‘It Begins With US’ – featuring an intriguing first meeting between Defries and Bowie early in January 1970.
Further recollections from Tony Defries…..
This second episode in the mini-series Tony Defries has titled ‘It Begins With Us’ continues Tony’s recollections from 56 years ago when he was first introduced to David Robert Jones, better known as David Bowie. At the time, David, who was born in January 1947, was just 22 years old. At the meeting David explained how he wasn’t happy with his existing manager Ken Pitt and the arrangements he had in place and was keen to explore other options.
Tony pointed out to David that Ken lacked vision and was only ‘a traditional manager’, whose only job is to get a commission, even if the person you’re managing is only going to get 10 quid, that means that you get £2.50. If you’re managing enough acts you’ll make some money, but if you don’t have a stable of stars, you’ll never make enough to survive.
Calvin Mark Lee, the UK representative for Mercury Records, was among the first to realize David had potential beyond the music hall style favored by his manager, Ken. Calvin was a Californian, based in the UK, scouting new talent for his American bosses. When he heard the demo for ‘Space Oddity’ that David had recorded with guitarist John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson in early 1969, Calvin sent the tapes to his boss Bob Reno who agreed to sign David and on July 11 1969 Mercury Records released the single ‘Space Oddity’ b/w ‘Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud’.
When working with David on the promo film for ‘Space Oddity’, Calvin loaned David his silver jacket, which David is wearing in several of the early promo shots. In the final version of the promo video, funded by Ken Pitt, but not released until many years later, David is filmed wearing a wig as he had recently had his hair cut short for his very brief appearance in the film Virgin Soldiers in late 1968, for which he was paid £34
“Ground Control to Major TomYour circuit’s dead, there’s something wrongCan you hear me, Major Tom?” – Space Oddity
It was Calvin who introduced David to aspiring model and actress Angela Barnett, who very soon became a part of David’s inner circle, one of a team of collaborators living a communal existence in their shared flat in Beckenham, South London. Angela eventually married David, so she could ‘get a work permit’ on March 19, 1970. When Angie was once asked in an interview how she met Calvin and David she replied – “I was sleeping with them both”
When Tony Defries first met David and Angie (he was 22, she was 19), Tony could tell they were both desperate for fame – David had potential as a songwriter while Angie provided enthusiastic support, prepared to do whatever it took to ensure they both eventually found the success they craved.
David’s true interest lay in the rock scene—a world Ken pitt simply didn't understand.
The breakup was inevitable. Tony drafted the “Dear John” letter, which David then hand-wrote to Ken Pitt, officially firing him. The message was clear: Ken did not represent his best interests and was stuck in the past busy chasing film roles, TV spots, and commercials while David was hungry for the stage.
The letter David signed, dated 24 April 1970, addressed to Ken Pitt pointed out that he felt Ken’s focus was detrimental to David’s career goals – that he was unhappy and dissatisfied with his work and in fact had been acting as his own manager for quite a while.
On April 29 Ken replied to David’s letter claiming that he wasn’t aware of David being unhappy with his representation and defended his management work. He also accused David of the deceitful practice of dealing directly with clients. In the letter Ken acknowledges a difference of opinion – but didn’t didn’t think those differences were worth dissolving the partnership – and requested a meeting to discuss the matter further.
During the meeting, Tony took the floor, doing all the talking to ensure the job got done. He sensed that the complex, deeply personal bond between David and Ken—a relationship that biographers have spent decades dissecting—had become an anchor. To Tony, that history made a clean break nearly impossible for David to handle alone.
Like several other important participants in David’s early career (including Lindsay Kemp and his first manager Ralph Horton) David blurred the lines between professional and personal relationships which occasionally caused friction that at the time proved detrimental to David’s professional ambitions.
As part of the report that Tony commissioned examining the finances between Ken and David, there is a detailed list of the fees paid to David for appearances like TV commercials, small festivals and even Top of the Pops – for which David was paid £12.
The fees were considerably lower than other acts were earning at that time, particularly bands like The Animals who were paid considerably more than Ken negotiated for David during the 3 year engagement.
That final meeting marked the end of an era and the birth of a legend. As Tony began brokering deals that reflected David’s true potential, the stage was set for a meteoric rise. What followed was a masterclass in evolution: the transition from a fringe pop act to a global powerhouse, all driven by the relentless, winning synergy between David and Tony.
“What About Me”…..
The story, however, had one final, curious footnote. A decade later—long after the partnership between David and Tony had also reached its end—Ken Pitt resurfaced. He approached David’s legal team with a simple, slightly desperate question: “What about me?” Claiming he deserved a piece of the pie for his early groundwork, Ken sought a payout. Rather than letting the ghost of his past drag him into a long legal battle, David settled, paying Ken a sum both parties could live with.It was a quiet conclusion to a lopsided legacy. While David’s career touched the stars, Ken never managed to strike gold again. He remained “in the game,” but without David, he was a player without a winning hand. After the split, Ken never managed another artist who achieved commercial success, proving that while he may have helped start the journey, the magic created by Tony and David was always theirs to keep.
Extracts from that report are available in the Episode 69 Gallery – hit the link at the bottom of this page.
