Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? The home of an iconic rock band's manager is a little bit of both
On the leafy outskirts of Hertford, a home has come up for sale that where a young rock band from London and their manager came together to change the world of music.
It's an age-old question: what could be better than life as a rock star in an iconic band, travelling the world, earning millions and living a wild lifstyle?
The answer, if you're a born showman, is nothing. But for those who'd rather-not-be-too-much-in-the-limelight-thanks-very-much, there's an even better answer: being the manager of an iconic rock band. You have all the fun, and yet you can walk around Sainsbury's without being bugged for autographs.
The fine country home you see above — which is for sale through Hamptons at £3.25 million — is that of a man who lived this life. Norman Sheffield might have had to deal with contracts and balance sheets rather than groupies hurling underwear at him on stage, but as manager of one of the greatest bands of the 1970s he enjoyed the trappings of success without the burden of fame.
And yet, as ever in life, you should be careful what you wish for — because Norman Sheffield's management of Queen took a disturbing turn.
Sheffield started his music career not as a businessman, but a musician. As a drummer for instrumental band The Hunters he had success as a performer, playing for Cliff Richard among others, and went on to open a record shop in London in the Swinging Sixties. In 1968, Norman and his brother, Barry, had an idea that would transform their fortunes and lives, converting the space above the shop into a state-of-the-art recording studio.
Artists were attracted by the studio’s ‘relaxed vibe and ability to be creative while surrounded by the latest technology and superior producers and engineers’, according to the Trident Studios website. That tech — including Dolby noise reduction and a sophisticated eight-track recording system — persuaded The Beatles to use Trident Studios to record Hey Jude, among other songs, since Abbey Road didn't have the same facilities at the time. From there, the studio became a huge success, with Elton John, Carly Simon, Lou Reed and David Bowie among those to record hits there.
It was during this heady era that Sheffield took a chance on a young quartet calling themselves Queen, letting them use the studio after hours, and getting them a recording contract with EMI.
Under his wing they released three albums, which featured songs such as Seven Seas of Rhye, Killer Queen and Now I'm Here.
At the time, Sheffield lived at Trevigue, the mock-Tudor property that’s now on the market. The band apparently spent a lot of time at the house with their manager, as well as the other artists in his orbit, with Elton John allegedly tinkling the ivories for them here. If only those walls could talk...
As Queen's early success turned into superstardom in the mid-1970s, the relationship between Sheffield and the band unravelled — over money, predictably — and they parted ways. Though Queen got out of their contract, Freddie Mercury was embittered enough to write a song, Death On Two Legs, which was seemingly aimed at their former manager.
Death On Two Legs was the opening track on A Night at the Opera, arguably Queen’s best-known album, released in 1975 — and Sheffield believed it was filled with references to him, including a line describing 'a sewer-rat decaying in a cesspool of pride', and including lines such as 'You suck my blood like a leech / You break the law and you breach... You've taken all my money, and you want more.'
Sheffield was not happy, to say the least, and threatend to sue: 'It was some kind of nasty hate mail from Freddie to me,' he later said in his autobiography, Life On Two Legs: Set The Record Straight, as recounted in The Daily Mirror.
Sheffield and Queen reached an out-of-court settlement that cleared the matter up, though it's notoriously a messy moment in the history of the band. In later years, however, Queen superstars Brian May and Roger Taylor paid tribute to Sheffield's Trident studios, particularly for the recording time they were allowed to let the young band find its voice and sound.
Mercury's vocals in particular benefitted hugely from these sessions, May explained: "As soon as he is in the studio, he hears his voicing come back at him through the speakers and says, "No, I don’t like that. I’ll do it again. Do another one." In a very short time, he tailored his performance to the way he wants to hear it. He became a really expert vocalist really quickly. He found his voice and he found the means to use it."
It's hard to know how deep the rift was felt — and even after the split, Queen's iconic, groundbreaking video for Bohemian Rhapsody was made by Trillion, a subsidiary of Trident Studios. Furthermore, following Norman Sheffield's death in 2014, May posted a tribute on his blog: 'We had our differences of course, but, in the Grand Scheme of Things, all the water had long since flowed under the bridge.'
Queen in 1973. Left to right: drummer Roger Taylor, singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), guitarist Brian May, and bassist John Deacon.
But enough of the spat! Let’s get back to Trevigue. Set in more than two acres in the village of Hailey in Hertfordshire, the six-bedroom house is now a ‘beautiful family home’, says Hamptons.
A spacious hall, featuring a large fireplace and a sweeping staircase, sits at the heart of the property. Arranged around it are a dining room with a wooden bar, a double-aspect drawing room, a family room, a study and an office.
The kitchen is located towards the back of the house, alongside a utility room, pantry and boot room. All-important rooms in a busy family home. And let’s not forget the wine cellar underneath.
Exposed timber beams throughout the ground floor add plenty of character.
On the first floor, the main bedroom has the luxury of not one but two dressing rooms and two ensuite bathrooms. There are five further bedrooms, alongside three bathrooms and another dressing room — ample space for family and friends alike.
Outside, the grounds are bound to pique the interest of keen gardeners. They have been landscaped to create a series of distinct spaces, including a vegetable garden, rose garden, soft fruit garden, and a walled garden.
There’s also an ornamental pond with koi carp and a fountain as well as a large pond with a footbridge.
A swimming pool — installed by Sheffield — plus a pool house, and a number of outbuildings complete the set-up.
Oliver Babbage, Head of Sales at Hamptons in Hertford, says: ‘Having been lovingly updated and meticulously maintained by the current owners over the past 13 years, the property offers the perfect balance of family living and entertaining space with stunning landscaped gardens. It has been at the heart of countless memorable gatherings, celebrations, and family moments.
‘The owners are now preparing for their next chapter and are looking to downsize and relocate as their children begin to leave the nest.’
Trevigue is for sale via Hamptons at £3.25 million — see more details
