Producer or Fraud?

Factual Questions
1

My band was practicing last night and we heard a knock on the door. It was some guy who was digging our music and was wondering if he could sit in.

That’s nothing unusual. What was unusual was that he started dropping names like a seasoned music industry mogol. Turns out, the guy claims to be one of the most sought-after producers on the planet, having just finished up recording Tori Amos’ new project, Guns N Roses new CD and Man-O-War’s new European release, in addition to working on a project with one of the guys in the Moody Blue’s and the producer of Led Zeppelin’s vol II.

I put him to the test of listening to my band’s demo and the guy passes - he caught several minor recording problems and used all the right terminology, offering valid suggestions to improving the vocal and drum tracks. He really loved two of our tunes and offered to produce our demo in return for me laying down some drum tracks for his current project.

I am, however, far too cynical to take his word for any of this. He’s got my number and promised to call, but I ain’t counting on ever hearing from him again. I figure he’s just a smooth-talking hustler.

BUT. . .on the very slim chance that his story is even partially true, I want to make sure I get in contact with him else I regret things down the road.

I’d appreciate if anybody has heard of this guy or knows where I can find if he’s legit.

His name is David Angel and he’s white, in his 30’s, and dresses very casually. This all took place right outside of Portland, Oregon. He claims to be a freelance producer and musician. Oh yeah, he mentioned that he just recorded Tori Amos in Santa Barbara - so he might be from California.

I searched the web for thiirty minutes and came up with zilch. Any help would be appreciated, the whole thing was a little bizarre.

Yet to be reconciled with the reality of the dark for a moment, I go on wandering from dream to dream.

2

Call or write Tori Amos’ managers and ask if they’ve ever heard of the guy.
Spivak Entertainment
11845 West Olympic Blvd
Suite 1125
Los Angeles, CA 90064
(310) 473-4545

3

Best of luck, Samurai! It’s odd moments like this that really make life interesting.

Cave Diem! Carpe Canem!

4

OK, I thought Steve Albini was on of the most “sought-after” producers on the planet (just kidding)…

Anyway - I’ve never heard of David Angel. But the thing is, most people - even supposedly “in the loop” music people like us don’t usually know who producers are (unless the producer is part of the indie rock scene in a particular town or reigon - i.e. Brad Wood, Brian Paulson, Herr Albini etc).

If the guy is legit, he’ll make good on what he said (provided he did really like your band and you guys don’t suck, and he has time to “develop” a new band, and he’s not going on tour, and he’s not having dinner with Tori, and he’s not going to visit his good friend Jimmy Page in London, and … etc etc) My point: don’t loose sleep over it. Guys in cheezy suits smoking cigars don’t drive around in limos looking for unknown “talent” to sign. If this chance meeting happens to be a good connection for you, great - network your ass off. Otherwise don’t worry about it…the guy may think you’re some kind of freak.

5

A quick search at Google shows the only David Angel in the entertainment business was an actor in a porn movie. There is no mention on the web of a page that links a David Angel with Tori Amos.

Not conclusive, but not good.

He may just be a namedropper, or he could be a scam artist. Best thing to remember when dealing with this guy is Feist’s rule: Money flows toward the writer. It applies equally to musicians. If he asks for money, no matter how logical he makes the story, walk away.

“What we have here is failure to communicate.” – Strother Martin, anticipating the Internet.

www.sff.net/people/rothman

6

Hey, thanks a lot, everyone!

Ursa, thanks for the phone number - I hadn’t thought of that yet. I’ll call on the morrow.

Olent, don’t you know it - you should hear the wacked tale I have about the Hari Krishna cult that brainwashed half my band (different band, different State) back in 1990! The only reason I don’t shoot myself in the damn head is to see what’ll happen next.

mellon, Albini - Ha! I’m not losing a wink over this mini-drama, trust me. I’ve had people promise me the moon before and I’m still struggling in the local club scene here on earth. I just don’t get what the guy gained from his elaborate production - he didn’t ask for drugs or beer, or tell me some hard luck story, or ask to crash or anything. Usually when these bastards start talking up a storm there’s a catch at the end like, “My driver was supposed to be here 30 minutes ago, do you mind I hang here for a while. . .do you guys smoke. . .have any weed, man?”

Reality, thanks for looking on Google - I haven’t even been to that site yet. It’s not sounding good, you’re right. I try not to be a total misanthrope, but shit like this makes it hard. Don’t worry bout the money (appreciate the advice though) because I’m probably the least gullible person in the world - I’ve pulled scams a whole lot bigger than this when I was stone broke and hard up. That’s what’s bugging me, I don’t see his scam yet - it may be a two or three part deal though (the old lure 'em and reel 'em in).

Thanks again, and I’ll post here with any updates in the next day or so. If nothing happens this thread will disappear like my memory of Mr. Fancy Pants Producer.

Yet to be reconciled with the reality of the dark for a moment, I go on wandering from dream to dream.

7

i am trying to find out , but as far as i know, i dont think hes involved with zeppelin or gnr
ill post if i find out anything…

Check out my site:
Chief’s Domain

8

Led Zeppelin II was produced by Jimmy Page. An Executive Producer credit was given to Peter Grant.

“Tip your hat to all good people, living or dead, but bend your knee to no one.” – Alan Schwartz

9

Tori Amos’s latest CD, To Venus and Back, was produced by Tori herself and recorded in Cornwall, England.

If you can not answer a man’s argument, all it not lost; you can still call him vile names.
–Elbert Hubbard

10

Sake,
After our last spat, I’m not sure if you’re interested in my opinion, but here it:

What value could this guy bring to your band? I suspect you aren’t interested in his producing skills as much as his contacts in the industry. If that’s true, then call him out. Ask him to introduce you to the execs at Tori Amos’ (or other) label.

If he says, “no, I want to be involved so I get a cut,” then say, “fine, introduce me and I’ll give you a cut.”
Now, what a “cut” is, you have to do some hard thinking about. Perhaps he wants to do production, perhaps he wants a piece of this potential deal, perhaps he wants a piece of your future record deals. You should give that some real thought to what you’re willing to give away now, anticipating he’ll be real (even if he isn’t).

In life, half of success is being in the right place at the right time. Some people look at that as “it’s all luck, I’ll just hope for the best.” The better way is to put yourself in potential right spots at potential right times, and have some plan for what you’ll do when lightning strikes. It sounds like there’s a chance you’re in a good spot. Work it. Even if it’s fake, at the end you’ll know you tried.

11

From Emmys not based on popularity

" ‘‘On my way up here I heard somebody say, ‘Oh God! Not them again!’ Believe me, we know how lucky we are,’’ said David Angel, a ‘‘Frasier’’ producer "
I’m assuming you’re not talking about thisDavid Angel either are you ?

12

so far, nobodys heard of him that i know of
i think he’s making up the story…

Check out my site:
Chief’s Domain

13

Did you ask for a business card?

14

It just gets stranger.

He’s come over two more times and brought about $5k worth of equipment. He’s got a Roland VS880 ADAT, AKG mics, wireless headphoes, etc. We dumped 8 tracks of one of my tunes from my computer into his ADAT and within ten minutes he had the drum tracks sounding better than it did with three hours of my mixing. He’s talented, that’s for sure.

John, Peter Grant - that’s the dude whose name he dropped. Said he worked on a couple of projects with him.

neutron, He said that Tori’s got some project which has a CD coming out around Christmas.

billehunt, thanks for your opinion - as it turns out his producer skills seem a lot more tangible than his industry contacts. You’re dead-on about the luck of life. That’s why I didn’t call this guy out straightaways and kick him out on his ass.

Wow, funnee, two more david angels! Classical musician & TV producer. I bet he would say both of them are actually him.

chief, me too, but I emailed two Toronto studios to find out (he mentioned he has a studio there) for sure.

handy, of course, and he said, “Dude, I didn’t even bring my cigs over!”

He’s written for and produced Jon Bon Jovi, Poison, Wasp, U2, Motorhead & Sting. In fact, he claims to have played a gig in Canada in the early 80’s where The Police opened up for his band before they got big in the States.

His biggest claim so far, and the one which made me spit my Black Butte Porter over the carpet was this one:

He was the one who actually wrote U2’s “With or Without You” :rolleyes:

Yet to be reconciled with the reality of the dark for a moment, I go on wandering from dream to dream.