“…To those who dared to stand in his way, Peter Grant, the legendary manager of Led Zeppelin, conducted his business with a mixture of verbal aggression, physical intimidation – and judicious use of a baseball bat.
Now the next generation of managers can study Grant’s “hands-on” technique when a business degree course is launched in honour of the man who struck fear into the hearts of any promoter who tried to rip off his charges.
A 300lb, 6ft 5in former bouncer and professional wrestler, the bearded giant is credited with turning Led Zeppelin into rock’s biggest attraction in the Seventies.
Grant’s exploits – whether facing down gun-toting promoters – beating up security guards or smashing up bootleggers’ tapes with his trusty bat -
- ensured his place in rock mythology alongside the notoriously hell-raising Zeppelin.
Despite his violent reputation, the south Londoner, who died from a heart attack in 1995 at 60 – and was by then a diabetic cocaine addict -
- earned the eternal gratitude of the bands he managed.
He secured Zeppelin the most lucrative record deal then signed by a band -
-and guaranteed Robert Plant’s rockers an unheard of 90 per cent of concert ticket receipts after literally, twisting the arms of often mafia-connected promoters.
Grant enhanced the band’s mystique and earning power by refusing to let them release singles – or appear on television…”
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