Legendary Manager Freddy DeMann | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
4/29/20261 hr 45 min
Billy Corgan welcomes legendary manager Freddy DeMann, the architect behind Michael Jackson and Madonna’s rise to global dominance. He breaks down the exact moment he knew Michael was different, the fight to pair him with Quincy Jones, and how one bold call turned “Shake Your Body” into a global smash. He reveals how MTV was forced to finally play newly transcendent artists, what it took to push past label politics, the high-stakes power struggle with Joe Jackson, shaping Madonna’s rise and working alongside Billy Idol.
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsFreddy DeMann· Guest0:00
When I told my wife that I wanted to be a manager, she said, "Freddy, I'm gonna divorce you if you do something so stupid."
Billy Corgan· Host0:07
Not everybody makes the transition from, "I wanna be an artist," to, "I wanna be in the business of art."
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:12
I, I loved the art of making music.
Billy Corgan· Host0:16
What did you see that you thought, "Okay, this is a star"?
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:20
She runs out of the room crying hysterically and locks herself in the bathroom and doesn't come out.
Billy Corgan· Host0:27
You were around for some of the wild years.
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:29
Correct.
Billy Corgan· Host0:29
You know, 'cause when you say to somebody, how do you know wh- a record's a hit? S- sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, but you get a feeling for it.
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:37
I'm never wrong.
Billy Corgan· Host0:38
Freddy DeMann, thank you for being on my show.
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:42
It's great to be here with you.
Billy Corgan· Host0:44
There's, we don't have much to talk about, but we'll, we'll t- [laughs] We'll try.
Freddy DeMann· Guest0:46
[laughs] We'll ad-lib. We'll ad-lib.
Billy Corgan· Host0:48
Thank you. Let's start at the beginning, I think, because, uh, trying to do my research on you, there's not that much information on your early life. I mean, it kinda s- tends to pick up where you start as a record guy. But- You know- ... just give me kind of a, a sketch there to start.
Freddy DeMann· Guest1:02
Uh, um, I just want to in- Sure ... insert one little thing.
Billy Corgan· Host1:06
Please.
Freddy DeMann· Guest1:06
Uh, a gentleman, a fellow named David Siegel, did a documentary on my life, and, um, when he started, he says, "There's no information on you. You never talk to the press." I said, "I never did." I made that part of m- my MO, because I wanted my artists pushed in the front, and I'm not the guy, uh, who, you know,