- Tony DeFries
Tony Defries is a British former record producer and pop manager, and more recently inventor.
DeFries worked in the 1960s music scene with such figures as
Mickie Most ,Allen Klein ,Stevie Wonder , theBeatles , and theRolling Stones before turning his attention toDavid Bowie [Leary, Kate. [http://www.harpmagazine.com/news/detail.cfm?article=11563 "Bowie Manager Tony DeFries’ Autobiography Due in ‘08"] , "Harp Magazine ",2007-08-15 . Retrieved on2008-7-23 .] . Defries' companyMainMan had a management structure that combined ingredients of the movie studio with those of the independent producer/record label/music publisher.Defries represented Bowie through his rise to stardom, as well as helping to launch the careers of
Iggy Pop ,Lou Reed ,Mott The Hoople ,Luther Vandross andJohn Mellencamp . He made important innovations in lighting, special effects, costume and staging.His MainMan Group of companies assisted in the creation of many independent record and publishing companies that were later acquired by major conglomerates. He pioneered work in mixed media by using digital controls for sound, light and special effects in live performance. Defries helped to create the first digital recording studios in the UK and US.
Post-retirement
DeFries is CEO of Matter, Inc. a private energy company founded in 2004. During the past decade he has secured patents for inventions in broadband digital wireless and information technology while pursuing materials research and free-space optical projects [ [http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6178217/claims.html "US Patent 6178217"] , "
Patent Storm ",2001-01-23 . Retrieved on2008-7-23 .] .References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
