ITP V.024 ONLY ONE PER COFFIN: R.I.P. MICHELLE KERR (PUBLICIST COSA NOSTRA PR)

 

 

 

 MICHELLE KERR, co founder of COSA NOSTRA PR passed away to cancer 9/14/2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FROM COSA NOSTRA PR:

 

It is with profound sadness that Cosa Nostra PR shares the passing of its co-founder Michelle Kerr.

Michelle left us peacefully and in the company of close friends. As the sun came up on Saturday 14 September she made it to the final after show party, following a five-year detour with cancer.

Michelle lived for most of her life in Hampstead; a place she adored. A place where she loved going for long walks on the heath and frequently went wandering through Highgate Cemetery. Michelle’s wish was to have some of her ashes laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery and if possible to have a memorial bench on Hampstead Heath. Her family and close friends have arranged a fundraiser to help cover the costs (being in the company of George Michael and Malcolm McLaren doesn’t come cheap). Any surplus funds will go to a charity in Michelle’s name.

If Michelle ever put you on a guestlist, gave you time with one of her artists, helped you and/or your band(s) achieve any level of success, gave you career advice, bought you a drink at a show… your donation would be appreciated.

If you’re someone who would like to pay your respects at her funeral, please donate any money you may have spent on flowers or travel. At her request, her funeral will be very small and private.

The fundraiser can be found here: https://gofund.me/243b5a18.

Michelle’s loss leaves an unfillable void, and we will miss her enormously.

 

 

FROM DISTORTED SOUND MAGAZINE: 

 All of us at Distorted Sound are devastated to learn of the passing of Michelle Kerr, co-founder of Cosa Nostra PR. Michelle's influence and work in this scene was absolutely enormous, and the world is a much darker place without her. Thank you for everything, we love you. RIP

 

 FROM MACHINE HEAD: 

#Repost from @robbflynn

•

There are a lot of unsung heroes that helped propel Machine Head to where we are. Michelle Kerr was one of them. She had my back for nearly 3 decades, handling the often rigorous UK press duties after she inherited them in 1995 halfway through the Burn My Eyes album cycle.

She is and remains one of my longest music business relationships alongside Mark Palmer, and Monte Connor,

I always considered her a cross between Elizabeth Taylor and Lemmy, so yes, she’s was an undeniable bad ass!! AND, she could drink me and all of my friends under the table!

Smart, funny, tough, loyal, she was simply one of the best humans I've ever come across in my life.

She had been battling it for so long, always held her head up high, always looked on the bright side.

My nickname for her was "Poppet" a reference to the movie Pirates of the Caribbean… All these years later I don't even know how that came to be… But every phone call, every time we saw each othe... the first words out of my mouth would always be "'Ello Poppet"

devastated right now…

Really never thought that I would be saying this…

...Goodbye Poppet

 

 

FROM ROADRUNNER RECORDS: 

It is with profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Michelle Kerr.

Michelle worked at Roadrunner UK for over 15 years before independently continuing to work with the label under the banner of Cosa Nostra PR. She was truly a huge part of the label’s history. An extraordinary PR, Michelle was responsible for press campaigns for Slipknot, Type O Negative, Opeth, Machine Head, Korn, Megadeth and so many more. Our hearts go out to everyone who knew Michelle and who experienced what a true leading light she was. She will be sorely missed by all.

Michelle lived for most of her life in Hampstead; a place she adored. A place where she loved going for long walks on the heath and frequently went wandering through Highgate Cemetery. Michelle’s wish was to have some of her ashes laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery and if possible to have a memorial bench on Hampstead Heath. Her family and close friends have arranged a fundraiser to help cover the costs. Any surplus funds will go to a charity in Michelle’s name.

If Michelle ever put you on a guestlist, gave you time with one of her artists, helped you and/or your band(s) achieve any level of success, gave you career advice, bought you a drink at a show… your donation would be appreciated.

A link for the Michelle Kerr Memorial Fund can be found in our bio.

 

 
FROM OPETH: 

”It is with heavy heart that we have to accept the passing of our long-time publicist, Michelle Kerr. I am still in shock, and I believe I can speak for everyone involved in the inner circle of Opeth.

It is such an immense tragedy, and I’m still more than reluctant to write about her in past tense. Michelle and her company Cosa Nostra PR worked closely with us for many years, setting up everything press-related, especially in the UK.

She was an absolutely lovely (clever, funny, kind) human being on a personal level as well as a stone-cold professional when at work.

The last time I met with her was when we played the Hammersmith Apollo in London (November 2022). I could tell she was tired, but her spirits were high. I was too busy (nervous) with preparing for the evening show that I didn’t get to sit down and chat with her, like we normally would. And now I’ll never get that chance again. Michelle will certainly be sorely missed by us and by countless others.

Our warmest condolences goes out to her family and friends and colleagues alike."

Mikael Åkerfeldt

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-R.I.P.