That time Donald Trump was fired by Canadian concert promoter Michael Cohl and the Rolling Stones
Bill Pugliano/Getty ImagesMichael Cohl is one of the few people in the world to tell Donald Trump, 'You're fired!'
Republican Party frontrunner Donald Trump has always been a self-promoting blowhard. But being an extremely rich one with loose morals has sheltered him from such mundane life benchmarks as being laid off for ineptitude.
Which is why, when a story like the one below surfaces it’s worth highlighting, if only for the mammoth dose of schadenfreude.
Last February, Canadian concert promoter Michael Cohl was giving a keynote speech about his illustrious career inventing the blockbuster tour for the likes of Pink Floyd and the Rolling Stones when he recalled a rather unpleasant run in with The Donald. While recounting the Stones’ vertiginous 1989 Steel Wheels tour, which grossed an unheard of $100 million, Cohl paused. “By the way, do you want to hear about the night I fired Donald Trump?”
At which point Keith pulls out his knife and slams it on the table’
The 67 year-old went on to explain he and the real estate mogul first crossed paths toward the end of the Wheels tour. Cohl was planning a pay-per-view event based on the Vegas boxing model, which would net the Stones and himself a tidy sum. The only problem was that Vegas had yet to pick up on the power of Rock, so the promoter found himself turning to Atlantic City and that meant Trump.
“I opened my big mouth in the meeting with the Rolling Stones where they go, ‘This is all great, but we’re not going to be affiliated with Donald Trump. At all. Screw you.’ And I go, ‘I will control Donald Trump! Don’t you worry!'”
To satisfy all parties a deal was struck that Trump would not be on hand for the sold out shows, nor would he promote himself associated in any way with the Stones. But Trump being Trump, things didn’t go according to plan.
Below is a truncated transcript of Cohl’s recollection, courtesy of Pollstar:
It’s the night of the show.
At about 5:50 p.m. I get word that I have to come to the press room in the next building. I run to the press room in the next building and what do you think is happening? There’s Donald Trump giving a press conference, in our room!
Joe Corrigan/Getty ImagesMichael Cohl
I give him the [come here gesture]. “Come on, Donald, what are you doing? A) You promised us you wouldn’t even be here and, B) you promised you would never do this.” He says, “But they begged me to go up, Michael! They begged me to go up!” I say, “Stop it. Stop it. This could be crazy. Do what you said you would. Don’t make a liar of yourself.”
I go back to the dressing room. Five minutes later, he’s back up. They call me back over there. I call him out (again). Same thing happens. I go back to the dressing room. And I leave my walkie-talkie on in the dressing room. Moronic, on my part.
They call me back, at which point Keith pulls out his knife and slams it on the table and says, “What the hell do I have you for? Do I have to go over there and fire him myself? One of us is leaving the building – either him, or us.” I said, “No. I’ll go do it. Don’t you worry.”
I look at Donald and said, “You and Marla (Maples) have to go. You’re fired.” He looks at me and goes berserk.
I run over. He’s up there again! I go [gives the come here gesture]. We go into the hallway. I said, “Donald. You lied. You broke your promise. One of two things is going to happen. You’re going to leave the building and, at 6:40, the Rolling Stones are going to speak on CBS News, or you’re not going to leave the building and I’m going to go on and do an interview to explain to the world why the pay-per-view was canceled. I know it’s your building and…” – and in my head I’m going, this is so crazy, right? I’m trying to throw Donald Trump out of his own building.
But, anyway, the bottom line is I look at Donald and said, “You and Marla (Maples) have to go. You’re fired.” He looks at me and goes berserk.
I notice the three shtarkers he’s with, in trench coats, two of them are putting on gloves and the other one is putting on brass knuckles. I go on the walkie-talkie and I call for Jim Callahan, who was head of our security, and I go, “Jim, I think I’m in a bit of trouble.” And he says, “Just turn around.”
I turn around. He’s got 40 of the crew with tire irons and hockey sticks and screwdrivers.
“And now, are you gonna go, Donald?”
And off he went.
And that was the night I fired Donald Trump.
copied from nationalpost.com
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