S.Lo on August 1st, 2019

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The fifth night of this year’s 22nd annual International Pop Overthrow festival on Tuesday at Molly Malone’s became a place to commune and  celebrate the late John Ferriter, a talent agent, television producer and musician who was co-founder of the power-pop band the Tearaways.

Ferriter, who started the band in 1983 in Santa Barbara, died last week at age 59 of complications from pancreatitis. He was a longtime agent and executive at William Morris Agency before launching his own management and production company, The Alternative. Ferriter represented the likes of Jerry Garcia, Jimmy Kimmel, Dick Clark, Piers Morgan, Garth Brooks, Arsenio Hall, Ryan Seacrest, Carson Daly, Marie Osmond, Claudia Schiffer, Rodney Bingenheimer, Holly Robinson-Peete and Mark Walberg.

Aside from his dogs, his passion was making music with the Tearaways. Before the Tearaways, he was also a member of the Stingrays, playing hundreds of shows and opening for bands such as the Bangles, R.E.M, Maria McKee and Guns N’ Roses. He was also an Emmy Award-winning executive producer, nominated for “It Gets Better” and garnering a win for “The Campaign for LGBT Youth.”

On this particular night of the festival, where the Tearaways had been scheduled to play, greetings were gentler, hugs were longer and tighter, tissues were out and some sighed heavy. Introducing the band, Bingenheimer gave some words in tribute, thanking all who showed up, “He’s done a lot for me and for other people… He just gave and gave and gave… And there’s so many jobs that he got people on TV and the news. Of course, he’s helped me with Sirius XM, got me my gig there and got me an extra hour starting this Sunday. He gives and gives and gives. And he’s in this room right now because he has a slogan: ‘The show must go on, no matter what!’ This is his show, ladies and gentleman, his band, the Tearaways.”

The band spirited through their scheduled set and lifted the moods of everyone in the room. In an earlier statement, they said, “The man instilled in us that there is a solution to every problem; that if there is no solution, we don’t have a problem. John Ferriter was our bandmate, our brother, and one of the best guys each of us has ever known… The great moments are too numerous to mention, but if everyone out there could understand the intimate feeling The Tearaways have with each other when jamming on stage… it’s the best… John, we really love you man. You’ve left the planet, yet you’re still very much in our universe.” Yesterday was also the planned release of their latest single, fittingly, “Who You Gonna Be and Why,” off their upcoming album, “We Grew Up On AM Radio,” ahead of a U.K. tour planned in August and September.

At the end of the band’s main set, Morgan ascended the stage, gave words in tribute and led a toast. “I remember going to John’s house early on in our relationship and finding 50 guitars and realizing I was never gonna be as important to him as his music, or his guitars, or his fucking band …” the television host said, eliciting laughter in the crowd. “He would have loved tonight if he was here. He loved music more than anything else. He began as a rock star, he ended as a rock star, and in between he was a talent agent making people stars, miserable wretches like me … He was a force for ridiculous positivity … He empowered all of us to feel, I think, very special.

“For me, it was more about friendship with John. And a lot of his very good friends are here. Most of his clients were good friends… John was 59, but he packed more into the last 10 years of his life than you could imagine because 10 years ago, if you don’t know the story, he died… then he got fired, most of his clients left, a few of us stayed and a few are in the room tonight. And we never regretted that because John then gave us absolutely everything he had.

“But ultimately, what John was really about was this. And he was so excited about the tour that was coming up in England. It’s heartbreaking that John won’t be on that tour and it’s heartbreaking to not see him perform tonight…  He told me that Clem Burke had joined the Tearaways, I have never seen a human being more excited in my entire life… I just want to say on behalf of John to the band, what he meant to you guys, what you meant to him. It was his life. Apart from his dogs. He loved his dogs more. But apart from the dogs, he loved the band the most in his life and we as clients were humble and obedient second best servants to the fact that John’s true love was this. So it’s a special night to see you guys here. Enjoy the tour, do him proud, make it a tribute towards John Ferriter because he was a special guy.”

Then after Morgan prodded for an encore, the Tearaways ripped through “Any Way You Want It” by the Dave Clark 5.

Later in the evening, Velvet Starlings also rocked a cover of the Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul” in tribute and shared memories of Ferriter throughout their set. 

Other words in memory:

Sam Milgrom of Mr. Musichead Gallery in Hollywood and founder of Sam’s Jams and the Magic Bag in Detroit: “Shocked and saddened by this loss. He was that rare LA agent/manager/producer that was decidedly honest, loyal, giving with his clients and friends. Passionate about Music and any project he committed to. He will be missed.”

Television producer and journalist Alison Martino: “John Ferriter was way too young to go. I’m grateful to have spent two memorable evenings with him recently at the Formosa and at Valley Relics. Some of us lost a great friend and the industry lost a great man and a trusted advisor. This isn’t fair.”