Remembering Peter Katsis

• Peter Katsis, founding partner of The Firm, who managed the careers of Smashing Pumpkins, Morrissey, Backstreet Boys and many more, died August 6 due to congestive heart failure. He was 69.

As NME reports, “Starting out in the ’80s, Katsis first turned heads when he took on the industrial rock group Ministry in his Chicago hometown. He would relocate to Los Angeles in the ’90s and go on to work with The Cramps, Jane’s Addiction, Limp Bizkit, Audioslave, and KoRn. As his notoriety grew, he began taking on pop and hip-hop artists as well, including Snoop Dogg and Backstreet Boys, as well as One Direction, 311, Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair and more.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan shared his condolences on Instagram: “Heartbroken that Pete is gone. He meant a lot to Chloe and I as a dear friend and extended member of our family. He will be missed and I’ll always cherish his intense candor and deep love of great music; which was infectious. And he deserves immense credit for helping to usher in the alternative revolution of the ’80s and ’90s and beyond. He was truly one of a kind. One of us. And Chicago royalty through and through.”

Radio and television host Matt Pinfield posted, “Rest in Peace my dear friend. So many memories… you will always be in my heart and thoughts. Thank you for all the incredible times we shared in our brotherhood. From the laughter to the tears, the beauty of living was and Is the ability to feel… Peter Katsis I will miss you so much… my heart remains broken today.”