By Gerry Gittelson
Rock-n-radio.com
HOLLYWOOD -- Vicky Hamilton’s status as a key player in Rock is indisputable. Not only did she play a huge role in helping to discover, develop and manage Guns N’ Roses, Poison, Motley Crue, Faster Pussycat, Stryper and others, she was like their band mom.
Hamilton didn’t just believe in her bands, she kept them alive by feeding and housing them when they had no where else to go – which happened a lot.
Sadly, most of the young bands that Hamilton helped the most turned their back on her just before selling millions of records and enjoying all the living-large trappings that went with being international rock stars.
As soon as one band made it big, there was Hamilton helping another young group to some hot soup, a few dollars to print flyers, and perhaps a couch to crash on for the night.
Vicky Hamilton
Vicky Hamilton was like an Angel when soon-to-be famous bands needed one the most.
She would continue to make her mark as a record executive, manager and talent booker through the years – she is not Irving Azoff but deserves credit for sustaining a 25-year career without any help from anyone – and may still have the last laugh when she finishes a tell-all book she’s been writing.
In the mean time, Hamilton was willing to answer honestly hard questions I’ve been wanting to ask her for years and years in this exclusive rock-n-radio interview.
You helped three of the biggest bands the world make it big – Guns N’ Roses, Poison and Motley Crue. How do you feel about it today?
I am proud that I saw the talent that they had early on and was there to help them bring it to its full potential
What on Earth compelled you to let such destructive people live in your apartment? Didn’t everyone tell you you were crazy?
It wasn't premeditated. It started because Axl was being chased by the police, and I was basically hiding a fugitive. I have not let bands live with me since that time period.
How come Motley Crue is not mentioned in your resume?
I did management consultant work for them, so I can't claim management. I will talk about them in my upcoming book, “Trimming Tits off Tires.” I have GREAT Motley Crue stories.
I was working at Licorice Pizza at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Clarke Street, when Motley Crue lived on Clarke. It was in the punk heyday.
Nikki (Sixx) is brilliant. Always was and always will be. A true visionary. I cried the first time Motley Crue played the Forum. It was so overwhelming for me to see for the first time someone’s vision come to life.
Tommy (Lee) is the heart and soul. He kept everything light and fluffy.
Nikki Sixx
So who was first, Poison or Guns N’ Roses?
Poison.
Yeah, I was right there in those days, too. There was NO QUESTION that Poison would be successful, and I don’t care how many bands were out there. They had the IT factor, agree?
I LOVED glam rock. I saw Poison and said, “Where do I sign up!”
They flyered like no other. Hardest working band I have ever seen.
The promoting machine was Bobby Dall. He would always say: "Just put the name on the flyer as big as possible on puke green, the club and the time. Then put it as high on the telephone pole as possible so everyone an see it when you pass it on the street in your car.”
They had quite a system worked out.
So, take me through the steps of how you became Poison’s first manager, and what the time period of the band was. They already had C.C. DeVille, right?
No. Matt Smith was the guitar player back then. I guess this was around 1984. A lady at A&M Records named Ann told me about them. They were only in town a few weeks when I got involved. Eventually, I worked out a deal with the Troubadour that they would play one time a month and the Troub would pay their rent and phone bill (laughs)
Poison
Did you invest money into the band?
No, I didn't have any money, but I got Howie Hubberman to invest, and Bobby and I wrote up an investment proposal and got a few takers.
Eventually, Howie was the manager and you were out, what happened?
I sold my contract to Howie. I couldn't take it anymore.
Couldn’t take it any more? What do you mean?
Bret (Michaels) was a pretty demanding guy, and it got kind of abusive. When things no longer are fun, I'm out. Life is too short.
This was still before the band was signed to Enigma, right?
They signed to Enigma for $15,000, I think. I was not into the deal. I had just worked Stryper on Enigma. No money makes for more work on the manager.
I remember when Poison first started, the early momentum was very slow. “Cry Tough,” the first single, bombed. Did you ever lose faith they would hit it big?
No, They were very driven. I knew they would be a success. Even when Atlantic passed on the demo deal we did, I just knew it was a matter of time.
Oh, so you got them a demo deal with Atlantic? Which songs were on it?
They had the demo deal with (A & R executive) Kenny Ostin when I picked them up. That's why they were at A&M Studios. I can't remember what songs. “Outfuckingrageous” was one, I think. Not any of the hits.
I remember Kenny Ostin, RIP.
Yeah, sad. Makes me happy that I am sober now.
So did Kenny pass on the demo?
No, the higher-ups at the time made him pass
Bunch of fools, eh?
Yep.
When did Guns N’ Roses come into the picture?
1985, I think. It's all a blur. As my friend Iris Berry says, "If you remember the 80s, you weren't really there."
Axl Rose
OK, a couple of questions I HAVE to ask.
No, I didn’t sleep with anyone in GNR.
How did you know I was going to ask that?
The way you started with I HAVE To ask ...
Well, these bands were well-known for being extremely horny. Did you have any romantic interludes at all?
Not with any of my management clients. I try and keep business and pleasure separate
Yeah, but sometimes at 4 a.m, you never know ...
Yeah, I did party with them, which I wouldn't do now because I have been sober eight years. I think I have finally grown up a little.
A lot of them are sober, too!
True! Thankfully, or they would be dead
Sometimes hitting the bottom is the best thing that ever happens to you. I am going through a breakup, so I'm a little raw, but I know once I come out the other side I will be much stronger and clearer about what I want for myself in a personal relationship. You learn so much more about what you do want from what you DON’T want. Same thing in band management. I think I am a much better manager because I can see it as a business.
Backstagei in '85 with Bret Michaels (he is the one on the left)
The bands you really helped to make it big in the first place are now millionaires many times over all, but they severed ties with you at a relatively early point in there career. You must have been EXTREMELY resentful at one point, how could you not be?
Of course. I spent many years in therapy processing my anger, and Axl Rose showed up on my fourth step a lot. But, you know, we all do the best with our awareness in any given minute. I was not a victim, but a volunteer. I was young and didn't really know how to handle business back then anyway.
You know, the fat lady isn't singing yet. It is all a learning process. I am co-managing a band from OZ called The Art with Richard Bishop, who I think could be bigger than GNR. I represent painters, and Slash just hired Ron English (a painter I rep) for an album jacket. I may have a best-selling book in the future, and I am a screenwriter, too. All of the things that have happened to me are part of my story. I have to be grateful.
This is a business of relationships, and I have had relationships with a lot of creative people, and I appreciate them all and wish them all continued success.
Well, damn, it wouldn’t hurt if one of 'em at least bought you a diamond necklace for your birthday one day. Fair is fair. Just surprise the hell out of ya, ya know? Wouldn’t that be nice?
Yeah. If any of you scumbags are reading this, a house in Malibu and a Bentley would be rad. (laughs)
Also, some of the people I was involved with have helped me over the years, like Greg Markel for Altered States. He continues to be a close friend and has helped me; he has a big marketing company now.
I have been part of the local rock landscape for 25 years and can say that Vicky Hamilton could and should go down as having the best set of ears in the history of Los Angeles rock. Your legacy speaks for itself, and no one can take that away from you.
I have always come from the heart and worked the projects that I truly believed in. You can't lose if you do this. You may not make millions of dollars but you do get the satisfaction of birthing music, art, etc., that you are proud of.
Do you remember the night Guns N’ Roses opened for the Stones at the Coliseum, and Axl announced on stage that Guns N’ Roses was over, and that this would be the last night they would ever play together?
I wasn't at that show but I know all about it
Did it surprise you?
No, Axl always had a very public way of airing his grievances
Looking back, it just seems so weird: How could you be in a bad mood on what should have been the most special night of your life?
Well, that was part of GNR's appeal right? You KNEW you were watching a train wreck, but you couldn't take your eyes off of it.
How big a smile does it bring to your face every time you hear "Welcome to the Jungle"? That was YOUR fucking band, Vicky.
Actually "Welcome To The Jungle" still makes me cringe. When the band lived with me that was the4 song on my answering machine. The part where it said "You’re gonna die" and the phone went off a 100 times a night. (laughs)
Did you ever snort cocaine on a Gold record?
I wasn't much of coke girl. I did snort coke with Motley Crue in the early days before they had Gold records. I got a nosebleed at the record store, and that was kind of the end of it. I was so vain. Nosebleeds didn't fit my image. (laughs)
If you close your eyes, can you still picture a young Duff McKagen enjoying Top Ramen?
Not so much Top Ramen but his yellow green punk rock hair for sure.
Are you relieved -- and surprised -- that (“Rocket Queen”) Barbie Von Grief is still alive and remarkably beautiful?
I haven't seen Barbie in a long time, but when you start out that beautiful, well, unless you are really a mess, you stay beautiful.
D you think if you an hour alone with Axl Rose, you could convince him to get back together with all of the original band mates? and would you enjoy such an opportunity?
I think it will happen one day. And yes, I would love to sit down with him. I think we would get to have a couple of laughs.
Can you pinpoint the reason why Faster Pussycat was not as big as Poison and Motley and GNR?
I think they came in when the tide was turning. It wasn't so long after Faster that Nirvana was starting to take hold. Same thing with the Lost Boys (Randy-O, who I managed). Just bad timing.
Was Axl a big pot smoker?
No. He wasn't much of a pot smoker in the early days (I was, though, and so was Steven Adler.) Axl liked to drink, though.
Yeah, I know Steven, too. He will NEVER change. Great kid, though.
Real sweetheart, for sure.
But destructive. Did he ever break anything in your apartment?
Steven or Axl?
Probably both (laughs)
Well, Axl heaved my coffee table at Steven once when he was sleeping on the couch, and Steven was trying to help me clean a little. All the bottles and Jack Daniels went flying. (laughs) I still have that table -- the only thing I kept that was in that apartment. It still has cigarette burns and wet rings all over it. (laughs)
OK, one last question: Could you tell us one thing about Motley or Guns or Poison that no one else in the world knows about?
Yeah, but you will have to buy my book to find out. Here’s one thing: The bathroom of the Clarke Street apartment, oh my god. Blue-black hair dye all over the walls from Slash and Izzy dying their hair. There was some kind of unknown slime on the bottom of the bathtub. Also, Axl use to take the boom box into the bathroom and sing Nazareth at full volume. He said the acoustics were great in there.
