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Steve O'Rourke


Steve O'Rourke ((1940-10-01)1 October 1940 – 30 October 2003(2003-10-30)) became the manager of the influential British rock band Pink Floyd after the departure of Syd Barrett in 1968. O'Rourke remained manager of the band until his death, negotiating the band's split with bass player and main songwriter Roger Waters.

O'Rourke's father, Tommy O'Rourke, was a fisherman on the Aran Islands off the West of Ireland. He travelled to London for the premiere of the Robert Flaherty documentary film, Man of Aran, in which he appeared as a shark hunter. He settled in London, where Steve was born in the suburb of Willesden.

O'Rourke trained as an accountant and went to work with Bryan Morrison Agency, which became a part of NEMS Enterprises, as a junior agent and book keeper. Initially O'Rourke booked gigs for Pink Floyd, while the band was managed by Peter Jenner and Andrew King. When Pink Floyd parted company with Syd Barrett in 1968, King and Jenner remained with Barrett, and O'Rourke took over managing the band. In the early 1970s, O'Rourke left NEMS, and founded his own company, EMKA Productions, named after his first daughter Emma Kate. (O'Rourke subsequently fathered another daughter and three sons).

During post-production of the film Pink Floyd – The Wall, he received a phone call in the office of Alan Parker, the film director. It was Roger Waters, requesting a meeting. On the way out of Parker's office, O'Rourke failed to see the closed glass doors, which he shattered. He was badly cut and concussed. When he opened his eyes, he saw Parker's secretary Angie picking glass out of his face. He ended up marrying her. This was his second marriage, as he previously eloped with a lady simply named "Linda". Linda stood by both Steve and the band through their formative years. She has two daughters and a son (all with Steve), lives in Surrey, and is a therapist.


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