John Reid: From Gallowhill to Managing the Stars

 John Reid: From Gallowhill to Managing the Stars

I present an article about Elton John’s former manager, John Reid. After a long and challenging research process—one of the most complex I’ve ever undertaken to assemble and organize the facts—I was able to create a detailed dossier about this key figure in Elton John’s career. I hope you’ll check it out and share your thoughts.

– Robson Vianna

Origins and Early Life

John Reid was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the son of John Reid, a welder, and Betty, a shop assistant. Aside from spending three years in New Zealand, he was raised in the Gallowhill district, where he received his early education. He attended St Mirin’s Academy, a Catholic school, sharing the same environment with future singers Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan.

After leaving school, he studied marine engineering at Stow College in Glasgow but dropped out to move to London in 1969, beginning his professional journey in the music industry. His time in New Zealand helped develop his adaptability and organizational skills.

Early Career in Music (1967–1971)

John Reid began his music management career in 1967, at the age of 18, as a promoter for EMI. At 19, he became the manager of the Tamla Motown label in the United Kingdom. In 1971, he founded his own company with a few hundred pounds in savings and a £5,000 loan, which became John Reid Enterprises—the foundation of his work as a music manager.

Working in offices connected to EMI, Reid built relationships with labels and executives, learning the mechanics of record releases, promotion, and tour logistics. This early experience was crucial to developing his administrative and strategic expertise.

Meeting Elton John and the Genesis of a Partnership

Although the film Rocketman portrays Reid’s first encounter with Elton John at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles in August 1970, more detailed accounts indicate they had already met earlier, after Elton’s album release. Reid, a familiar figure at EMI in London, met Elton through David Croker at the Manchester Square office.

The Knokke Festival in Belgium in July 1970 offers an approximate timeline: Elton performed on July 11 at the “Europese Beker voor Zangvoordracht” (European Cup for Vocal Performance). A few days later, on July 15, Reid and Elton had a decisive meeting. Some accounts mention an earlier encounter at a Motown Christmas party in London in December 1969, when Elton was still Reginald Dwight. Reid recalled Elton as shy and eager to learn, not realizing his potential immediately: “When I met Elton, I didn’t see his potential right away. I’ve never claimed to have discovered him.”

After these meetings, Reid formally accepted the role of Elton’s manager. Between 1970 and 1971, he helped establish Elton John’s stage persona, organized international tours, and secured record label contracts—laying the administrative groundwork for Elton’s global expansion.

Consolidation (1971) and Early Success

The year 1971 marked rapid growth in Elton’s audience and repertoire. Albums such as Tumbleweed Connection (released in October 1970 in the UK and January 1971 in the U.S.) were still being promoted, while Madman Across the Water followed in November 1971. Reid negotiated tours and record deals across the U.S. and Europe, building a management structure that ensured strong logistics and strategic planning. Their personal relationship complemented their professional success.

Expanding Responsibilities: Queen and Other Clients

Between 1975 and 1978, Reid managed the band Queen, helping professionalize and organize their tours while the group focused on music production. This period coincided with the release of A Night at the Opera and the single “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which marked a major financial breakthrough. Professional tensions arose, however; Reid was known for being energetic, combative, and controlling. He was dismissed in 1978, replaced by Jim Beach.

Elton John’s Initial Reaction to “Bohemian Rhapsody”

During the period when John Reid managed Queen, a notable anecdote from the music’s early history was recorded. Upon hearing a preview of Bohemian Rhapsody, Elton John, already a prominent British artist and familiar with Reid, reportedly expressed skepticism about the song’s commercial potential.

According to John Reid, Elton reacted with astonishment, saying: “Are you f*ing crazy? That will never be a hit. It’s too long!” — noting that the track exceeded the standard length for radio singles at the time. This statement was cited in later interviews, including a report by People magazine, where Reid recalled the episode while discussing the song’s unexpected success.

Other sources, such as the UK site Radio X, report that Elton John found the song “absolutely ridiculous” upon first hearing it, stating: “For one thing, it’s about three hours long. For another, it’s the campest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.” Despite these initial criticisms, Bohemian Rhapsody went on to become one of the most iconic rock songs in history, topping charts in the UK and solidifying Queen’s international career.

References

https://people.com/elton-john-queen-bohemian-rhapsody-never-hit-11817720
https://www.radiox.co.uk/artists/queen/elton-john-bohemian-rhapsody-absolutely-ridiculous

Freddie Mercury and Elton John on John Reid

Freddie Mercury on John Reid

On February 1, 1978, Queen ended their professional partnership with John Reid, signing a severance agreement in the back of Freddie Mercury’s Rolls-Royce during a break in the filming of We Will Rock You.
https://www.facebook.com/mercurydaily/posts/1-february-1978-queen-left-manager-john-reid-signing-severance-agreement-in-back/634910349135724/

Elton John on John Reid

In a 2024 interview with People, Elton John described his relationship with John Reid as tumultuous. He stated that he felt “miserably unhappy” and heartbroken due to Reid’s infidelity and aggressive behavior. This emotional turmoil influenced Elton John’s songwriting, serving as a cathartic but painful experience.
https://people.com/elton-john-s-ex-manager-broke-his-heart-inspired-candle-in-the-wind-8756654

Besides Queen and Elton, Reid also managed Kiki Dee and other artists in various projects, though by 1980, his main clients remained Elton John and, for a time, Queen.

Touring the Soviet Union and International Impact

In May 1979, Elton John embarked on a historic tour of the Soviet Union, performing in Leningrad and Moscow between May 21 and 28. The logistics involved negotiations with Soviet authorities, song censorship, and equipment approvals. The shows were broadcast by the BBC and released as Live From Moscow 1979. The tour established Elton as one of the first Western pop/rock artists to perform officially in the USSR, demonstrating Reid’s skill in managing complex international events.

Temperament, Violence, and Legal Issues

John Reid was known for his explosive temper. In 1974, during a tour in New Zealand, he was involved in two assault incidents that led to his arrest.

The first occurred in Auckland when Reid threw champagne in a host’s face during a party. When journalist and model Judith Baragwanath tried to intervene, he assaulted her, knocking her to the ground. Reid was convicted and sentenced to one month in prison, and he paid NZ$2,500 to Baragwanath in an out-of-court settlement.

Later that same night, Reid got into a fight with another journalist at a nightclub. Both incidents were widely reported by the press.

These episodes marked a turning point in Reid’s relationship with Elton John. Although they continued to work together professionally until 1998, their personal relationship ended soon after.

Financial Rise and Economic Overview up to 1980

John Reid Enterprises became a major force in the music business. It is estimated that his management of Elton John between 1970 and 1998 generated over £73 million, with Reid maintaining a significant share of contracts, tours, and merchandising. By the late 1970s, his company’s success brought substantial wealth, property investments, and a strong presence in the international music scene.

Personal Impact and Legacy up to 1980

Between 1970 and 1980, Reid rose from modest origins to a central role in global entertainment. His partnership with Elton John shaped both the artist’s success and the managerial infrastructure behind it. At the same time, his reputation was marked by aggression and authoritarian behavior, leaving an ambiguous legacy of business competence and volatile temperament.

John Reid and Elton John: Management, Expansion, and Legal Disputes (1981–2001)

From 1981 onward, Reid retained full control of Elton John’s management, even after their personal breakup in 1975. He oversaw record contracts, album releases, royalties, merchandising, and international tours. Their relationship remained strictly professional, with Reid making most financial and strategic decisions.

Between 1981 and 1990, Elton released several albums under Reid’s supervision, including Too Low for Zero (1983), Ice on Fire (1985), and Reg Strikes Back (1988). Reid handled tour logistics, promoter contracts, royalties, and publishing.

In 1984, Elton John married German sound engineer Renate Blauel during the Too Low for Zero sessions. Reid focused exclusively on professional management, with no personal involvement.

In the 1990s, Reid continued to oversee Elton’s career until their professional split in 1998 due to financial and contractual disputes, ending with an out-of-court settlement of £3.4 million. Later, the Elton Hercules John v Price Waterhouse (2001) case dealt with financial oversight and consultant responsibility, though Reid was not directly charged.

John Reid: The Man Who Shaped Elton John and Vanished from the Spotlight

When Elton ended his partnership with Reid in 1998, it closed one of the most successful—and turbulent—alliances in pop music history. Reid gradually withdrew from public life, maintaining a low profile. He briefly returned as a judge on The X Factor Australia in 2005 and 2006.

In 2019, Reid was portrayed by Richard Madden in Rocketman, a film loosely based on real events. The movie omitted several real figures, including Linda Hannon, Maxine Feibelman, for legal or narrative reasons.

Despite controversial portrayals, Reid took no legal action against the film and has maintained his silence, preserving the privacy that has defined his life since the late 1990s. His name continues to intrigue fans and historians alike—caught between the real man and the cinematic caricature.

References
https://archive.org/details/eltonjohnreid
https://vilmanoel.art/1/timelines/eltonjohn.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Reid_%28music_manager%29
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2000/nov/17/1
https://time.com/5598236/rocketman-true-story-elton-john/
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/05/rocketman-movie-elton-john-wife-wedding-renate-blauel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Hercules_John_v_Price_Waterhouse
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Reid_%28music_manager%29
https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/eltons-1979-tour-of-the-ussr-a-look-back-update
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_from_Moscow_1979
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thom_Bell_Sessions
https://www.eltonjohn.com/discography/the-complete-thom-bell-sessions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama_Can%27t_Buy_You_Love
https://www.biography.com/musicians/elton-john-manager-john-reid-relationship
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2019/jun/18/punch-ups-overdoses-and-riverdance-why-hollywood-cant-resist-an-evil-rock-mogul
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/john-reid-from-the-gorbals-to-global-610334.html
https://bestclassicbands.com/john-reid-elton-john-6-3-19
https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/14788
https://people.com/elton-john-s-ex-manager-broke-his-heart-inspired-candle-in-the-wind-8756654

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