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Music
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From Platinum Hits to a Prostitution Ring: The Shocking Double Life of Producer David Lord
David Lord, the acclaimed producer behind Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey" and The Korgis' "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime," saw his celebrated music career tarnished when he was convicted in 2015 for running a high-class brothel from his luxury home in Bath, England.
In the world of 1980s music, David Lord was a behind-the-scenes titan. As the owner of Crescent Studios in Bath, he was the sonic architect for some of the era's most innovative and successful artists. His production credits read like a who's who of post-punk and new wave royalty, including Peter Gabriel, XTC, Tears for Fears, and The Korgis. Yet, decades after his peak creative output, Lord's name would reappear in headlines for a reason far removed from music: running a sophisticated, high-end brothel.
The Architect of Sound
David Lord's influence on music is undeniable. He was instrumental in shaping the sound of Peter Gabriel's groundbreaking solo albums, producing the iconic track "Solsbury Hill" and co-producing the entirety of the 1982 album Peter Gabriel IV (Security), which featured the global hit "Shock the Monkey." His delicate touch can also be heard on The Korgis' timeless ballad, "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime," a song that has been covered by countless artists. Lord's studio was a hub of creativity, a place where artists felt free to experiment, resulting in some of the most enduring music of the period.
A Different Kind of Business
While his musical legacy was well-established, Lord embarked on a darker, more secretive venture. For six years, from 2008 to 2014, he operated a brothel named "Sasha's" out of his seven-bedroom Georgian home in Bath. The operation was described in court as "well-run and organised," generating profits estimated to be around £250,000. Working with a business partner, Lord managed the brothel, which employed women, primarily from Eastern Europe, who charged clients up to £120 per hour for services. The business used dedicated websites and phone lines, operating with a level of professionalism that belied its illicit nature.
The Unraveling and the Verdict
The operation came to an end after a police investigation led to a raid on his home. In 2015, David Lord, then 71, stood before a judge at Bristol Crown Court. His defense painted him as a "naive" and "gullible" man who got drawn into the scheme by his co-defendant. However, the prosecution presented evidence that he was actively involved in the management of the brothel. The judge, concluding the trial, was unconvinced of his passivity.
You were not just the landlord, but you took an active part in the management of that brothel. It was a commercial and well-run and organised operation providing the services of prostitutes.
Ultimately, Lord was convicted of two counts of keeping or managing a brothel used for prostitution. He avoided immediate jail time, receiving a two-year suspended prison sentence, and was ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work and pay back a portion of the illicit earnings. The conviction marked a stunning fall from grace for the revered music producer.
A Complicated Legacy
The news of David Lord's conviction sent ripples through music fan communities. For many, it was a shocking revelation that forces a difficult question: how does one reconcile the beautiful, enduring art with the ugly, criminal actions of its creator? His story serves as a stark reminder that the figures behind our favorite songs have complex, and sometimes deeply flawed, private lives. While his name will forever be linked to seminal albums and classic hits, it is now also inextricably tied to a sordid criminal enterprise that operated behind the closed doors of his studio city.