Jeannette Lee | |
|---|---|
| Origin | United Kingdom |
| Genres | Post-punk |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1975–present |
Jeannette Lee is a British music record executive, music manager, filmmaker and former musician. A retail worker at theAcme Attractions store that, along with theSEX boutique run byMalcolm McLaren andVivienne Westwood, was instrumental in spawningpunk in the UK,[1] she went on to become a member ofpost-punk bandPublic Image Ltd (PiL). Lee is currently co-owner of theindependent record labelRough Trade Records.
Lee grew up in the 1970s in acouncil estate in London. To stay out of trouble she spent most of her time in her room listening to records. While she was at a club she was noticed byDon Letts, who asked her to work for a store he was managing, Acme Attractions. It was here she met and befriended key players in London's up-and-coming punk scene, including theSex Pistols.[citation needed]
After the Pistols' disintegration, frontmanJohn Lydon asked her to help out with his new band, Public Image Ltd. She first took a management role but later became a public face in the band as a singer/performer on stage.[2][dubious –discuss] In 1981, her face appeared on the front sleeve ofThe Flowers of Romance. Lee and PiL moved to New York City, where they stayed during 1981 and 1982. There, Lee brought a multimedia awareness to the band, including using video as an aspect of live performances. This would lead to the 'riot' at theRitz when the band elected to play behind a giant video screen .
Lee moved back to London and marriedGareth Sager. While raising their first child, she was approached byGeoff Travis with an offer to join him in managing the Rough Trade label. Eventually, in 1987, the two became full partners.[3][2][4]
Rough Trade had many successes, signing acts such asStiff Little Fingers,The Smiths andThe Sundays before going bankrupt in 1991 due to cash flow problems within their distribution business and an expensive and unsuccessful new computer system.[2] Lee and Travis then moved into band management for successful groups includingThe Cranberries andPulp.[2][5]
In 2000,Sanctuary Records decided to resurrect Rough Trade and brought on Lee and Travis to run their old label again.[6] The label had immediate success withThe Strokes,Arcade Fire andThe Libertines.[1] Musicians have credited Lee's musical sense and straightforward honesty as important components of the label's ability to keep signing the next big band.[7][8] In July 2007 Sanctuary Records then sold Rough Trade to theBeggars Group making it once again independent.[9]
Lee personally managedWelsh soul singerDuffy, from 2006 until the relationship ended in January 2010.[10]
