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Music Industry Vet Dave Stein Dies
David Stein, former right-hand man to legendary promoter/manager Sid Bernstein, died July 23 according to friend and longtime tour manager Toby Mamis.
Stein worked under Bernstein in the Management Three company and in Bernstein’s independent company.
Bernstein is credited with bringing artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks to the U.S. and pioneering the model for rock shows in stadiums. Stein had a significant role in helping advance the career of the Bay City Rollers.
Outside of his work with Bernstein, Stein regularly wrote for the rock magazine Zoo World, ran the independent label All The Best and briefly managed the group The Dynomiters.
Stein died in a Long Island, N.Y., hospital after several years of health challenges, according to Mamis.
“He wasn’t the most prominent guy, even when he was [most] active, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s working with legendary promoter/manager Sid Bernstein,” Mamis told Pollstar via email. “But for those he did work with, he had a profound impact.”
After news of his death broke, tributes came from friends throughout the industry on Facebook.
“Sorry to hear this about Dave. He was definitely a character. His thing was all about the music,” May Pang, former assistant to John Lennon & Yoko Ono, wrote. “His antics drove us all a bit crazy…like the time Fred Goodman just jumped out of his car at the stoplight, or drove us all home via CT because he wanted to drop his date home who lived there but didn’t want to tell us. RIP Dave.”
His former boss at Zoo World and former publicist for Columbia and Atlantic Records Arthur Levy wrote: “Heard last night of the death of music man and NY character Dave Stein. May his memory be a blessing. First met him around 1973, when he started writing the 45 singles column for me in #ZooWorld. Many many adventures in Miami Beach and NY with him over the years. ‘Levy!’ was his call to action.”