Mark Fuller Owner of the Sanctum Soho Hotel Date of Birth: .

1. Mark Fuller: The Man Who Opened Doors for Rock 'n' Roll
2. From Roadie to Photographer's Assistant
3. Managing Pleasure & the Beast
4. Embracing Nightlife and Shaping Careers
5. Sanctuary Records and Hyde Park
6. The Sanctum Soho

Mark Fuller: The Man Who Opened Doors for Rock 'n' Roll

Mark Fuller, the proprietor of the Sanctum Soho hotel, has an unparalleled track record in the music industry. From hosting royalty to Hollywood stars, he has rubbed shoulders with legendary rock icons like Brian Johnson of AC/DC. But why does he reside in Hyde Park with the humble title of "Official Bottle Opener"?

From Roadie to Photographer's Assistant

Mark's musical journey began at the bottom as a roadie for the Ramones. He lugged their equipment and fetched them McDonald's, but when the band embarked on tour, Fuller's attempt to secure a garage job turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He found himself assisting renowned photographer Lord Snowden.

Fuller's most memorable experience came during the preparation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding photos. Tasked with developing the film, he felt the weight of history on his shoulders. A slip-up could have had disastrous consequences for him and Snowden.

Managing Pleasure & the Beast

Through Snowden's second assistant, who was a music photographer, Fuller met the band Pleasure & the Beast. He was spontaneously offered the role of their manager. When the band gained popularity in America with their hit "Dr. Sex" and faced financial struggles while in New York, Fuller organized a benefit concert to fund their food and lodging. He then ingeniously forged plane tickets to get them back to London.

Embracing Nightlife and Shaping Careers

Upon the band's return, Fuller ventured into concert management, working with artists like Iggy Pop and The Cure. To promote one of his bands, Psychodelic Furs, he opened a nightclub where they sold tickets. This marked a turning point in his career. Psychodelic Furs' members later found success in other groundbreaking groups, such as the Spice Girls and Simple Minds.

Fuller's club, Embassy, became a renowned venue, even giving Bush their first stage. Despite not being impressed with Gavin Rossdale's music initially, Fuller encouraged him to persevere. "If it wasn't for me, Bush might never have been what they were and Gavin wouldn't have ended up married to Gwen Stefani," he reflects.

Sanctuary Records and Hyde Park

Mark's association with Sanctuary Records, where he partnered with Andy Taylor and Rod Smallwood, introduced him to an even broader spectrum of artists, including Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Beyoncé. Fuller jokingly describes his role as the "Chief Bottle Opener" for the company. "When you're representing a band, you have to keep everyone happy," he explains.

For the past 14 years, Fuller has virtually lived in Hyde Park, one of the most prestigious music venues in the world. He has coordinated concerts for royalty, Live Earth, and Hard Rock Calling, hosting acts like the Foo Fighters, Pink Floyd, and Metallica. He also worked on the Princess Diana concert at Wembley Stadium.

The Sanctum Soho

"Part of what I do is put musicians up in hotels, so I built the Sanctum Soho, where we are now," says Fuller. His current guest includes the drummer of Iron Maiden, who, according to Fuller, flies the plane while the band is on tour. The hotel's Jacuzzi has hosted a simultaneous party attended by Prince Harry, Tom Jones, and Natalie Imbruglia.

Despite its reputation for hosting rock stars, Fuller emphasizes that the Sanctum is not a venue for debauchery. "The days of TVs being thrown out of hotel rooms are gone. It costs so much money for a band to do it and, believe it or not, most of these guys work really hard and just want to sleep," he says. "We used to drive vans backwards down the motorway while we were drunk, facing oncoming traffic."