Shep Gordon – The King Maker on His Best PR Stunts, Hugest Failures, and Practical Philosophies
“My philosophy was that you didn’t have to wait for history; you could create history.” – Shep Gordon
Shep Gordon (@SupermenschShep) has been named one of the “100 most influential people” by Rolling Stone magazine. He is the man behind some of the biggest names you’ve ever heard.
If you like the storytelling and lessons of Cal Fussman, you’re going to love this one.
Shep has worked with, and befriended, some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, from Alice Cooper to Bette Davis, Raquel Welch to Groucho Marx, Blondie to Jimi Hendrix, Sylvester Stallone to Salvador Dali, Luther Vandross to Teddy Pendergrass. He is also credited with inventing the “celebrity chef” phenomenon, which revolutionized the food industry and turned the culinary arts into the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. He has worked with Nobu Matsuhisa, Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck, Roger Vergé (and many others, including his holiness, the Dalai Lama.)
In this episode, we discuss how he made clients famous, and some of his biggest PR stunts (and flops).
Anthony Bourdain, who is a huge fan of Shep’s, released a memoir detailing Shep’s life and adventures, titled They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to The Amazing Worlds Of Film, Food, and Rock ‘N’ Roll.
I’ve been reading it, and it’s fantastic. Imagine it like Animal House meets Harvard MBA.
If you only have 5 minutes, listen to Shep’s thoughts on the dangers of fame, and who is most vulnerable.
Enjoy!
Listen to it on iTunes.
Stream by clicking here.
Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.”
Want to hear another episode with a brilliant storyteller? — Listen to this episode with Cal Fussman. In it, we discuss Cal’s interviews with the most influential people in history, how he made himself a guinea pig (Cal boxed against world champion Julio Cesar Chavez), and his best life lessons (stream below or right-click here to download):
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Scroll below for links and show notes…
Selected Links from the Episode
Connect with Shep Gordon:
They Call Me Supermensch: A Backstage Pass to The Amazing Worlds Of Film, Food, and Rock ‘N’ Roll by Shep Gordon
Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (a film by Mike Meyers)
Keawakapu Beach on Maui
Janis Joplin’s Hotel Room via Atlas Obscura
Alice Cooper: ‘Rock music was looking for a villain’ by Simon Reynolds, The Guardian
Ladies and gentlemen, you’ve seen him electrocuted, you’ve seen him hung, and now you’re about to see him fired from a cannon. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Alice Cooper! by Roy Hollingworth, Melody Maker
Teddy Pendergrass gives ladies only concerts by Peter J. Boyer, Associated Press
L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food by Roy Choi
Anne Murray performing Snowbird on television in 1973
Inside John Lennon, Keith Moon and Alice Cooper’s Legendary Hollywood Drinking Club by Barry Nicolson, NME (featuring the famous Anne Murray photo)
Commander’s Palace Restaurant, New Orleans
Emeril’s, New Orleans
Sonos Connect Wireless Receiver
Teddy Pendergrass Radio on Pandora
Books by Joseph Campbell
Books by the Dalai Lama
Even This I Get to Experience by Norman Lear
Life by Keith Richards and James Fox
something to food about: Exploring Creativity with Innovative Chefs by Questlove and Ben Greenman
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) (not to be confused with The Central Intelligence Agency)
LocoL Revolutionary Fast Food
Yak Butter Tea Is a Traditional Tibetan Drink With a Practical Purpose by Clarissa Wei, Eater
Show Notes
How did Shep Gordon end up in Hawaii? [06:14]
How Shep Gordon went from being a probation officer to a manager in the music industry. [07:51]
Shep recalls some of his favorite stunts and what it sometimes takes to capture an audience. [10:44]
When you’re the face of rebellion like Alice Cooper, there’s no such thing as bad press if it gets parents to hate everything about you. [21:10]
Shep on the role of a good manager in the entertainment industry. [23:02]
Shep on how he beat the competition to manage Teddy Pendergrass. [25:56]
Selling Teddy Pendergrass as The Black Elvis. [30:33]
Rookie management mistake: putting greed before service. [33:47]
How Shep has maintained his life-long orientation toward service. [36:25]
Why did it take nearly a decade for Shep to agree to let Mike Meyers make a documentary about him? [39:07]
How initial embarrassment over attention from the documentary gave way to an opportunity to connect with and inspire others. [43:16]
Roy Choi and Anthony Bourdain talk Shep into writing a book. [45:12]
What you should take away from Shep’s book. [46:04]
How did Shep prepare girl-next-door Anne Murray for stardom with the help of some Hollywood Vampires? [47:48]
On meeting Emeril Lagasse and helping create the celebrity chef phenomenon. [51:08]
Shep’s practice for appreciating life’s miracles. [54:06]
What separates those who get consumed by fame and those who are able to thrive with it? [56:08]
Books Shep has gifted most often to others. [1:03:52]
What would Shep’s billboard say? [1:05:54]
Inspirational quotes. [1:06:41]
Best or most worthwhile investment of money, time, or energy. [1:07:20]
Shep’s advice to new parents. [1:10:03]
Shep’s most significant life lessons. [1:12:02]
On the rhythms of nature. [1:18:12]
Should you try Tibetan yak butter tea? [1:18:47]
People Mentioned
Colonel Tom Parker
Elvis Presley
Janis Joplin
Jimi Hendrix
Jim Morrison
Lester Chambers
Alice Cooper
P.T. Barnum
Derek Taylor
Rick Rubin
Teddy Pendergrass
Groucho Marx
Goddard Lieberson
Sid Seidenberg
B.B. King
Luther Vandross
Lily Meola
Roger Vergé
Mike Myers
Roy Choi
Anthony Bourdain
Anne Murray
John Lennon
Harry Nilsson
Micky Dolenz
Yoko Ono
Emeril Lagasse
Wolfgang Puck
Nobu Matsuhisa
Paul Prudhomme
Joseph Campbell
Michael Douglas
Johnny Appleseed
Amelia Boone
Seth Godin
Daniel Boulud
David Bouley
Alain Ducasse
Hubert Keller
The Dalai Lama
Sylvester Stallone
Jack Nicholson
Danny DeVito
Anthony Quinn
Alex Rodriguez (AROD)
Derek Jeter
Steve Jang
Daniel Patterson
Jamie Oliver
Jon Favreau
