Gentleman Jim
- 27 Feb 07, 11:52 PM
Like many people across the world, but particularly here in Northern Ireland, I was extremely saddened to hear of the death of the music promoter Jim Aiken. In an industry that could most commonly be likened to a shark pool, Jim was a gentleman. That΅―s not to say that he wasn΅―t tough and shrewd in business, but he was the kind of man for whom his word was his bond and a deal could be sealed with a handshake.
I had the great privilege of interviewing him many times on Radio Ulster. He was a very modest man, but once you got him started he had tons of tales from his years in show business. He was the one man who brought music from the rest of the world to Northern Ireland during the darkest days of the Troubles, and for that we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. He had stories about driving Roy Orbison across Northern Ireland as towns around him were burning, or bringing Elton John home for dinner because there was nowhere for him to eat in the strife torn city centre. It is particularly fitting that this same combination would go on to bring music to Stormont for the first time after the Good Friday Agreement.
Of course, like all successful promoters, he was also a gambler. On more than one occasion he almost lost everything, including the roof over his family΅―s head. I remember him telling me about one particular concert at the King΅―s Hall that he hadn΅―t been able to get insurance for and so he put his house up as collateral. Next thing he knew there was a suspect device outside the venue, if it had gone off he would have been ruined. It didn΅―t, and Jim survived another day.
He also kept everything. After Johnny Cash died I talked to him on Artsextra about his memories of working with the legendary singer, and in the middle of the interview he produced all the original papers and documents relating to the tour, all in pristine condition. It was a unique slice of history, and in a sense that is exactly what Jim Aiken was himself. A big man in every way, he will be much missed by everyone who had the good fortune to meet or work with him.
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If it wasn't for Jim, the dark days would have been much much darker. I met him many times and he was always warm and friendly. Not that everything he tried was a success - sometimes the audiences didn't support his work as often as they should have.
His contribution to normallity in a time of dislocation was immense.
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