michael garbutt

director of PR & media initiatives

Michael Garbutt commenced a 35 year career in 1983, first in retail followed by a transition into sales and marketing at Polydor Records in the mid 80’s working with such artists as Freddie Mercury, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure. Michael moved to Virgin in 1990 and for a decade looked after media for everyone from Phil Collins/Genesis, Lenny Kravitz and Madness to Massive Attack, Dr Dre and Daft Punk. There were award winning campaigns for Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell 2 – Back Into Hell and the phenomenon that was the Spice Girls. In 1999 Garbutt joined Alan Edwards at the Outside Organisation to work on David Bowie, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Elton John and George Michael among others, as well as the Beckham brand which emerged out of his relationship with Victoria following the break-up of the group. In 2003 Garbutt was awarded the UK Radio Academy PR gong and he formed Lucid Communications with Charlie Lycett. Throughout this period he also looked after PR for The Brits, The Mobos and The Mercury Music Prize. In 2006 he stepped out of the PR cycle to manage the legendary Robin Gibb until his premature passing in 2012.

Over these years he has continued to work for organizations such as The Princes Trust, The Princess Diana Award, UNICEF, Comic Relief and many others - Michael remains excited to work alongside Gary, Jett, and the rest of the team at Rock Against Trafficking with a passion for furthering this very important cause.