Seymour Stein died on the 2nd of April, aged 80. Not a household name, but a hugely important man in the history of popular music. Without him, we might never have heard The Ramones. Or the Talking Heads. Or Madonna. The Pretenders. Ice T. Yeah, someone else might have signed them, but it might not have been someone with Stein's vision, and they might have fallen through the cracks as a result. I'm sure we can all think of a favourite artist who deserved to be as big as the names above, but who never had the right person to push them to the top. Stein also helped a lot of British bands break through in America, including The Cure, Depeche Mode, Echo & The Bunnymen and The Smiths. Although he wouldn't sign Belle & Sebastian. Which is why Stuart Murdoch wrote this...
Seymour Stein, I've been lonely
I caught a glimpse of someone's face
It was mine and I'd been crying
Half a world away
Ticket for a plane
Record company man
I won't be coming to dinner
I heard dinner went well
You liked Chris's jacket
He reminded you of Johnny
Before he went Electronic
Where else will we find Seymour Stein commemorated in song? Let's start with the arched eyebrow of Stephin Merritt...
You get signed to a major Top 40 label
Blow David Geffen, blow Seymour Stein
You can make an atrocious Top 40 record
No one will know in two weeks time
Next up is John Wesley Harding, with a seasonal tune, but one that's too good to leave out...
Well, I flew to LA for the very first time
I met Howie Klein and Seymour Stein
They said, "Wes, we do this Christmas thing
And we get all the acts to sing"
I said, "What do you want?
You want a cover of Winter Wonderland or something?"
They said, "Do what you like"
Rheostatics are considered one of the most influential Canadian rock bands, even though they never troubled the singles chart much. Forming in 1978, they eventually signed to Sire in the early 90s.
Hey, some folks like to dream
Of a stardom so obscene
With rocket cars and caviars and cream
Others like to dine
Eating out with Seymour Stein
His bondage-roping, toilet-groping dream
Talk about biting the hand that feeds!
Another Canadian musician now... but one who's got slightly less chance of being signed if this drivel is anything to go by. (I'm guessing he's being ironic.)
The Pocket Gods might have stood more of a chance... if they could have written any songs that were longer than 45 seconds. (Then again, what do I know - maybe that's the TikTok future.)
Although Belle & Sebastian were today's obvious winner, I was also rather taken by this track by Florida indie band Surfer Blood. So let's close with them today...
Roll your sleeves to show off your tattoos
He's great friends with Seymour Stein, I never knew
Master reels from Zeppelin I and II
Once the Kraken has been fed then everything's cool
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