Eric Greif, the legendary manager of Death dies at 59

01/11/2021 Articles Share

Sad news. Eric Greif, the manager of Death has died on October 29th 2021. He was 59 years old. Agoraphobic News team sends deepest condolences to his family, friends, loved ones and the bands he took under his wing. The cause of death is still unknown. He was a diabetic but was briefly cured in 2006 after a pancreas transplant. He had been on kidney dialysis for 5 years and was in desperate need of a kidney transplant. The official Death Facebook page confirmed his passing with a following statement:

„The world has lost an absolute warrior and proponent for metal and music in general. Eric was first introduced into my life as a child when he was chucks manager and friend then later on in my late twenties when we met in Philadelphia to strike up a deal with relapse records to finally give chucks legacy a proper home. All of you are enjoying chucks music on all of these wonderful platforms and releases now because of this man. Eric was average in physical stature but once he opened his mouth there was no doubt he was a giant. He was a loving father and one of the most articulate and interesting men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. Please keep his mother and children in your thoughts. The art of existence is fragile indeed…..“

Eric Greif was one of the most important names in the world of heavy metal management. When he was 18, he moved to Los Angeles "where all the record labels were". He was studying music production at University of Sound Arts in Hollywood.

Greif was known for being a producer/ co-producer of bands like Morbid Saint, Invocator, Acrophet, Num Skull, Realm, , Viogression, Jackal, Twistin' Egyptians, Transmetal, Cyclone, Dr. Shrinker, and Morta Skuld. When he was 19 years old, Greif was an assistant manager of Motley Crue. In 1990, Eric organized one of the first death metal festivals in USA – Day of Death in Milwaukee that featured bands like Autopsy, Hellwitch, Obliveon, Revenant, Viogression, Immolation, Atheist, Broken Hope, Cynic and others.

Eric Greif was the manager of Death between 1988-1992. Eric Greif was also active in the fight against PMRC and censorship in music. Soon after, he took a break to graduate at University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law. His legal clients were legendary bands like Cynic, Massacre, Obituary and Autopsy and record labels such as Season of Mist.

Eric Greif was in charge of Chuck Schuldiner’s intellectual property as president of Perseverance Holdings Ltd. and Mutilation Music (BMI). He was also a lecturer at Mount Royal University's Department of Justice Studies and alumnus of the University of Calgary Faculty of Law. He will be missed.

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