Peter Katsis, a veteran music manager who guided the careers of Backstreet Boys, Korn, Jane’s Addiction, Limp Bizkit, Ice Cube and Morrissey, has died at age 69. The cause of death was complications from congestive heart failure.
Katsis began his management career in the 1980s, with his first major client being the early electronic group Ministry. He was deeply involved in the early Chicago dance scene, which helped define the house music genre.
In 1990, he relocated to Los Angeles and joined The Firm, Inc. during its peak years. There, he managed acts including Enrique Iglesias, 30 Seconds to Mars, Snoop Dogg, OneRepublic, and Audioslave, in addition to Backstreet Boys, Korn, and Limp Bizkit.
After leaving The Firm, Katsis worked with Liz Phair, Bush, 311, Pentatonix, and 5 Seconds of Summer. He oversaw what was widely regarded as Morrissey’s most productive period since the early 1990s.
Fellow manager Paul Kemsley said in a statement:
“Peter Katsis was one of those rare people who simply filled a room. Bigger than life, incredibly intelligent, fiercely passionate, and blessed with a heart to match. When I first took over managing Boy George, Peter represented the other members of Culture Club. We came from different sides, but we always found common ground through mutual respect. We worked together, we laughed together, and no matter where life took us, we remained friends. Tonight, my heart is broken. The music business has lost one of its true giants, and I have lost someone I genuinely admired.”
