Seymour Stein’s footprint in rock ‘n’ roll loomed massive, and whereas it was at all times clear to his daughter, Mandy Stein, it was maybe most evident in her personal profession as a music documentarian, when she realized how intermeshed her father’s legacy was within the historical past of music.
“When I first began making movies, I found a complete world about my dad. My first documentary was on these blues musicians from North Hill nation, Mississippi, and I began enjoying him a few of the music and he was like, ‘Oh, that’s Mississippi Joe Callicott,’” she recalled Sunday. “And I didn’t even notice that he had a document label referred to as Blue Horizon the place he had signed Fleetwood Mac with Peter Inexperienced, and simply his information and his expertise, it was simply eternal.”
Stein shared particular moments and recollections of Stein with The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday, the day the legend died at 80 — from his waning days spending time along with his household to the tales she remembered of his iconic profession discovering the likes of Madonna and The Ramones.
Your father had such a wealthy, superb profession. What would you want folks to recollect most about him?
His ardour for music, and I actually really feel like he created a soundtrack that’s untouchable, from The Ramones to the Speaking Heads; I consider “Hocus Pocus” (by Focus) and Renaissance, and clearly Madonna is every little thing. However his style is fairly impeccable, and he was relentless along with his spirit of constructing certain that these artists bought heard. And he was beneficiant. He by no means mentioned, “I found,” as a result of he actually believed that good music could be discovered, and he was a collaborative particular person and gave credit score to everybody that was part of his crew. However I consider all of the music and artists that he signed and jumped on planes and went to obscure (locations) … All these superb tales of going at Yonkers to listen to Steven Tyler earlier than he was Steven Tyler, and he would go wherever to listen to nice music, and he was so passionate and actually wouldn’t cease if he believed in an artist.
How pleased with him had been you to see all that he achieved?
I don’t actually really feel like proud is a powerful sufficient phrase. I simply assume to me, and clearly I’m biased, he was the last word music man and his style was impeccable. However what was so cool, it was actually assorted from punk to ok.d. lang to Ice-T to Madonna. He actually spoke in regards to the music and that was what was most necessary to him.
What has the final couple years been like for you and your father?
He lived in Los Angeles with my kids and I. He nearly went within the pool day by day and he would take heed to the music that he liked a lot, singing doo-wop and lots of music from his childhood; doo-wop and nation western, like Hank Williams, and simply could be belting it out within the pool.
He was a doting grandfather and was extremely pleased with his grandchildren. My oldest daughter is learning for her bat mitzvah so they might do the blessings collectively. He was a proud Jew and he loved doing Shabbat with us, and he was extremely pleased with his granddaughter, Dora, who’s a freshman at Emory, who was my sister’s daughter who we misplaced to mind most cancers, and he was a extra enjoyable grandfather than Dad, I’d say.
Do you’ve got a favourite reminiscence?
I don’t have a favourite reminiscence, however once I first began making movies, I found a complete world about my dad. My first documentary was on these blues musicians from North Hill nation, Mississippi, and I began enjoying him a few of the music and he was like, “Oh, that’s Mississippi Joe Callicott.” And I didn’t even notice that he had a document label referred to as Blue Horizon the place he had signed Fleetwood Mac with Peter Inexperienced, and simply his information and his expertise, it was simply eternal. He had a protracted life, however he packed it.
There’s simply a lot. He was very naughty too. It’s at all times enjoyable to have a naughty dad who would say inappropriate issues at occasions whenever you’re not speculated to be inappropriate.
Was there a aspect of your father that we within the public didn’t get an opportunity to see that you really want folks to find out about?
One factor that was nice about my dad once I was at school was he was such a historical past buff, so he was kind of like my CliffsNotes. So if I had [a question] on one thing, I might name him and he could be like an oral CliffsNote. He was a voracious historical past buff and movie buff, and he liked gathering antiques and he was very enthusiastic about gathering antiques and actual property.
Was there the rest that you just wished so as to add or say?
Clearly very pleased with every little thing he did at Sire. He began that with Richard [Gottehrer]. He and Richard had been finest buddies all through his entire life, and regardless that he went off to provide data, they’d a really particular friendship. And I believe that’s form of superb to remain buddies that lengthy. He had an awesome partnership, regardless that they bought divorced, with my mother. The day she died, they spoke day by day. My mother noticed The Ramones earlier than my dad did and mentioned, “You will need to signal them.” And what he wasn’t nice at she was, and vice versa. Regardless that they bought divorced, they had been the very best companions and liked one another very, very a lot, and revered one another very, very a lot. They each would say how sensible and good one another had been. “Oh, your mom was so good.” And he missed her so much, particularly after my sister handed away. He missed her dearly.
