Richard Cole

File:Richard Cole 2.jpg

Richard Cole

Richard Cole (born January 2, 1946) was heavily involved in the rock music business from the mid-1960s to 2003, and is most famous for being the tour manager of Led Zeppelin from 1968 to 1980.

Before his involvement with Led Zeppelin, which was by far Cole's longest and most significant affiliation, he had worked as the tour manager for The New Vaudeville Band, The Who and The Yardbirds. It was during the final years of The Yardbirds that he got to know Jimmy Page, who later went on to form Led Zeppelin.

Cole was I was one of the first tour managers who specialized in the American tours of English bands. Instead of hiring equipment in America and an American crew to service the band, as was the custom until that point, Cole implemented the new practice of bringing over an entirely English crew, in addition to all the band's equipment. This practice subsequently became commonplace for other bands touring America.

Whilst tour manager for Led Zeppelin Cole allegedly contributed to Jimmy Page's drug habit and John Bonham's drinking problems, as well as his own. He was not hired as tour manager for Led Zeppelin's final ever concert tour of Europe in 1980 because Led Zeppelin's manager, Peter Grant, was concerned about his drug and alcohol abuse.

Cole has also served as the tour manager for Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath, Lita Ford, Ozzy Osborne and Three Dog Night, managed Fem 2 Fem and, most recently, toured with Gipsy Kings, Crazy Town and Fu Manchu.

Since Led Zeppelin's breakup in 1980, Cole has contributed to a number of unofficial Led Zeppelin biographies, and has written his own book, Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored, with Richard Trubo. According to his publisher HarperCollins, he now divides his time between Venice, California, and London.

Sources

• Cole, Richard and Trubo, Richard Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored, New York, HarperCollins, 1992, ISBN 0-06-093837-4