Michael Lippman, Who Guided Careers of George Michael, David Bowie and Rob Thomas, Dies at 79

Michael Lippman, a formidable artist manager, label executive, and lawyer whose fierce advocacy and sharp deal-making helped shape modern pop stardom, died on Dec. 29. He was 79. The cause of death has not been disclosed.

Lippman began his professional life far from the spotlight, working in the legal world under celebrity attorney Marvin Mitchelson. That experience opened the door to the entertainment business, leading him to a position in the soundtracks department at Columbia Pictures. 

His breakthrough in the music business came through his work as David Bowie’s lawyer during his rise to stardom in the 1970s. Lippman worked closely with Bowie during The Man Who Fell to Earth, Aladdin Sane and other classic albums, supported his genre and culture-crossing Soul Train appearance, and was present during the run-up to Bowie’s first No. 1 on the Hot 100, “Fame.” He famously represented Bowie during the icon’s contentious uncoupling with longtime manager Tony Defries, then took over as manager before himself being let go a year later.

In a 1978 Crawdaddy profile by Timothy White, Lippman recalled Bowie as being “under a lot of pressure” by the end of their partnership, which unraveled just before Christmas 1975 after four years together. “Our falling out came as a complete surprise,” Lippman said. Lippman spoke candidly about Bowie’s fears of losing himself in his own personas, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke. “There was a point when he felt that Ziggy had taken over for David Bowie; and the Thin White Duke, he was afraid that he was taking over as well,” Lippman told White, who later helmed Billboard. He also recalled Bowie’s private struggles, including concerns about hereditary mental illness. “David spoke to me about insanity many times,” Lippman said. “He didn’t want it to take over his life.”

By the mid-1970s, he had shifted gears, becoming vice president of West Coast operations for Arista Records under Clive Davis, where he built a foundation in artist development and executive leadership that would define the rest of his career. During his tenure at Arista, Lippman was a visible presence at industry gatherings, including Billboard’s Talent Forum in 1978. There, he pushed for a sort-of “de-industryification” of opening nights on concert tours — advocating for fewer clusters of nonplussed VIPs and more genuine fans in the audience. “The policy has to be changed,” he argued at the time, “so acts can get the energy from the crowd that they need to do their best.”

Over the decades, Lippman guided a wide range of artists through career-defining moments. In 1980, he helped Melissa Manchester achieve the rare feat of dual Oscar nominations for best original song and ensured her performances on the Academy Awards telecast. His management of George Michael, beginning with the release of Faith in 1987, proved especially significant; Lippman guided Michael’s solo career after Wham!, remaining his manager through milestones such as negotiating Michael’s historic turn as the first artist to headline London’s rebuilt Wembley Stadium — a role he held until the singer’s death in 2016.

He also managed Matchbox Twenty and the rock quartet’s frontman Rob Thomas, negotiating key label deals and helping propel the singer’s global hits such as his “Smooth” collaboration with Santana. 

Elton John’s longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, power pop icon Eric Carmen, and soft rock hitmaker Leo Sayer were also among the roster of artists Lippman represented over the years.

Standing over six feet tall with a commanding presence, Lippman cultivated a reputation for being both charming and intimidating in negotiations. “You’re fighting 10 other managers,” he told then-Billboard editor Shirley Halperin in 2016. “So I created this persona that people respected and slightly feared and hopefully, if things went the right way, I got what I wanted.”

Photographer and longtime collaborator Chris Cuffaro — who shot stills for George Michael’s music videos including “Faith,” “Father Figure” and “Kissing a Fool” — paid tribute to Lippman on Facebook. “Days like today are the hardest. I’m heartbroken by the passing of my friend and mentor, Michael Lippman. I met Michael back in 1987, and from that moment on, he was there for me through both the good times and the bad. He always had my back — in business and in life. This one hurts deeply. I’m going to miss him more than words can say. Go easy, Michael.”

Music was a family business for Lippman. His brother Terry joined him early on, and later he co-led Lippman Entertainment with his son Nick. Though he acknowledged the personal cost of life on the road, he often called himself “the luckiest guy in the world.”

Lippman lived in Santa Ynez, Calif., with his wife Nancy, whom he was married to for 57 years. He is survived by Nancy and his sons, Josh and Nick, who remember him as a relentless advocate and friend. “Michael was my mentor and the greatest teacher,” Nick told Rolling Stone. “For over twenty years, we traveled the world and shared a bond that grew deeper with time. We spoke every day and often finished each other’s sentences. Our relationship was shaped by the work we did side by side, and a bond of love, trust, and mutual respect.”