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Stevo Pearce

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Stevo Pearce is the owner of British record label, Some Bizzare Records.

Biography

Stephen John Pearce was born in 1962 and came from Dagenham in East London. He left school at sixteen without any qualifications and entered a work training placement with ‘Phonogram Records’, this was his introduction to the music business. [1] He purchased a mobile disco unit and began a Monday night residency at the Chelsea Drugstore in London’s Kings Road. [2] These nights soon gained notoriety, becoming a showman dressed in bizarre outfits or sometimes performing naked while playing tracks from the new underground, experimental electronic bands, such as Throbbing Gristle and Chrome. [3] Around this time he was banned from playing certain different clubs due to his eccentricities. He was chased out of one club for just repeating “Yes hello, hello yes, it’s highly psychological”, and after mixing Mickey Mouse into Cabaret Voltaire at half speed. Other things that the public were not used to included playing the six different records into one, causing a very intense sound. [4] After the residency at the Drugstore Stevo moved onto working a regular night at the Clarendon Hotel, Hammersmith. [5] The nights at the Clarendon were known as 'Stevo's Electro Tunes' where bands like DAF, Fad Gadget, Last Dance and Boyd Rice played. [6] At this time Stevo regarded himself as an anarchist in the music scene and felt it important for musical barriers to be broken down. [7] After these nights attracted interest Stevo was asked to compile an electronic music chart in the Record Mirror, soon followed by his ‘Futurist Chart’ in Sounds. He didn’t like the term ‘Futurist’ feeling the name was ‘a bit of a joke’. [8] The Sounds chart was filled with demos that were sent to him by new unknown bands. [9] In 1980, after realising he was receiving some very good material, he decided to put together a compilation album, the Some Bizzare Album.

Stevo went on to sign some of the most important underground, alternative bands of the eighties. Stevo became notorious in the way he signed bands, especially with major records labels who knew how important the deal was to them. [10] CBS head Maurice Oberstein had decided to confront Stevo at a restaurant at a time that suited him. He was then told by Stevo that they would meet on his terms. The meeting was arranged at Tottenham Court Road tube station. Oberstein turned up saying that he had a car waiting. Stevo told him that he was late for the meeting so jumped on the tube to Trafalgar Square. Oberstein followed and the deal was signed in the early hours, in the pouring rain at Trafalgar Square. [11] Other eccentric record contract signings included Test Department’s deal which was signed on a rocking horse named Horace. [12] Stevo also was sent sweets every week as part of a deal with Phonogram Records. There is also the famous story of a teddy bear sent to a meeting; this was to clinch the deal for Soft Cell. The teddy was appropriately dressed as Robin Hood. [13]

Soft Cell

In July 1980 a meeting was arranged between the then unknown Marc Almond and Stevo Pearce. Almond arrived at the offices of Record Mirror, where the meeting was planned and discovered that Stevo did not actually work in the offices, but had passed by in search of a free ticket for a gig that night.[14] During the meeting Stevo discussed how he was deciding which band to manage, either Soft Cell or a London band called Naked Lunch, who later appeared on the Some Bizzare Album.[15] Marc Almond was impressed with Stevo who he is quoted as saying “had the gift of the gab” and was “immensely likeable”.[16] Stevo said that he was putting together the Some Bizzare Album which would include bands that “broke down barriers”.[17] He preferred to include undiscovered bands who he could then license to major record companies through his Some Bizzare label.[18] Stevo wanted to include Soft Cell on the Some Bizzare Album, he also wanted to manage the band.[19] After returning to his home in Leeds, Almond discussed the meeting with band mate Dave Ball. They both decided that working with Stevo is what they wanted. Stevo was only seventeen at the time.[20]

Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode were cautious when first approached by Stevo, they were indecisive about being included on a ‘Futurist’ compilation album. They first decided to take their demo tape to various other record companies, only to be rejected by everyone. [21] After a bad first meeting with Daniel Miller of Mute Records (Miller was in a bad mood due to a problem with some Fad Gadget artwork)[22] the door was left open for Stevo to include Depeche Mode on his Some Bizzare Album. [23] During an evening at the Bridgehouse, in Canning Town, Stevo chatted with Depeche Mode about his new label and compilation album; the band had been supporting Fad Gadget. It was decided that Depeche Mode would record a track for the Some Bizzare Album. Stevo had then recommended that the band work with Daniel Miller at Mute Records [24] In 1980 Depeche Mode went into an east London recording studio and recorded the track ‘Photographic’. Daniel Miller wanted to put a good track on the compilation album, but not their best track. Miller acted as informal producer on the recording of the Some Bizzare version of the ‘Photographic’ track. [25] The band set up their equipment in the studio and ran through some of their tracks live in the studio. ‘Photographic’ was recorded and mixed in one day. [26]

References

  • Neal, Charles (1987). Tape Delay. SAF Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0 946719 02 0.
  • Malins, Steve (1999). Depeche Mode - A Biography. Andre Deutsch Ltd. ISBN 0 233 99425 4.
  • Almond, Marc (1999). Tainted Life. Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 0 283 06340 8.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  2. ^ Page 13, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  3. ^ Page 97, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  4. ^ Page 111, Charles Neal, Tape Delay
  5. ^ Page 13, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  6. ^ Page 20, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  7. ^ Page 13, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  8. ^ Page 13, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  9. ^ Page 13, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  10. ^ Page 111, Charles Neal, Tape Delay
  11. ^ Page 111, Charles Neal, Tape Delay
  12. ^ Page 111, Charles Neal, Tape Delay
  13. ^ Page 111, Charles Neal, Tape Delay
  14. ^ Page 97, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  15. ^ Page 97, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  16. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  17. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  18. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  19. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  20. ^ Page 98, Marc Almond, Tainted Life, Sidgwick & Jackson
  21. ^ Page 14, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  22. ^ Page 18, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  23. ^ Page 18, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  24. ^ Page 20, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  25. ^ Page 20, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
  26. ^ Page 21, Steve Malins, Depeche Mode Biography
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