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{{More citations needed|date=August 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
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'''Steve O'Rourke''' ({{birth date|1940|10|1|df=y}} – {{death date|2003|10|30|df=y}}) was an English [[Music management|music manager]] and racing driver. He was the manager of [[Pink Floyd]], a position he held from 1968 until his death. Among his accomplishments was negotiating Pink Floyd's split with bass player and main songwriter [[Roger Waters]].
'''Steve O'Rourke'''
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({{birth date|1940|10|1|df=y}} – {{death date|2003|10|30|df=y}}) became the [[Music management|manager]] of the influential British rock band [[Pink Floyd]] after the departure of [[Syd Barrett]] in 1968. O'Rourke remained manager of the band until his death, negotiating the band's split with bass player and main songwriter [[Roger Waters]].


==Life and Pink Floyd manager==
==Life and Pink Floyd manager==
O'Rourke's father, Tommy O'Rourke, was a fisherman on the [[Aran Islands]] off the West of Ireland. He travelled to London for the premiere of the [[Robert Flaherty]] documentary film, ''[[Man of Aran]]'', in which he appeared as a shark hunter. He settled in London, where Steve was born in the suburb of [[Willesden]].<ref name = "Telegraph">{{cite web| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1445913/Steve-ORourke.html| title = Steve O'Rourke obituary| date = 5 November 2003| accessdate = 24 February 2012| publisher = Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>
O'Rourke's father, Tommy O'Rourke, was a fisherman on the [[Aran Islands]] off the west coast of Ireland. He travelled to London for the premiere of the [[Robert Flaherty]] documentary film, ''[[Man of Aran]]'', in which he appeared as a shark hunter. He settled in London, where Steve was born in the suburb of [[Willesden]].<ref name = "Telegraph">{{cite web| url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1445913/Steve-ORourke.html| title = Steve O'Rourke obituary| date = 5 November 2003| accessdate = 24 February 2012| work = The Daily Telegraph|location=London}}</ref>


O'Rourke trained as an accountant and went to work with Bryan Morrison Agency, which became a part of [[NEMS Enterprises]], as a junior agent and book keeper.<ref name = "Telegraph"/> Initially O'Rourke booked gigs for Pink Floyd, while the band was managed by [[Peter Jenner]] and [[Andrew King (music manager)|Andrew King]]. When Pink Floyd parted company with [[Syd Barrett]] in 1968, King and Jenner remained with Barrett, and O'Rourke took over managing the band.<ref name = "Telegraph"/> In the early 1970s, O'Rourke left NEMS, and founded his own company, EMKA Productions, named after his first daughter Emma Kate. (O'Rourke subsequently fathered another daughter and three sons).<ref name = "Telegraph"/>
O'Rourke trained as an accountant and went to work with the Bryan Morrison Agency, which became a part of [[NEMS Enterprises]], as a junior agent and book keeper.<ref name = "Telegraph"/> Initially, O'Rourke booked gigs for Pink Floyd, while the band was managed by [[Peter Jenner]] and [[Andrew King (music manager)|Andrew King]]. When Pink Floyd parted company with [[Syd Barrett]] in 1968, King and Jenner remained with Barrett, and O'Rourke took over managing the band.<ref name = "Telegraph"/> In the early 1970s, O'Rourke left NEMS, and founded his own company, '''EMKA Productions''', named after his first daughter Emma Kate. (O'Rourke subsequently fathered another daughter and three sons).<ref name = "Telegraph"/>

During post-production of the film ''[[Pink Floyd – The Wall]]'', he received a phone call in the office of [[Alan Parker]], the film director. It was [[Roger Waters]], requesting a meeting. On the way out of Parker's office, O'Rourke failed to see the closed glass doors, which he shattered. He was badly cut and concussed. When he opened his eyes, he saw Parker's secretary Angie picking glass out of his face. He ended up marrying her. This was his second marriage, as he previously eloped with a lady simply named "Linda". Linda stood by both Steve and the band through their formative years. She has two daughters and a son (all with Steve), lives in Surrey, and is a therapist.


O'Rourke suffered a stroke and died in Miami, Florida, in 2003. His funeral service was held on 14 November 2003 at [[Chichester Cathedral]] in Sussex, England, where, as a tribute, Pink Floyd members [[David Gilmour]], [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] and [[Nick Mason]] performed together in public for the first time since October 1994. They played "[[Fat Old Sun]]" and "[[The Great Gig in the Sky]]", with [[Dick Parry]] playing the saxophone as he followed the coffin.
O'Rourke suffered a stroke and died in Miami, Florida, in 2003. His funeral service was held on 14 November 2003 at [[Chichester Cathedral]] in Sussex, England, where, as a tribute, Pink Floyd members [[David Gilmour]], [[Richard Wright (musician)|Richard Wright]] and [[Nick Mason]] performed together in public for the first time since October 1994. They played "[[Fat Old Sun]]" and "[[The Great Gig in the Sky]]", with [[Dick Parry]] playing the saxophone as he followed the coffin.
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==Racing career==
==Racing career==
O'Rourke also built a highly successful parallel career as an enthusiastic gentleman racing driver – a lifelong passion which he shared with the Floyd's drummer [[Nick Mason]] and, to a lesser extent, with David Gilmour. He adored historic racing with cars of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
O'Rourke also built a highly successful parallel career as an enthusiastic gentleman racing driver – a lifelong passion which he shared with the Floyd's drummer [[Nick Mason]] and, to a lesser extent, with David Gilmour. He adored [[historic racing]] with cars of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.


His ambition to compete at the [[Le Mans 24 Hours]] was realised in 1979 when he finished twelfth in his [[Ferrari 512 BB]]. He returned to [[1980 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans in 1980]], but after a tire exploded at nearly {{Convert|200|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} on the [[Mulsanne Straight]], O'Rourke bought the spare tail of a retired sister Ferrari in the pit lane to finish. His car completed the race wearing green forward bodywork and a red tail.
His ambition to compete at the [[Le Mans 24 Hours]] was realised in 1979 when he finished twelfth in his [[Ferrari 512 BB]]. He returned to [[1980 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans in 1980]], but after a tire exploded at nearly {{Convert|200|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} on the [[Mulsanne Straight]], O'Rourke bought the spare tail of a retired sister Ferrari in the pit lane to finish. His car completed the race wearing green forward bodywork and a red tail.
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In 1981 he founded [[EMKA Racing]] and began competition in a [[BMW M1]] with [[Derek Bell (auto racer)|Derek Bell]]. For Le Mans he was joined by [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] and [[Eddie Jordan]]. O'Rourke left the circuit on the night of the race to oversee a [[Pink Floyd]] concert in London, then flew back the next morning and jumped straight into the car for another two-hour driving stint.
In 1981 he founded [[EMKA Racing]] and began competition in a [[BMW M1]] with [[Derek Bell (auto racer)|Derek Bell]]. For Le Mans he was joined by [[David Hobbs (racing driver)|David Hobbs]] and [[Eddie Jordan]]. O'Rourke left the circuit on the night of the race to oversee a [[Pink Floyd]] concert in London, then flew back the next morning and jumped straight into the car for another two-hour driving stint.


In 1982 he contested two rounds of the [[1982 British Formula One Championship|British Formula One Championship]].
⚫
His team later became supported by [[Aston Martin]] and he assisted in the construction of a [[Group C]] sportscar for [[1983 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans in 1983]]. The car saw success by 1985, when it briefly led the [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans|24-Hours]] in the hands of co-driver [[Tiff Needell]] and finished ahead of the works-backed [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]]s, to O'Rourke's great amusement. However, the team briefly folded as Aston Martin left the project.

⚫
His team later became supported by [[Aston Martin]] and he assisted in the construction of a [[Group C]] sportscar for [[1983 24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans in 1983]]. The car saw success by 1985, when it briefly led the [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans|24-Hours]] in the hands of co-driver [[Tiff Needell]] and finished ahead of the works-backed [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]]s, to O'Rourke's great amusement. However, the team folded soon after when Aston Martin left the project.


In 1991 he and [[David Gilmour]] co-drove a [[Jaguar C-Type]] in the PanAmerican retro race through [[Mexico]], surviving a dramatic crash with only a broken leg. The events were covered in ''[[La Carrera Panamericana]]''—a film about the race, which included a soundtrack of previously released tracks and new tracks from [[Pink Floyd]].
In 1991 he and [[David Gilmour]] co-drove a [[Jaguar C-Type]] in the [[PanAmerican retro race]] through [[Mexico]], surviving a dramatic crash with only a broken leg. The events were covered in ''[[La Carrera Panamericana]]''—a film about the race, which included a soundtrack of previously released tracks and new tracks from [[Pink Floyd]].


In 1991 he resurrected EMKA Racing and begin varied participation in the [[British GT Championship]], [[BPR Global GT Series]], and [[FIA GT Championship]]. He earned the British GT GT2 class drivers championship with co-driver Tim Sugden in 1997, then again in the GT1 class in 1998. However O'Rourke greatest racing success came while co-driving a second-hand [[McLaren F1 GTR]] at Le Mans with Tim Sugden and Bill Auberlen to finish fourth overall. Having saved money by refusing the costly update pack for the McLaren, O'Rourke typically spent as much again on a huge party for all concerned in the EMKA team's success.
In 1991 he resurrected EMKA Racing and begin varied participation in the [[British GT Championship]], [[BPR Global GT Series]] and [[FIA GT Championship]]. He earned the British GT GT2 class drivers championship with co-driver [[Tim Sugden]] in 1997, then again in the GT1 class in 1998. However O'Rourke's greatest racing success came while co-driving a [[McLaren F1 GTR]] at Le Mans with Tim Sugden and Bill Auberlen to finish fourth overall. Having saved money by refusing the costly update pack for the McLaren, O'Rourke typically spent as much again on a huge party for all concerned in the EMKA team's success.


From 2000 O'Rourke concentrated on the [[FIA GT Championship]] driving an until he was forced to retire from driving for health reasons; he then presided over the drivers Tim Sugden, Martin Short, and factory Porsche driver [[Emmanuel Collard]] as they won at [[Autodromo di Pergusa|Pergusa]] and [[Scandinavian Raceway|Anderstorp]]. Porsche responded by offering racing assistance to the [[EMKA Racing|EMKA]] factory for the 2004 season, to the delight of O'Rourke.
From 2000 O'Rourke concentrated on the [[FIA GT Championship]] driving an until he was forced to retire from driving for health reasons; he then presided over the drivers Tim Sugden, Martin Short and factory Porsche driver [[Emmanuel Collard]] as they won at [[Autodromo di Pergusa|Pergusa]] and [[Scandinavian Raceway|Anderstorp]]. Porsche responded by offering racing assistance to the [[EMKA Racing|EMKA]] factory for the 2004 season, to the delight of O'Rourke.


O'Rourke's death soon after the end of the 2003 season led to EMKA Racing folding.
O'Rourke's death soon after the end of the 2003 season led to the shutdown of EMKA Racing.


==Other artists==
==Other artists==
{{Expand list|date=August 2008}}
{{Incomplete list|date=August 2008}}
Other artists managed by O'Rourke include:
Other artists managed by O'Rourke include:
*[[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]], record producer
*[[Chris Thomas (record producer)|Chris Thomas]], record producer
*[[Kokomo (band)|Kokomo]], band<ref>{{cite web| url = http://thebluemoment.com/2013/12/19/the-groove-abides/| title = The Groove Abides| author = Williams, Richard| date = December 19, 2013| accessdate = December 26, 2013| publisher = The Blue Moment}}</ref>
*[[Kokomo (band)|Kokomo]], band<ref>{{cite web| url = http://thebluemoment.com/2013/12/19/the-groove-abides/| title = The Groove Abides| author = Williams, Richard| date = 19 December 2013| accessdate = 26 December 2013| publisher = The Blue Moment}}</ref>
*[[Shane Miner (Production Manager)|Heath Lefke]], [[production manager]]
*[[Shane Miner (Production Manager)|Heath Lefke]], [[Production manager (music)|production manager]]


==Footnotes==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1445913/Steve-ORourke.html Steve O'Rourke obituary, ''The Telegraph'']
* [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1445913/Steve-ORourke.html Steve O'Rourke obituary, ''The Telegraph'']


{{Refimprove|date=June 2013}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2013}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Pink Floyd}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Orourke, Steve}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orourke, Steve}}
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[[Category:People associated with Pink Floyd]]
[[Category:English music managers]]
[[Category:English music managers]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
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[[Category:People from Willesden]]
[[Category:People from Willesden]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:English racing drivers]]
[[Category:English Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:British Formula One Championship drivers]]
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[[Category:Pink Floyd]]
[[Category:20th-century English businesspeople]]

Latest revision as of 01:41, 5 May 2024

Steve O'Rourke ((1940-10-01)1 October 1940 – (2003-10-30)30 October 2003) was an English music manager and racing driver. He was the manager of Pink Floyd, a position he held from 1968 until his death. Among his accomplishments was negotiating Pink Floyd's split with bass player and main songwriter Roger Waters.

Life and Pink Floyd manager

[edit]

O'Rourke's father, Tommy O'Rourke, was a fisherman on the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. He travelled to London for the premiere of the Robert Flaherty documentary film, Man of Aran, in which he appeared as a shark hunter. He settled in London, where Steve was born in the suburb of Willesden.[1]

O'Rourke trained as an accountant and went to work with the Bryan Morrison Agency, which became a part of NEMS Enterprises, as a junior agent and book keeper.[1] Initially, O'Rourke booked gigs for Pink Floyd, while the band was managed by Peter Jenner and Andrew King. When Pink Floyd parted company with Syd Barrett in 1968, King and Jenner remained with Barrett, and O'Rourke took over managing the band.[1] In the early 1970s, O'Rourke left NEMS, and founded his own company, EMKA Productions, named after his first daughter Emma Kate. (O'Rourke subsequently fathered another daughter and three sons).[1]

O'Rourke suffered a stroke and died in Miami, Florida, in 2003. His funeral service was held on 14 November 2003 at Chichester Cathedral in Sussex, England, where, as a tribute, Pink Floyd members David Gilmour, Richard Wright and Nick Mason performed together in public for the first time since October 1994. They played "Fat Old Sun" and "The Great Gig in the Sky", with Dick Parry playing the saxophone as he followed the coffin.

David Gilmour's 2006 solo album On an Island was dedicated to O'Rourke's memory (as well as memories of tour manager Tony Howard and arranger/orchestrator Michael Kamen). Nick Mason's book Inside Out: A Personal History of Pink Floyd was also dedicated to O'Rourke.

Racing career

[edit]

O'Rourke also built a highly successful parallel career as an enthusiastic gentleman racing driver – a lifelong passion which he shared with the Floyd's drummer Nick Mason and, to a lesser extent, with David Gilmour. He adored historic racing with cars of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

His ambition to compete at the Le Mans 24 Hours was realised in 1979 when he finished twelfth in his Ferrari 512 BB. He returned to Le Mans in 1980, but after a tire exploded at nearly 200 mph (320 km/h) on the Mulsanne Straight, O'Rourke bought the spare tail of a retired sister Ferrari in the pit lane to finish. His car completed the race wearing green forward bodywork and a red tail.

In 1981 he founded EMKA Racing and began competition in a BMW M1 with Derek Bell. For Le Mans he was joined by David Hobbs and Eddie Jordan. O'Rourke left the circuit on the night of the race to oversee a Pink Floyd concert in London, then flew back the next morning and jumped straight into the car for another two-hour driving stint.

In 1982 he contested two rounds of the British Formula One Championship.

His team later became supported by Aston Martin and he assisted in the construction of a Group C sportscar for Le Mans in 1983. The car saw success by 1985, when it briefly led the 24-Hours in the hands of co-driver Tiff Needell and finished ahead of the works-backed Jaguars, to O'Rourke's great amusement. However, the team folded soon after when Aston Martin left the project.

In 1991 he and David Gilmour co-drove a Jaguar C-Type in the PanAmerican retro race through Mexico, surviving a dramatic crash with only a broken leg. The events were covered in La Carrera Panamericana—a film about the race, which included a soundtrack of previously released tracks and new tracks from Pink Floyd.

In 1991 he resurrected EMKA Racing and begin varied participation in the British GT Championship, BPR Global GT Series and FIA GT Championship. He earned the British GT GT2 class drivers championship with co-driver Tim Sugden in 1997, then again in the GT1 class in 1998. However O'Rourke's greatest racing success came while co-driving a McLaren F1 GTR at Le Mans with Tim Sugden and Bill Auberlen to finish fourth overall. Having saved money by refusing the costly update pack for the McLaren, O'Rourke typically spent as much again on a huge party for all concerned in the EMKA team's success.

From 2000 O'Rourke concentrated on the FIA GT Championship driving an until he was forced to retire from driving for health reasons; he then presided over the drivers Tim Sugden, Martin Short and factory Porsche driver Emmanuel Collard as they won at Pergusa and Anderstorp. Porsche responded by offering racing assistance to the EMKA factory for the 2004 season, to the delight of O'Rourke.

O'Rourke's death soon after the end of the 2003 season led to the shutdown of EMKA Racing.

Other artists

[edit]

Other artists managed by O'Rourke include:

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "Steve O'Rourke obituary". The Daily Telegraph. London. 5 November 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. ^ Williams, Richard (19 December 2013). "The Groove Abides". The Blue Moment. Retrieved 26 December 2013.
[edit]
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