Clyde Packer
Encyclopedia
Robert Clyde Packer usually known as "Clyde", was the son of Australian newspaper magnate Frank Packer
and the elder brother of media baron Kerry Packer
. Clyde Packer was originally intended to be his father's heir before a falling-out resulted in Kerry inheriting the family business.
Among his many business activities, Packer founded the independent Spin Records
label, which released many successful singles and albums from 1967 to 1972, including the original Australian cast recording of the rock musical Hair
.
. In 1972 his first marriage broke up and he had a public falling-out with his father. He resigned his posts as managing director of the Nine Network
and general manager of Australian Consolidated Press
after his father refused to air an interview with then union leader Bob Hawke
. In 1976 he sold his quarter share of the family business for A$4 million to his younger brother Kerry
, who went on to become Australia's richest man.
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1964 to 1976.
in 1976, where he later died aged 65. He rarely returned to Australia.
In America, Clyde pursued interests in film, surf culture, and magazine publishing.
Clyde was married twice, to Angela Money and Kate Clifford. Like his brother Kerry
he suffered from heart and kidney problems, and had a kidney donated from a close associate (in his case, his architect).
Frank Packer
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer, KBE , was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network.-Biography:...
and the elder brother of media baron Kerry Packer
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
. Clyde Packer was originally intended to be his father's heir before a falling-out resulted in Kerry inheriting the family business.
Among his many business activities, Packer founded the independent Spin Records
Spin Records
Spin Records was an Australian popular music label of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was established in late 1966 by Clyde Packer and a group of partners including entrepreneur Harry M. Miller. The label's first A&R manager was Nat Kipner who produced several early Spin releases...
label, which released many successful singles and albums from 1967 to 1972, including the original Australian cast recording of the rock musical Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
.
Dispute with father
Clyde was the elder son of media baron Sir Frank PackerFrank Packer
Sir Douglas Frank Hewson Packer, KBE , was an Australian media proprietor who controlled Australian Consolidated Press and the Nine Network.-Biography:...
. In 1972 his first marriage broke up and he had a public falling-out with his father. He resigned his posts as managing director of the Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
and general manager of Australian Consolidated Press
Australian Consolidated Press
ACP Magazines , a subsidiary of the Nine Entertainment Co., is an Australian media company. It publishes the Australian Women's Weekly and the Australian edition of Woman's Day....
after his father refused to air an interview with then union leader Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
. In 1976 he sold his quarter share of the family business for A$4 million to his younger brother Kerry
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
, who went on to become Australia's richest man.
Political career
Clyde Packer was also a LiberalLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1964 to 1976.
Counter-cultural involvement
After his resignation, Packer became briefly involved in the counter-culture (famously wearing a kaftan), before moving to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1976, where he later died aged 65. He rarely returned to Australia.
In America, Clyde pursued interests in film, surf culture, and magazine publishing.
Clyde was married twice, to Angela Money and Kate Clifford. Like his brother Kerry
Kerry Packer
Kerry Francis Bullmore Packer, AC was an Australian media tycoon. The son of Sir Frank Packer and Gretel Bullmore, the Packer family company owned controlling interest in both the Nine television network and leading Australian publishing company Australian Consolidated Press, which were later...
he suffered from heart and kidney problems, and had a kidney donated from a close associate (in his case, his architect).