“People have said to me, “Write a book, write a book, write a book!” and I’ve thought about it…the things behind the scenes interest me more than biographical crap. Being a witness is important.”
This quote from Giorgio Gomelsky introduces the biography of Giorgio Gomelsky “For Your Love” by author Francis Dumaurier. Giorgio was the first manager of The Rolling Stones and manager/producer of The Yardbirds. His impact on the music world was profound and Dumaurier delivers a compelling account of his adventurous life. Dumaurier, who met Gomelsky in the early 1980s, stayed close friends with him for decades. This book is a rare tribute to his friend, who never finished his autobiography before his death in 2016.
Dumaurier takes you from the beginning of Gomelsky’s life in Georgia, Iran, Italy, and Switzerland to booking The Rolling Stones in 1963 as the house band for his U.K. venue, Crawdaddy Club. After managing The Rolling Stones for a short time, he managed and produced The Yardbirds and was instrumental in getting them on the 1965 Beatles European tour as a supporting act. His influence in the music world is vast as Gomelsky later opened a PR Company Paragon Publicity and Marmalade Records, producing demos for iconic musicians Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Rod Stewart.
Giorgio Gomelsky “For Your Love” is a compelling look into the life of Gomelsky, whose love of the arts and music, led him to nurture so many influential bands and artists. As the book closes with musicians’ and friends’ recollections of Giorgio’s influence on their lives and careers, it’s clear how important it is to acknowledge his impact on music. He took on experimental bands to shake up the world with groundbreaking music and his legacy is forever lasting. As Gomelsky said, “Music is a tool for revolution.”
I’m Music Magazine Writer Meesha Walden
