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‘One Of The Most Respected Promoters In Asia’ Colleen Ironside Passes
Colleen Ironside, the MD of Live Limited and veteran of the game, passed away on Friday, July 22. Ironside was instrumental in bringing tours to Asian markets that had been largely ignored until she came along. She’s worked with some of the biggest performers of all times, including The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John and many more.
Friends and partners remembered Ironside in written tributes. Neil Thompson, CEO at Live Nation Thailand, and long-time deputy MD of Tero Entertainmet, asked friends or Ironside to send pictures and anecdotes to [email protected] in order to compile a book in the late veteran promoter’s honor.
He wrote, “Dear Friends of Colleen, it was with great sadness that we informed you of Colleen’s passing last Friday. In Celebration of her life we would like to compile a book full of Colleen Anecdotes. this will be compiled and given away to those attending the funeral or sent to those who could not attend. So would kindly ask everyone who want to participate by sending me your best Anecdote and pics of Colleen to my email address before the 1st of August, this will allow us time to compile and produce. My email address is [email protected]. Please share this post so we can inform as many of her friends as possible. Colleen was a one of a kind and we all have great stories and experiences with her, so looking forward to receiving yours. We are aiming for the Funeral to take place in Bangkok on August 12-14 , we will confirm arrangements this week. So those who are traveling from overseas can work on your travel arrangements, please let us know if you are attending.
Thanks, Neil Thompson.”
Dennis Argenzia, SVP, Talent & Touring, Live Nation APAC, wrote, “She was an absolute legend in our industry and everyone who knew/worked with her, knows what a truly unique individual she was. There are endless stories and I’m grateful for the hard work and knowledge she passed on to all. She was a pioneer and paved the way for so many of us and will be sorely missed but not forgotten.”
Neil Warnock MBE, UTA’s Head of Global Touring, sent the following words: “I was so shocked to learn of the passing of my dear friend Colleen Ironside. She was an absolute legend when the word legend has been so abused! Working in markets rarely explored from India to Thailand, China and throughout Asia where few if any had ventured. Our adventures with Michael Cohl on the Rolling Stones “Steel Wheel” tour through Asia were always to be reminisced over whenever we met. Early days with Uriah Heep and Deep Purple was proper frontier land shows. Yet she never flustered just dealt with every problem as ‘you know it’s fine.’ Equally, you never messed with Colleen, her surname said it all. How I will miss her. Her legendary cough will be heard throughout the realms of wherever she is!”
Jasper Donat, co-founder and CEO of Asian media agency Branded, and president of Asian music conference Music Matters, who worked with Ironside a lot, wrote: “Beyond sad, gutted and shocked to hear that the absolute legend Colleen Ironside has passed away at home. One of the longest serving, most respected (and feared) promoters in Asia and was mine and Michael’s date for the Venetian opening in Macau. She also insisted on necking a very large glass of cognac before going on stage for her one appearance at Music Matters. She worked with everyone. She got Mick Jagger to play ‘Angie’ for her at Harbourfest. She put Bob Dylan in Vietnam. She was Elton John’s promoter whenever he was here. And the list goes on forever. She was indestructible. She gave Chuggi a run for the Swear Jar. She will be smoking Marlboro Lites in Heaven. There is and was only one Colleen. RIP you f***ing magnificent human. We will be organizing a significant and appropriate number of drinks in her honour soon.”
Mandar Thakur, COO of Times Music, a division of the Times of India Group, wrote, “Shattered is an understatement. 28 years of knowing you ain’t enough. Remembering our conversations and ridiculously crazy nights through the years across continents and doing every thing in excess that needed to be done. Too bad we couldn’t get that book done. Will do an appropriate amount of alcohol in your honour.”
Australian superstar Jimmy Barnes, who worked with Ironside, but also considers her a true friend, tweeted: “It’s taken me a few days to write something about the loss of our dear friend Colleen Ironside. My friend for 45 years, so close to all of us that she’s one of the family. Through all we went through you were always there for me, you never changed. I will miss you.”