Marty Thau, who founded groundbreaking indie Red Star Records, managed the New York Dolls and discovered other influential hard-rock and punk bands, died Feb. 13 in Petersburg, Va., after complications from renal failure. He was 75. Thau was born in New York on Dec. 7, 1938, and began his industry career at Billboard, answering a classified ad for an advertising trainee. He later worked at the Cameo-Parkway and Buddha labels and management company Inherit, before ascending to A&R chief at Paramount Records in 1972. He left that post, however, after just six months, when he discovered the New York Dolls. He managed the iconic band during its heyday, signing it to Mercury Records. In 1976, at the height of the New York punk scene, Thau launched Red Star Records, signing Suicide and co-producing the duo’s debut with Craig Leon. The label also included The Fleshtones, who recall “drinking Remy with Marty Thau” at CBGB on recent song “Remember the Ramones.”
