Cliff Richard : EMI Cover-Up Allegation

Quite recently, I have come across a somewhat detailed allegation on-line concerning Cliff Richard and his record company, EMI, which was posted in 2012. 

Although it is not difficult for anyone to be sceptical of this claim, as things stand, there are also good reasons to give some attention to what has been alleged.

An initial statement about Cliff Richard, without specifically naming him, was made by the poster David Gedge on Leeds Service Crew Forum, in 2006. According to on-line information, Leeds United Service Crew were (or are) a 'football hooligan firm'.

A more detailed claim - as far as I know, the second and last made - by David Gedge was posted in October 2012.

It is very rare for any allegation of criminal activity by Cliff Richard (albeit, not specifically named) to have been posted/published anywhere pre-2012. By far the majority of claims against him have come out during the last ten years. That David Gedge should have been following up on a 2006 claim in 2012 is a very different kettle of fish to the normal situation we find with on-line allegations of this sort against a famous person.

David Gedge doesn't identify the source of his information about Cliff Richard at EMI; but, his description of that man's role in the company probably narrows down the possible identity of his source to no more than a few men. Here are the most significant parts of the two posts:

Leeds Service Crew Forum thread 'Jimmy Savile - Necrophile.....', started by Ronnie LS16, December 15th 2006 - fifth commenter, David Gedge

'..The next big star of our childhoods to be outed will be a certain popstar who we only ever hear of [..at Christmas], who indulged his penchant for teenage boys throughout the 60s and early 70s, and who had a high profile girlfriend during the late 70s to ward off speculation.'

Leeds Service Crew Forum thread 'First arrest re saville', started by stockwhite, October 28th 2012 - post #26 by David Gedge, quoting/responding to post #16 by Pen_Talk

'My old boss used to work for EMI Record label late 70s early 80s. Had loads of different jobs but all were promoting of bands, and he used to take bands to things like radio interviews, TOTP, The Tube etc. Worked with loads of people you've heard of and became massive stars, and loads who did nothing and ended up back at Tescos packing shelves.

Anyway, he told me years ago that EMI paid 'bribes' to and did 'deals' with the press to ensure that 'negative' stories about 2 of their major artists at the time were kept out of the press. The first one was Freddie Mercury, and the stories they wanted to cover were about him being gay (back then, being gay was still seen as career destroying) and they were worried the rock audiences would turn their backs on him. Older lads on here will remember that there were no stories or scandals about Freddie and his sexuality until he admitted being gay as he was dying, and then old 'lovers' were trotted out to tell their stories.

The second story was about Cliff Richard, and his penchant for under age boys, stretching back to the 60s. Now, you have to remember that homosexuality was illegal in the early 60s, and the age of consent for 2 men was 21, so under age could now be of legal age, but the rumours apparently were of 15/16 year olds, a bit like Jonathan King. Also, within the company, anyone heard to talk about these rumours were instantly dismissed, and it was a definite no no, be it the cleaner or the chief exec. Am not sure how, in this day and age they have been able to suppress these stories, but then again, how did Jimmy Saville??...'

Cliff Richard appears to have had a very good relationship with Sir Joseph Lockwood, who was chairman of EMI from 1954 to 1974. They reportedly dined together in April 1962. And, as well as participating in promotional events on behalf of Cliff Richard at least three times between 1959 and 1964, Sir Joseph Lockwood also attended a Variety luncheon at the Hilton Hotel, as late as December 1983, to honour Cliff Richard's twenty-fifth year as a entertainer.

The Beatles recorded for EMI and Sir Joseph Lockwood's Wikipedia page currently states of their relationship:

'..He was seen as willing to overlook "eccentricities" such as their drug use, saying "I never pursued it... largely because they were so successful."...'