That’s a lovely piece Terri for a lovely man (and exactly: I read it on LinkedIn too! The horror, the horror). I recall many many years ago, when I was editing Media Week and Baz was editing The Hits, asking him if he ever received complaints from record companies? (I would spend the first half of publication day each week fielding calls from furious media owners). He looked at me, astonished: ‘they wouldn’t dare’. Though there was the time when he put out a less than flattering review of the latest Dexys Midnight Runners disc - to find Kevin Rowland waiting for him outside the office in Carnaby Street to offer Baz a fist in the face...
Oh to be fair, Baz was always clear that it was Mr Rowland who came out on top. The incident actually led - eventually - to a long friendship - but that's another story!...
This is devastating news but a beautiful, tribute, Terri. Barry was a giant in magazines - and among men. I worked with him in his CEO incarnation…And if only more CEOs were cut from the same cloth, how much more smoothly, creatively and empathetically their businesses would run. He will be so desperately missed
In the early days of the pandemic I had a call with Barry and, when we both managed to make the new-fangled Zoom work, I spotted poster on Barry's wall that I liked so much I bought an identical copy. It was a letterpress print with thick black letters on a red background quoting John Donne.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
Yup he was a gem. So sad he's gone so early. Mark Dinning mentioned that he said his successor was 'Dinning with added VAT' which made me laugh. Was that you?! X
I’ve read Empire since the first copy came out 36 years ago and Barry’s name was one I remember fondly from those early days. Empire was like nothing I’d read before, and to my young movie obsessed mind, it was the Reservoir Dogs of the film magazine world. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing and I am so sorry for your loss.
Excellent work, Terri (as always). Back in my day, he wore an olive-green suit. Upon meeting some Hollywood power broker who enquired "Giorgio?' Baz simply replied 'Hugo', with his usual twinkle of course...
Way too early, but what a wonderful legacy EMPIRE is! It sounds like he attracted like minded souls to the magazine and that spirit is still in evidence! RIP
Thanks Angela. There was most definitely a...VERVE to those around Barry. When he left magazines I can remember feeling it was the end of an era. For that kind of creative spirit x
honestly, I was like, HE'D BE RAGING! Where's the statesman-like, Hollywood moment? Oh man, such an unbelievable shock, though. The love this week has been something else. What a man x
That’s a lovely piece Terri for a lovely man (and exactly: I read it on LinkedIn too! The horror, the horror). I recall many many years ago, when I was editing Media Week and Baz was editing The Hits, asking him if he ever received complaints from record companies? (I would spend the first half of publication day each week fielding calls from furious media owners). He looked at me, astonished: ‘they wouldn’t dare’. Though there was the time when he put out a less than flattering review of the latest Dexys Midnight Runners disc - to find Kevin Rowland waiting for him outside the office in Carnaby Street to offer Baz a fist in the face...
Thanks, Tim. Another classic story! Loving them. And I’m not actually sure who I’d have my money on in that scrap….x
Oh to be fair, Baz was always clear that it was Mr Rowland who came out on top. The incident actually led - eventually - to a long friendship - but that's another story!...
This is devastating news but a beautiful, tribute, Terri. Barry was a giant in magazines - and among men. I worked with him in his CEO incarnation…And if only more CEOs were cut from the same cloth, how much more smoothly, creatively and empathetically their businesses would run. He will be so desperately missed
I could not agree more, Lindsay. Baz should have been the model, not the exception x
In the early days of the pandemic I had a call with Barry and, when we both managed to make the new-fangled Zoom work, I spotted poster on Barry's wall that I liked so much I bought an identical copy. It was a letterpress print with thick black letters on a red background quoting John Donne.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself,
Every man is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thy friend's
Or of thine own were:
Any man's death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind,
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.
Oh bloody hell, John. This has really got me. Thank you xx
Fantastic tribute to someone that truly made a dent on the culture
Thanks, Will. If only magazine media had seen many more like Baz x
Yup he was a gem. So sad he's gone so early. Mark Dinning mentioned that he said his successor was 'Dinning with added VAT' which made me laugh. Was that you?! X
ha! And I don’t think so - Morgan Rees did just shy of a year between MD and me. That has proper made me laugh though x
Ah I was kind of hoping it was you. Nice to see you Tez!
I’ve read Empire since the first copy came out 36 years ago and Barry’s name was one I remember fondly from those early days. Empire was like nothing I’d read before, and to my young movie obsessed mind, it was the Reservoir Dogs of the film magazine world. I was shocked and saddened to hear of his passing and I am so sorry for your loss.
‘The Reservoir Dogs of the film world’ - god he’d have loved that! X
Excellent work, Terri (as always). Back in my day, he wore an olive-green suit. Upon meeting some Hollywood power broker who enquired "Giorgio?' Baz simply replied 'Hugo', with his usual twinkle of course...
Ha! Love this, Steve Fawcett. And loving hearing all the stories. Bits of Baz Magic scattered all over the shop x
Way too early, but what a wonderful legacy EMPIRE is! It sounds like he attracted like minded souls to the magazine and that spirit is still in evidence! RIP
Thanks Angela. There was most definitely a...VERVE to those around Barry. When he left magazines I can remember feeling it was the end of an era. For that kind of creative spirit x
Wonderful tribute to him, Terri. I barely overlapped with him at Emap, but of course knew his brilliant work and influence. So sad for his family.
thank you, Wendy. I'm so heartbroken for them. So much love for him this week x
Absolutely gutted 😞
xxx
I found out on LinkedIn too. Of all the fucking places he would have hated. Still can't believe it.
honestly, I was like, HE'D BE RAGING! Where's the statesman-like, Hollywood moment? Oh man, such an unbelievable shock, though. The love this week has been something else. What a man x