Marc Zermati

Marc Zermati (21 June 1945 – 13 June 2020) was a French producer and promoter of punk rock music, and businessman.

Life and career Zermati, a Sephardic Jew, was born in Algiers and arrived in France in the 1960s. selling mostly US garage and punk rock music from London, Amsterdam and New York City. The shop closed in 1977.

In 1972 he co-founded the Skydog record label, which issued its first release, the Flamin' Groovies' Grease 7" EP in May 1973, pre-dating Stiff Records by over 3 years, and formed the first independent shop distribution in France. In August 1976, and again in 1977, Zermati organised the "first European punk rock festival" in the French town of Mont-de-Marsan. His Skydog label issued records by The Damned, Motörhead, MC5, Iggy and the Stooges and dozens of others. He also managed bands including the Lou's and Stinky Toys, and organised international tours by Les Dogs and Flamin' Groovies.

Festival and tour organiser The Heartbreakers ('76) Eddie and the Hot Rods Chrissie Hynde The Clash Wilko Johnson Dogs Big Audio Dynamite The Damned Happy Mondays Anne Pigalle Mano Negra Daft Punk Air Atom Rhumba

Productions Motörhead New York Dolls Johnny Thunders Wayne Kramer MC5 Flambeurs Bebe Buell. Iggy Pop Flamin' Groovies Kim Fowley 54 Nude Honeys Marc Ashmann Pimpi Aroyo/ City Zen United Future Organization CFM Band Bossa Nova Beatniks