A veteran music manager known for looking after a plethora of famous artists has passed away at the age of 69.
Peter Katsis was born in Chicago, Illinois, sometime in either 1956 or 1957. He passed away on Thursday, August 6, in the United States. Per NME, the cause is said to be complications from congestive heart failure.
Katsis was known best as the manager of artists like Morrissey, Jane’s Addiction, Korn, the Backstreet Boys, Limp Bizkit, 5 Seconds of Summer, and the Smashing Pumpkins.
The aforementioned frontman and lyricist of the English rock band the Smiths, Morrissey, led the tributes to Katsis.
Morrissey Mourns Peter Katsis’ Passing — ‘I Am Justifiably Glum’
Morrissey took to his Instagram account to share the news of Peter Katsis’ passing with his 283,000 followers.
His post included a single photograph of Katsis, dressed in womens’ clothing at a gig.
The star’s long caption on the post includes the line, “I am justifiably glum this week, and it has taken me several days to even face writing this because PK was a very unusual star: an adventurer who enjoyed biting off more than most people could collectively chew.”
He also adds, “He was very much liked – which was unusual in a music manager. In a way, a dreamy-eyed romantic, but when necessary, a trick octopus. All liberties were taken; all fun encouraged and consumed. He knew how and when to give momentum another good shove.”
His post concludes, “A world has ended. MORRISSEY.”
Other Artists Also Paid Tribute
While the likes of Korn, the Backstreet Boys, Limp Bizkit, and the Smashing Pumpkins have yet to comment, other artists Katsis managed have done so.
American singer-songwriter Perry Farrell wrote, “Peter Katsis was my manager and friend for many years. I met him on the evening of Y2K on the beach in Miami as I was building a stage in the sand for an evening performance of “Song Yet To Be Sung”. Big Pete came walking up to me with Fred Durst saying “We wanna come to your show tonight”. It seemed like I’d seen Peter at every good party I went to- always with a couple of hot chicks, drinking good tequila. I figured, “You know, I see you around everywhere, we might as well work together.” Peter worked very hard and truly cared. I have many happy memories spent with him- you can’t forget the guy with the big grin, big nose, and big [expletive] from what I’ve been told. I cherish the friendship that we had.”
The self-proclaimed “Goth Dolly Parton,” Devora, said, “He was wildly, profoundly genuine. A dreamer with immense passion and wisdom, somehow still carrying a pure optimism that decades in this business and this world never managed to take away from him.”
Of course, fans also wrote their tributes on such posts, with one of them writing under Morrissey’s, “Overwhelming. What a homage. I sense each breath and each scrape in it. I’m deeply sorry for your loss. Immense sadness, that’s it.”
Of course, Katsis also had a wife, who paid her own heartfelt tribute to her husband.
Katsis Was Married to Catherine Townsend
Peter Katsis was married to Catherine Townsend, who also took to her Instagram account to mourn his passing.
She posted ten photographs, three of which were from the couple’s wedding day.
Townsend caption says, “Yesterday I lost Peter Katsis, my great love and my best friend.”
She continued, “But what I’ll remember most are the quiet moments. The days when I sat working on my computer while he worked on his in the office, with Winston the chihuahua on his chair (because of course, he needed his own official sitting area!) Or sitting in the garden with Peter and Ian, feeding an (increasingly corpulent but very happy) family of squirrels while Peter smoked a cigar and we tried to set the world’s problems right.”
Her caption concluded, “I will love you forever.”
One of Townsend’s followers commented, “Catherine I am so sorry for your loss. 😢 I will be praying that you and he meet again in the afterlife and that you continue to grow and prosper and I will be 🙏 praying for peace and healing in your life.”
Another one wrote, “Peter was so lovely. Sorry for your loss. May his memory be a blessing. 🕊️”
We’d like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Peter Katsis at this upsetting time. May his memory indeed be a blessing and may he rest in eternal peace.
Peter Katsis’ career info and some personal info were courtesy of IMDb and Discogs.
