Speaker Mika, first question is. Everyone says that when David met on it. He said, that’s who I want to be.
Speaker I’m not sure that’s true. I mean, I wasn’t there. As a matter of fact, I thought I knew David much longer. But he told me that we met in 68 or 69 when I remember very well that I was in Mexico with Ahmed and on a holiday. And he had to leave to meet the Buffalo Springfield to start the whole thing. That’s when he met David. But I’m not aware that he wanted to copy Armitt, but maybe he did. They loved each other. There was love and hate. You know, David is going to say no. There was no hate, but at least there were moments when it wasn’t great. But they were both they were very similar, except I think that Ahmed had an inclination maybe to relax a little more. I don’t think it relaxes, although he’s so much better. Something happened in his life at one point when I think his attitude changed and he’s really a delightful person to be with.
Speaker Let’s tell you what. Let’s talk about that. Yeah, sure. Oh, yeah. That’s Matt.
Speaker So David speaks openly about the period in his life when he thought that he done.
Speaker Oh, yes. I didn’t realize it did. And it was very it was traumatic. And I. I mean, I. I can talk as much as I know when he told us what happened to him and what the doctors what his future was. We were in shock naturally. But he behaved unbelievably courageous. But I think it’s as I remember, he took certain steps to arrange his future in case he gets very sick to take care of his mother. You know, she was a very important thing in his life. He doesn’t admit it. But he was. She was. She had moved to Los Angeles. And then when he came to New York, I don’t remember, she moved to New York or he just came on a visit and he decided to see another specialist. And that man said, you never had it. Never had this disease. Can you imagine what that means to somebody when you think you are going to die in a couple of years and your life in front of you?
Speaker Well, you said that that was a transforming moment.
Speaker I think so. How did he change? Well, I don’t quite see.
Speaker So just, you know, move this to.
Speaker You know, there are certain traits in some of this character that never change. He is ambitious. He’s determined. He is very intelligent. And I think he just took a totally different attitude towards life. You know, first of all, I imagined he had to be there was a little bit of money, maybe a lot. I don’t know how much. So he he started enjoying everything that we enjoy. Maybe not on the same scale as David, but we do, you know. But to buy paintings. To buy houses. He bought an apartment in New York. He bought a house in the Hamptons. And for us, I think that right now he is more dedicated to Los Angeles and his whole life is there. And he has the most beautiful house. And he has terrific taste. He he never he never judges. He commands. That’s right. What does that mean? I mean, he knows exactly what he wants. And I don’t think that many people unless he’s very intelligent. So if he feels that whatever advice he gets is good, he’ll take it. Otherwise, he can talk you through the door out.
Speaker How did he develop this tremendous sense of taste? I mean, he certainly didn’t have a background in which that was a factor.
Speaker I don’t think so. But, you know, he has a curiosity and that I’ve never seen on anybody else except children who goes crouching behind the sofa, you know. But I repeat, buy stock with David, which is another uninteresting but fascinating. We were all in a lot together in Paris, in London, because our music business was in London at that time. So David was with us all the time and we were buying. We had a very close friend, a friend and dealer called Waddington, who was very influential in our lives. And whatever the bought from him was really top quality. And it is still in our house. And David said, you know something? I would love to buy a painting, a Picasso. So it’s both of all things said, look, this is my assistant. She’s my friend. He wants to buy a painting. And give him a good price and a good name. So I think and I said, look, he is going to go far. Maybe I can do future business with him. As it turned out, I don’t think that he used Leslie Waddington, but he probably sees it and so on. So he gave he found a Picasso, which wasn’t a big and wasn’t very expensive. As a matter of fact, I remember it was thirty thousand dollars or pounds, but I think it was dollars. So the painting is shipped Santarus. She has a beautiful, nice house, which is glass walls and so on. We place the painting. I got we got back to New York. We see it. We love it. The telephone starts saying, Meeka. I feel very insecure. Who maybe bought that painting by that painting said it’s terrible because I feel that somebody is going to come in on me. They’re going to take it away. My house is not safe. I said, come, David, we all have paintings. Nothing happens like that. That was practically a daily conversation. Then he calls me. It’s gone. I said, What’s gone? He said, the painting, they stole it. Meanwhile, there had been some musicians there and they said they must have taken it. They were his clients. I think, as it turned out, it didn’t. So then he had insured it for fifty thousand dollars. And the insurance company. Naturally, he said, you have to pay me right away. And David is. And they paid him. Six months later, the painting was found. So they come to him and they said. Meanwhile, he tells me he knows I feel so relieved. I haven’t got that painting in the house. I feel secure. Then they come back and they say, well, you know, we found the painting. Would you like to reimburse us? And you could take your painting. If not, what would you get at an auction? I don’t know. He called me and he called me. He called Ahmed and said, you know, I made 50000 dollars or not less. And. I think I’m going to keep the money I made the good, good profit on it. So time goes by. The painting is being put at auction. It goes for a hundred and fifty. Well, there was a crisis. You see, I lost the money. Fight the stupidity. Nobody told me to keep it and saw anyway. And now he lives about Ted. And it’s amazing because he really has now one of the greatest collections of paintings. Beautiful paintings. And I don’t think many people saw them. But it’s really he and he has a fantastic eye and obviously has a fantastic sense of business because the other day he sold two huge recording’s. So, yes. And he called me after Anna died. And he said, you know, if you want to sell paintings, you should sell them now. And he was absolutely right. Not that I sold any. But he was right.
Speaker Last time I was in his house, those two were still there.
Speaker Yeah. No, I think it was about six months ago. Seven months ago. You know, when the market was still at the height. Did you help him analysis election? No, no, no, because he was in Los Angeles and I don’t know, I I didn’t seem that much in the last few years, which is a pity, because I enjoy it. I enjoy being rich. And also, you know, something he never thinks about what he says. Whatever comes into his mind comes out, which I love. And it’s always intelligent, but it’s very determined. So I really I didn’t see him and I miss him in a way.
Speaker Why is he so much fun? What does he do? Everybody says it’s such fun to do.
Speaker It’s hard to explain. First of all, he’s intelligent, and there’s nothing better than to deal with somebody who has a brain. He likes he likes he doesn’t like small talk, but he likes to talk about people, you know, and he always is right on the spot. But in a funny way. Maybe with other people is not in a funny way, because I hear he does have fits. I got stalled. But with me, with me, he always was very, very nice. I mean, I consider him a friend. I really think that if I would be any kind of need. He would. He would absolutely be there.
Speaker You know. Why you asked him to speak at Mr. Morial? Yes. You say that I asked him to speak.
Speaker I did. I mean, we had made the list. You know what I mean? But I did ask him that there was not a minute hesitation, you know. And his speech was wonderful.
Speaker It was there. We have it on tape. But I have it. I don’t have to. Yeah, well, it’s very meaningful to him. Yeah. Why do you think it was so meaningful to.
Speaker Do you think it was. I think it was me. I can’t imagine that White would be more meaningful than anything else. But I, I think had a big attachment to it, you know. And we went to a lot of things together. They changed companies. They’ve called over artists. They had a good time. They helped each other. At one point, you know, it’s it’s it’s alive.
Speaker Well, David’s had a lot of ups and downs with many people, his aunt. I know other people, but it seems that somehow his friendships transcend the ups and downs.
Speaker Yes. I don’t know, you see, I don’t see him that much because I’m not addicted to L.A. and now that it is not going. I haven’t been back. And most of his time is there. Oh, he’s on his boat. Always takes this plan and goes somewhere. And when he’s in New York for more than I think. But I don’t see him that much. But if I would go to Los Angeles actually asking you to stay at this house. I might taking off that he might kick me out if I stay too long.
Speaker So he doesn’t come to New York very often? No.
Speaker He might be coming in for this tribute to Mike Nichols. It’s Shakespeare in the park.
Speaker Because I don’t quite know. Is it a tribute? I mean, to have a year.
Speaker The thing in the park, this is a tribute to my kids on the 20th.
Speaker I know. I know. I’m going. It’s the night before I go to. But I’m going. It’s a wonder if it doesn’t rain. It’s a wonderful evening.
Speaker I’m hoping David will let us shoot yet.
Speaker Yeah, but he’s not going to be on the stage, you see. No, he’s making a speech. No, no, no.
Speaker But maybe you’ll get together with Michael Moore. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ll be right back with some of his friends.
Speaker That you’ve mentioned earlier, that while he might not admit it, his mother was a very important factor in his life.
Speaker Well, I never I never I never met her, but I know that she was moving to Los Angeles and she bought a house and. I think it’s you know, he probably owed his mother a lot and he recognized it. I don’t think that he was a sweet kid to her. I was sure they had their their fights or discussions. But she I never met her. But she seemed to be a very strong woman because she was very demanding. And I know that David was giving her one thing and she wanted more. I don’t know if it would be a house, if it had a bunch of flowers at all, but it was always and I don’t know about his father. But, you know, out of Brooklyn, there’s so many people that came out of work that I don’t know enough. But I know David. I know Phil Spector. I shouldn’t do that right after David.
Speaker And I know what’s the name of the. You know that that movie doesn’t agent.
Speaker No, Sandy, I don’t have Sandy comes from Sue Langurs, so Manga’s comes from Brooklyn, and there must be many others, but there must have been a circle of very ambitious kids who really wanted to make it.
Speaker Something caused maybe something in the water supply from there.
Speaker So is it. So was it really a lot of people? Yeah. Yeah. There’s a lot of singers as well. Yeah. A lot of the singers came out. Lorna, this. Did David ever speak with you about Laura?
Speaker Well, I said the other day, yesterday was folk time. I said, you know. Because we were going over the time we were in Paris not to sort of clubs. And I said, your girlfriend? She wasn’t my girlfriend. She was my client. But when she was there. Well, he liked the songs and she was very attractive. Actually, I don’t think she was that. No, but I don’t know. But the voice was very catching. David, talk to you about Johnny. Yes. Yes, he used to. He used to say, I really don’t know. I don’t remember that much. I know that Cher, who was one of Anna, discovered her. And then there was a big old man’s. I know that by giving parties for one another. All of a sudden being invited to a big ball in Los Angeles for Cher. Then she invited us for something else for David. I never went. I think they’re still very good friends. It’s funny, she seemed to be like very close to me. You know, she doesn’t go socially. She has a very beautiful house. Actually, I know it was published and I was told that the magazine that published it, it was the hottest cover ever and it’s a strange looking house, I’m sure. But I must say, I saw pictures in the newspaper and it was Bette Midler. And because they’re both singing nothing. And she looked beautiful, Cher. She really I mean, that looks great. Always. But she looked like, you know, not a year passed by.
Speaker Well, that helps to help. A lot of work done.
Speaker I think very early. That’s the check. Yeah, I guess so.
Speaker How was it, by the way? Well, we’ll talk about it. I know you want to see that in Las Vegas. I loved it. She was great. So take me back to the mother for just one minute. When she dies, very affected by her death. Did he ever talk?
Speaker No, he didn’t. Actually, I wasn’t even aware when she died because of seeing him that much.
Speaker To what do? What did Ahmed see? Did he ever talk to you about what he saw?
Speaker I don’t know. I don’t have a good time with David. He liked it. You know, you traveled with him and he would notice everything. You introduced him to somebody. He captured every person that he was with. I mean, I remember we went with Vince Lowenstein to Las Vegas to see Presley or Atlanta homeless or something that thought he was the best friend. Immediately. And if he’s very relaxed, I I don’t know how his life is now. I think it’s changed because I think if he’s secure, he has the money, he has the power, he’s established it is he doesn’t have anything to prove.
Speaker Well, you always do. But no, he doesn’t. I think he’s. My sense is that he’s very happy. Yeah. He’s comfortable with himself. The relationship, which I gather.
Speaker I never met. I don’t know. He’s very sweet, I gather. Yeah. But I gather that he’s very happy.
Speaker You know, the thing about David, that’s the most fascinating to me. Is this incredible sense of self-confidence and self-esteem that he had?
Speaker I don’t know where it came from. I mean, he was a lonely child. He wasn’t popular in school. He was an only child. He was to the brothers or sisters, not brother. We didn’t get along with. But boy, 19 or whatever it was, he already knew he was going places now.
Speaker He projected that rash. So no. Yes. Do you see any insight into where that may have come from? I have no idea. It’s surprising, isn’t it?
Speaker I mean, it was your standard of it grew up in a privileged background. David did not.
Speaker No. No. But maybe that’s what made you so, you know, strong and pushy.
Speaker Was there anything you want to tell us that I mean, any stories that you want to share that David’s or something you’d like to say that I haven’t asked you?
Speaker No, I mean, I think I could speak for hours about him, but I think the main points have been made. Is he is a very special person.
Speaker You you were very, very close at one. Yes. Yes. Did he. Did he confide in you?
Speaker Did he ever sharing. You know, I’m not a person who gossips or confined to much, maybe I’m a little cool, you know. I don’t go into people’s private life. I mean, I knew what everybody knows about. Did you know that he has friends and so on. I went to his house in. Malleable. And the only thing I told him then, I said, I don’t know what you see valuable because you consider a neighbor who is Frank Stakes, you know, one next to another. But obviously, it’s you know, it was a beautiful house. He loves it there. He still goes there. Our sense is that where he spends most of his and I think he bought another house next to it himself. He bought a hotel. I know. But he doesn’t stay there.
Speaker It must be very nice. I think it looks lovely. We were hoping we get some free rooms, but we’re not. That’s very generous. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker That is generosity. Is there anything you’d like to say about that?
Speaker No, but I mean, he said he told me more than once, wanted to come to L.A. I send the plane back. It’s like, yes, I would send the car, you know, but. And he has always been I always gave me Christmas presents. And he was very, very attentive.
Speaker For just about everything I’m thinking. Anything else we talked about?
Speaker Remember what happened with Crosby, Stills and Nash? Do you remember the story of how the band came together? Nobody knows it because, I mean, it was the wonders, really.
Speaker I think I met had one of the members of the band, and I think David told me yesterday that Colombia had to. But then David said, you know, I bet it’s not under his charm. So we put the band together with that Atlantic Legion to it to try to get Stephen Stills out of his car.
Speaker Right? Right, exactly. David’s not Columbia. Yeah, that right. But Robert said no. Why don’t you get them out of their contract, won’t you?
Speaker So, yeah, I think that was the moment that. David said, this is where I want to be. Learned from it.
Speaker And I must say it was very a lot with it. And unfortunately, I think I remember correctly it. I mean, Ahmed did. How different Atlantic it was working with Dommett and the rest of the group didn’t like him at all.
Speaker That’s it. Did you talk with that? Can you tell us the Jerry Wexler story? In what sense? Well, when he went first to Jerry. That’s how he met. He went, oh, you went to church. I didn’t know that. Stills out and Jerry bodily evicted him from his.
Speaker Oh, I didn’t know. And that’s when Ahmed heard about.
Speaker And he called him the next day, called David. And he said, I want to apologize. Come see me. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker And I didn’t know that. I didn’t know that ship. I think David, don’t tell me.
Speaker But I know that Dave. Well, he forced his departure. Out of it, out of Atlantic, because first he was way working at the Atlantic, who forced? Wexler and Miriam, and I’m not sure which type of in-laws they are already or not, Nancy.
Speaker Can you say that in a sentence? They forced his departure from Atlanta?
Speaker I think I’m pretty pretty sure that they forced I you know, I’m not 100 percent, but I know that. And it was very upset. I don’t know why he didn’t put his foot down myself. But, you know, Ahmed wanted peace. And then but then it became very close to David and they started a new company, Siloam, I think.
Speaker So he was always in contact with David and they remained friends throughout its life.
Speaker Yes, I would say they had some incidents, you know, but everybody does. I think it’s the nature of the music. I don’t know. I don’t know how other people react, but they’re very independent until those people.
Speaker Do you remember the article? I think it was Esquire. No, the one in The New Yorker. New York. Yeah. George trial. George told. So. Yeah. David doesn’t come off very well.
Speaker But it’s funny because before the memorial of Armitt, he called me and he said, Nico, how do you live in that piece? And I said, Not really. And he said that I did. And it’s fabulous. He said, it really is a masterpiece, except what I believe to that George Taussig didn’t love it because he was talking about his shoes and socks. So I was laughing with David about it. You know, he committed suicide. It’s a brilliantly brilliant and doing it. Well, you know what happened? It’s in two sections. The first one came out and then the big scandal with payola came out and everybody said, don’t publish the second part, but then they did.
Speaker So that’s very different. Yeah, it really is kind of a music history. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The first is full of, I think, very interesting insight into the house. Yeah. On it. Yeah. David seemed to be around.
Speaker Well he was, he was a hard because we’re traveling with Joto. David. We expect that sometime. I don’t know. The relationship is between the two of them. They’re so different.
Speaker I don’t think they’re friends.
Speaker No, no, no. But, I mean, you know, I think, A, the pool man is crazy.
Speaker I think he’s certifiably crazy. Yeah. Everybody say, I’m going to try to get an interview with him from dead.
Speaker Yeah, and he he was the first person that David saw in the business at work when he was very young. He was 17 or 18 because his brother’s wife.
Speaker Yeah, was good friends with somebody that felt that he was he had a bad relation, but he had a band in Brooklyn and he was playing Spector.
Speaker So maybe nothing was in Los Angeles. She had to run. Oh, I thought he went. It was some kind of family connection.
Speaker And he was invited to go and he saw this guy doing. Anyway, I want to do that. I could do that.
Speaker Yeah, I must say so funny. He came to the country, to a house in Southampton, and he’d spend the weekend and he had a little. Suitcase like that and the staff had tried to take it away to help him. No, he was holding onto it, has it out. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with it? And I might have been you know, he must have some wreckage there that it just made and he doesn’t want to lose them. I said I think he has his wigs in there because he was changing his ways every day. You know, the handballs. And.
Speaker And that being there in the George George Tunnel. Do you remember Stephen Stills?
Speaker No. I mean. Was it there then? I think Stephen Stills was.
Speaker When Ahmed signed the Rolling Stones.
Speaker You know, because that was also in court in the south of France and actually I have a big picture, which I don’t going to be into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because that’s why all these archives are going. Which is cut out. You saw it at my house. It’s huge. And Stephen Stills is there. They’re all there. Jacket. I don’t I didn’t see Geffen. And he must have been the.
Speaker I think Geffen was hoping to sign the Stones at one time. That wasn’t good.
Speaker No, I liked it very much.
Speaker David seems let’s just go back to one thing and then we’ll end. You said people love him and they hate him.
Speaker Look, I think I have the feeling that the people in the business.
Speaker You know, hated him. Some of them. But then they made up. I know that.
Speaker I heard I mean, I shouldn’t gossip, but I heard that he was very generous with certain people and helped them and so on. And then all of a sudden something happened and he did want to see them anymore.
Speaker I mean, I’m not going to mention names and I don’t know if it’s true, but maybe had a point. You know.
Speaker Well, I think that I think he was also more generous with some artists than with others.
Speaker Yeah. But that’s I’m not talking about artists. I’m talking about, you know. I don’t I don’t know who he was close to.
Speaker David got his feelings hurt quite often.
Speaker I think when Laura Nyro did not sign with his new label Asylum.
Speaker Yeah, yeah. I just think Columbia very big decision. I think Joni and he they’ve been roommates and then they had a big falling out.
Speaker Dylan, I think it was really it’s a betrayal there.
Speaker Does it seem now?
Speaker Probably not. No, this is not. No, I mean, they talk occasionally. Yeah. Apparently, Dylan called him after he saw my Joni Mitchell film. Oh, really? They said.
Speaker They were really nice to Jodi because everybody knows she’s a very difficult woman.
Speaker She’s the one who had to discover each other. Chandos something. Yes. Well, she knew. She she knew.
Speaker She gave it. Yeah. She went to find her. Yeah. And it turned out her daughter was looking for her mother. And they found each other that way.
Speaker But I don’t know ever if you look at anybody’s life, you’re going to find stories of betrayal. Whatever.
Speaker It’s probably just more it’s larger somehow that we’re not dealing with so many celebrities, dealing with people who in David’s case, they all started together. They were all kids. You know, he was one of them. Absolutely. And I think that’s. And they were like family. They’re ambitious, very ambitious. He was like family with many of his artists, you know. Oh, yes.
Speaker Because they were about the same age. I mean, those are artists which are grown up now. But they were all about the same for the whole generation. But this was then, uh. He was not a hippie. I mean, I have to I can’t find that photograph. But I will probably have a look at all of him. But I’ll give you the album on that. You’ll take a few pictures of him, which are very good. I mean, sure, he was with curly hair at one point, but I mean, I don’t know how to describe it. He was always neatly clean and polite. And he wasn’t. I don’t think he took drugs ever. I mean, I might be wrong, but I. I think I’m totally right. And I think partly because he wanted to keep a clear mind, you know, and that’s the right thing to do. He I think he always controlled his life. You know?
Speaker I think that’s a really excellent point. And I think it separated him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And it made him not very sympathetic.
Speaker Probably not part. Yeah. Probably not, because we had a lot of artists which came with us to Barbera’s and it was difficult at times, but they would be chipping in.
Speaker But the worst thing was Crosby, Stills and Nash because Crosby. No, not Crosby. Stephen Stills wanted to go scuba diving. So you went and I said, you know, did you ever do it? Do you not? Oh, yes, yes. Never before they went down. And then he had the bends. And at that time and you don’t know, it’s very dangerous at that time. They didn’t have the machines there. So the Navy took him downs down and brought him back slowly. And that’s the way to do it if you have no instruments. And he was lucky he was OK. But I mean, these kind of things, you know, when you’re crazy, you do anything. You think your God.
Speaker Yeah. You started to go some other place. Oh, I was just one last thing. Yeah, I know.
Speaker How how influential you were. David’s life.
Speaker Do you think you probably just talk a little bit about that?
Speaker I never thought about it. You know that. I’m. I’m sure was influential because. But, you know then, David. I don’t know how much. Yeah. David could charm anybody. And so… So from that point of view, I think they’re equal. I think Ahmed was much more reserved. I would think that David could have be angry if somebody doesn’t do exactly what he wants. From that point of view, he didn’t very much for Muhammad. But he succeeded. So that’s the main fight.
Speaker That’s exactly what I want to get there. Thank you. Thank you. I think you answered that. There is tremendous discrepancy. Yeah. Yeah. On the one hand, you could be utterly charming. But, you know, it never lost.
Speaker No, never.
Speaker Yeah. That’s his job. I love it when he gets to you. Yes. But I wanted to say something. So there is a difference between its education and David’s. So maybe on it is much of what it was about for reserves because of his background. And there it was on the street. You know, I’m not trying to be insulting. But again, he he knew the roughness of the street, that he knew the house you have to deal or how he dealt.
