and I to go to some ludicrously pompous restaurant for dinner.

I happened to see John crossing the lobby on my way to change into a Bryan Ferry T shirt and asked him if he’d like to join us. Apparently he’d never met George, was a huge fan of the FABS and came over all peculiar, not unlike Shaking Stevens with his zip stuck in a men’s public toilet after 7 pints of beer. So I duly introduced him.

Surrounded by waiters like planets whirling round the sun, we studied menus thicker than IQ magazine and ordered. I was chatting to George and Judy and suddenly remembered John was sitting next to me, too overwhelmed to speak I’d forgotten he was there. “Say something” I said.

“What was John Lennon like?” he whispered since the neighbouring tables were just a few feet away.
George who was hard of hearing by then didn’t hear him. Judy who was a class act and could be quite intimidating turned to John and in a regal way announced, “Ask him again”.

“What was John Lennon like?” John asked, quite a bit louder. Nope, George couldn’t hear him.

“Ask him AGAIN” barked Judy, now at full volume, the equivalent of 11 on the Spinal Tap amplifier. By this point John was turning bright red and perspiring into his oak leaf and wild bison soup.

“You’ll have to speak louder I said”.

“WHAT WAS JOHN LENNON LIKE? ” he literally yelled at full volume. The entire restaurant fell silent, rather as if a gunfighter had entered. 200 people turned and stared at John. George looked over, “ I’m sorry, I didn’t quite catch that, what did you say?”

“He wants to know what John Lennon was like” I said , 200 diners craned to hear the response …
“He was exactly the right drummer at the right time”.

Poor John, George had misheard me but it didn’t matter, John told me in the bar later it was one of the most thrilling nights of his life and bought me a lime and lemonade. It was the same for me but in a different way. It was the only time I ever dined or indeed did anything at EMI’s expense. BACK OF THE NET!!!

I’m really going to miss him.