Being manager meant he was able to go along to England when the band went over to record the "Shake Some Action" album with Dave Edmunds at Rockfield. One result was a feature article and history of Edmunds in Bomp; another was that Greg travelled all over Europe on tour with the band in 1975 and '76, when he was to meet pretty much everybody who was at the ground floor of the emerging punk scene. He was also in New York constantly, enough to be considered a regular part of the scene that was growing there as well. It gave him a network of friends, and a matchless wealth of experience, that enabled him to develop his own label in the years ahead.
This time with the Groovies was the most exciting two years of his life. One day it would be New York, hanging out with Andy Warhol and Angie Bowie at Max's. (click here for a photo of Greg with the Max's in-crowd) The next day he could be in London, where he was to be the first American to see the Sex Pistols, at one of their early gigs in the 100 Club. Or knocking about the streets with friends like Chrissy Hynde. Then it would be on to Paris, where he might meet up with Elton John.
It was during this time that Sire also engaged him to edit a series of rock books. He ended up doing about 8 of them, featuring such artists as the Beach Boys, Carole King, the Kinks, Paul Simon. He wrote the one on Elton himself, though it's not something he ranks among his better efforts. During this time he also served on the editorial board of the first international encyclopedia of rock, writing about 1/3 of the first edition.
When the Groovies played at Dingwalls in London, in 1976, the guys from the Pistols were there to see them, and later in the dressing room it was noticed that a suitcase was missing, along with all the band's plane tickets. An emergency meeting with McLaren was called, and the stuff was eventually returned. Meanwhile Greg and Malcolm had become buddies. When he returned to the States, Greg tried to interest Sire in the band, but failed. Back in L.A. he set up meetings for Malcolm with Warner Bros and other labels, and offered what advice he could. Speaking of Warners, when they picked up Sire and decided to get behind punk in a real way, they asked Greg to come in and give a pep talk to their executives, explaining what punk was and why they should support it. It provided one of his more surreal memories, not less for the fact that it gave him the opportunity to meet Derek Taylor, a personal hero.
Article comments
1 - Jim Carruthers
What's really sad about this obit is in the coming years how rare the statement: "he/she made a real difference in music" will be.
But geez, 55? That's mortality looking you in the face.
There was an article in The Observer today about Iggy Pop who was a Bomp! veteran.
2 - Mike Kole
Eric- thanks for this post. I wouldn't have known about Greg Shaw's passing if it weren't for you putting it up here. (Nose deep into political grindstone.)
I'm eternally grateful to Shaw and Bomp! for the Stiv Bators solo LP "Disconnected" and for the Wierdos' ep "1977, 1978, 1979", and Shaw's contributions to the Nuggets and Pebbles comps.
Man, 55 is just too young.
3 - Julie Patchouli
Greg Shaw was and still is a pioneer in the Rock N Roll World. He introduced particular genre's to many generations that without his introduction probably would not have seen the light of day due to its rarity and obscurity. This is Julie Patchouli, bass player for the famed "Pandoras" signed to Greg's label Voxx.
Greg Shaw's inspiration and true enlightenment will be missed. Greg was always big hearted, eventhough we, (the"Pandoras") never recieved a salary per say, Greg paid us in merchandise, he would allow us to run wild in his warehouse and pick out whatever we wanted.... I felt like a kid in a candy store!! Thanks Greg !! We love you and miss you.....
Sincerely
Julie Patchouli
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Julie, I saw you guys play a few times in LA and you rocked!
5 - Douglas Mays
Yes, BOMP was a label that made a difference in the modern world. Greg's work was a crucial cog in the wheel of modern independent music in the USA. The artwork alone on some of the albums were worth it (Calamari/Zincavage/Pettengill).
Anyway, good job Greg, maybe you can serve as A&R for the astral world. We could use it here on earth...
peacloveguidance
6 - Susan (Sutton) Crawford
I first got to know Greg through Phonograph Record Magazine, which I LOVED. I was 16 and had written to ask for a copy of the issue with a cover article he wrote on John Fogerty, saying how much I loved it. Imagine my surprise when it showed up in my mailbox with a really great letter from Greg himself. A few years later, I had become a big fan of Dave Edmunds et al, and started going to alot of club shows in L.A., just an hour from where I lived (Ventura), and had printed up a fanzine of two of my own (Top Of The Rockpile). Again, Greg helped me out. He had that wonderful little Bomp store where I could find so MANY cool things, where so MANY cool people hung out, spilling out onto the sidewalk in that cheesy L.A. neighborhood it was in. In my mind, it will always be there, a freeze-frame memory, circa 1977.
Thanks for being there, Greg, and...do they have mimeograph machines where you're at now??? I bet they do.