Joe McFadden, a music industry executive who had stints at EMI, Capitol Records and Better Noise Music and worked with acts including Merle Haggard, Paul McCartney, Coldplay, Bob Seger and Mötley Crüe, has died. He was 77.
McFadden died March 11 in Chatsworth, California, after a long illness, a publicist announced.
Born on Nov. 16, 1947, in Tracy, California, McFadden earned a degree in business administration and management from Fresno State University and worked with his father, Jack, in Bakersfield managing such notable artists as Haggard and Buck Owens.
He started out with EMI in 1975 before joining its label Capitol and serving as its senior vp sales and field marketing from 1985-2007. There, he worked with McCartney, Seger, Coldplay, Bonnie Raitt, Megadeth, Duran Duran, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Foo Fighters and Iron Maiden and was involved in campaigns for The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and The Beach Boys.
McFadden left Capitol to open his own independent business, The Hammer Llc., where he teamed with Punch Andrews and Mike Boila (Hideout Records and Distributors) as a consultant in sales and marketing for Seger.
For Coldplay in 2007-08, he was in charge of sales, marketing and promotions for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, and world tour. He traveled with the band, setting up performances and meet and greets for them.
McFadden joined Better Noise Music in 2008, and as chief commercial officer for the Allen Kovac-founded indie rock label, oversaw operations, strategic planning and artist development for Mötley Crüe, Five Finger Death Punch, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, The Hu and others.
“Joe’s spirit, enthusiasm and unwavering support have left an indelible mark on all of us,” Kovac, a frequent colleague who first met McFadden in 1987, said in a statement. “He was a true champion for those he believed in, and today, as we remember him, let us carry forward his legacy of belief, honesty and camaraderie in our own lives and work.”
Survivors include his wife, Ellen; sons Jonathan and Jeffrey David; daughter Sara; grandchildren Jeffrey, Maci, Vivian and Elijah; and sister Lana.
A service will be held at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday at Church of the Recessional at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale (a live stream can be viewed here). Donations in his honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Source: Hollywoodreporter
