Conal Dodds:

I had known Dave for many years, but didn’t really work with him much  until Lana Del Rey. I really wanted to promote her from the outset, there was a lot of competition, I rang him up to try and push my case. He said “ Go on then, give me your right pitch now on the phone”. I then heard a funny click on the line and I realised he had put me on speaker phone in the office . Guessing that he had probably gathered a few people around to listen to my verbal squirming I just said “ Fuck off Dave, I know I’m on speakerphone, now talk to me one to one and then we might get somewhere.” He then did so, laughed, and something then seemed to click with us, and we always got on well after that.  He was very direct, very straight talking and I always liked that, and I know that underneath the occasional brashness and ebullience he was a genuine sincere family man  - and he certainly did a sterling job for his artists. I liked him a lot and will miss working with him.