Seymour Stein, Sire Records co-founder who signed The Ramones, Madonna and more, has died
Seymour Stein, the legendary music industry exec who founded Sire Records and signed The Ramones, Madonna, Talking Heads, The Smiths, and more, died on Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 80.
His daughter Mandy Stein shared a statement with The Hollywood Reporter: “I grew up surrounded by music. I didn’t have the most conventional upbringing, but I wouldn’t change my life and my relationship with my dad for anything, and he was a loving and caring grandfather who took pleasure in every moment with his three granddaughters. He gave me the ultimate soundtrack, as well as his wicked sense of humor. I am beyond grateful for every minute our family spent with him, and that the music he brought to the world impacted so many people’s lives in a positive way.”
Having got his start as a teenager working Billboard, Stein co-founded Sire Records with Richard Gottehrer in 1966. The label really came into its own in the punk and new wave era after being acquired by Warner Brothers, and the acts the label signed also included The Replacements, Echo & The Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Ice-T, Ministry, k.d. lang, Erasure, The Go-Betweens, My Bloody Valentine, The Undertones, Primal Scream, Ride, and many more.
Rest easy, Seymour.
Read tributes from Madonna, Johnny Marr, and more below.
RIP Seymour Stein. Legendary record man. Signed me to Sire Records in 1984 and bought me my Red 355 from 48th Street to seal the deal. Worked with The Drifters, Rolling Stones & Shangri-Las. Discovered Talking Heads, Ramones & Madonna. Well done Seymour & thank you my friend. pic.twitter.com/p2BGzlpcqU
— Johnny Marr (@Johnny_Marr) April 3, 2023
Safe travels Seymour Stein
Sire was one of those labels that was a sign of great taste and quality. He knew good music. We met him in New York, at The Limelight, when The Charlatans played there, we’d been asked to put him on the guest list – his plus one was Madonna pic.twitter.com/qS6x9QGYnb
— Tim Burgess (@Tim_Burgess) April 3, 2023
Goodbye Seymour Stein. Sire Records was a proper stamp of quality when I was a teenager: Undertones, Ramones, Telex, Lori & the Chameleons. It started as it meant to go on with this doozy in 1968. https://t.co/UB4uM66TTC
— bob stanley (@rocking_bob) April 3, 2023
i got a summer job teaching seymour stein to use his computer & it did not go very smoothly. after a couple weeks of not progressing past him waving the mouse literally in the air, he moved me to, essentially, reordering the office’s printer paper, which was nice of him! RIP!!!
— speedy ortiz ÷ sad13 ÷ sadie dupuis ÷ haunted guy (@sad13) April 3, 2023
Seymour Stein, you will be greatly missed. You were always so gracious and supportive of the @RamonesOfficial, and to Johnny and @lindaramone. The Johnny Ramone Army sends its love to Mandy Stein and all of Seymour’s family at this sad time. Legends never die. 💕💕💕 pic.twitter.com/atPq34XozH
— Johnny Ramone (@johnnyramone) April 3, 2023
Forget about Madonna, Talking Head, the Ramones etc.
Seymour Stein was also man that signed The Undertones.
RIP Seymour, it was a honour and privilege to know you and thank you so much for the leg up to a young band from Ireland. Tip of hat sir.https://t.co/vulnhPnuls
— Feargal Sharkey (@Feargal_Sharkey) April 3, 2023
RIP Seymour Stein. Classic old school record company guy. He tried to sign me in the early 80’s but we didn’t like the deal. Still, he was a Man who didn’t hold grudges and occasionally advised us throughout the years. I always liked him. Now spinning vinyl in musical heaven❤️ pic.twitter.com/COC1CkwQdL
— Simply Red ❤️ (@SimplyRedHQ) April 3, 2023
