Music industry veteran Eric Barrett has broken 55 years of silence to reveal the behind the scenes antics and demanding behavior of major music stars, including Madonna, Luther Vandross and George Michael. Barrett, who previously served as trusted road manager and confidante to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, details his experiences in a new memoir recounting decades of touring with music royalty.
The book, titled Experienced: On the Road with Jimi Hendrix and Beyond, was written with Lawrence Robinson and published by Diversion Books. It lifts the curtain on Barrett's career working with high-profile performers, contrasting the surprisingly wholesome personality of Hendrix with the backstage diva demands of other celebrated artists.
Working with Jimi Hendrix
Barrett was closer than anyone to Hendrix's supernatural talent and personal struggles during the peak of his career. He was present for Hendrix's most iconic moments, including the famous 1969 performance at the Woodstock festival where the rocker set the event ablaze.
During live concerts, Barrett frequently repaired and replaced the amplifiers and guitars that Hendrix smashed on stage. Despite his intense performance style, Barrett revealed Hendrix to be a sensitive, generous and insecure genius who would only give dirty looks when unhappy.
In addition to Hendrix, Barrett worked alongside rock stars including David Bowie, Lenny Kravitz and Billy Idol across several decades in the music business.
Rehearsals with Madonna
Barrett's first impression of Madonna was that she was going to be a huge star, despite negative reviews from critics regarding her voice. However, after watching her scream at everyone within earshot while berating her dancers, backing band and stage crew, he feared she would be a nightmare to work with.
His perspective shifted as rehearsals stretched beyond three hours without her energy or determination flagging. Recognizing how hard she worked, Barrett learned she had been rehearsing for three months and was frustrated because the production was not as tight as it should have been due to crew members taking advantage of her as a newcomer.
When her manager, Freddy DeMann, took Barrett to her dressing room, Barrett overheard Madonna ask: "For f***'s sake, Freddy, do I have to meet him?" Barrett let the frazzled singer vent her frustration before calmly telling her: "I can help you."
As they arrived in Seattle for the first show of the Virgin tour, Barrett felt confident the production was ready, but Madonna grew increasingly nervous. She repeatedly yelled from the stage: "Eric! ERIC!"
When Barrett asked what was wrong, Madonna complained: "The ramp at the front of the stage wobbles when I walk on it." Barrett promised to fix it, but she soon called out again, stomping her feet to ask: "What's wrong with the sound?" and later demanding: "Why is that man smoking near me?" Barrett noted the man was 100 yards away, but promised to speak to him.
By the time opening act the Beastie Boys finished their set, Barrett was beginning to hate the sound of his own name. However, once Madonna performed, her doubts melted away and she delivered a great show for her first live gig ever.
After the concert, Barrett returned to his hotel room to take a shower. Room service arrived with a bottle of champagne, flowers and a card from Madonna reading: "Thank f*** someone around here knows what they're doing. Madonna."
Luther Vandross's Transformation
Barrett first met R&B singer Luther Vandross in 1974, when Vandross was working as a backup singer for David Bowie on the second half of the Diamond Dogs tour. Barrett recalled Vandross as a polite young artist who suffered from a crippling fear of flying.
At an airport before one flight, a sweating Vandross asked: "Excuse me, Mr Barrett, would you mind if I take a Greyhound instead of flying?" Barrett agreed, saying: "No problem, Luther. Get a cab to the bus terminal. And travel safe. I'll see you sometime tomorrow." Barrett arranged for Vandross to travel by road whenever possible.
When Barrett was hired as tour manager for Vandross in 1997, he found the singer transformed into a spoiled prima donna. Upon arriving at the tour management office, Barrett was forced to wait until a security guard announced: "Luther will receive you now."
During a sound check, Vandross berated a wardrobe stylist over a wrinkle in a backing singer's dress. Days later, he targeted his tour bus driver over unwashed bed sheets, demanding Barrett fire him immediately: "Eric, when I get off the stage after my sound check this f***ing driver had better be a hundred miles down the road. Fire him. I never want to see his lying face again."
Although the driver showed receipts proving the sheets were laundered, Barrett had to replace him. Following widespread verbal abuse of the crew, including a public dressing down that caused the production manager to quit, Barrett turned down future offers to work with Vandross.
George Michael's Private Jet and Bed Roadie
Barrett praised George Michael as a performer but found him aloof and detached offstage. Over three months of rehearsals and touring, Michael rarely spoke directly to Barrett and kept everyone at arm's length, relaying all messages through assistants.
While the band and crew complained about poor hotel accommodations, Michael demanded high-level luxury treatment. Unwilling to sleep in hotel beds, Michael flew back home to England in a private jet after every show, flying back to the next European city the following day.
Because bad weather could ground his plane, managers also booked hotel suites in each city. To accommodate his refusal to sleep in hotel beds, management hired a dedicated bed roadie to drive a truck containing Michael's king-size bed from city to city. Barrett noted that the backup bed was never used.
