Andrew Lauder (born 1948, Hartlepool, County Durham, England) is a record company executive and former A&R manager. Initially noted for his adventurous signings of bands as diverse as Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Can, Hawkwind and Brinsley Schwarz to Liberty Records and United Artists Records in the 1960s and 70s, he went on to form numerous independent labels including Radar Records, F-Beat Records and Demon Music Group. Early life Lauder was born in Hartlepool, County Durham, England in 1948, the son of a timber yard owner, he attended Wellingborough School, Northamptonshire. He moved to London around 1965 to look for a job. He joined Southern Music, as an accounts clerk. Liberty and United Artists Records In 1967 a friend introduced Lauder to Bob Reisdorf, who was launching Liberty Records in the UK. Lauder was initially "label manager" and oversaw the reissuing of back catalogues including Eddie Cochran and Fats Domino, before making himself Liberty's Artists and Repertoire (A&R) manager and quickly signing The Idle Race, Family and the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Also, in 1968 Tony McPhee & The Groundhogs for £50. On the Liberty sampler Gutbucket (1969) Lauder placed The Bonzo's spoof 'Can Blue Men Sing The Whites' directly after Tony McPhee's 'No More Doggin'. In 1971 The Groundhog's 'Split' LP was the best selling record on the Liberty / UA label. Liberty primarily signed hippy or underground "album bands", and also licensed a number of US acts such as Captain Beefheart. Lauder largely ignored the pop market, although the label had a few UK hit singles such as Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary". In 1968, Liberty was bought by Transamerica Corporation and then absorbed by their existing label United Artists Records, Lauder becoming head of A&R for United Artists in the UK. In 1969 United Artists rebuffed Chrysalis Records’ attempt to poach Lauder, and gave him greater control. During Lauder's tenure at Liberty Records (based in Mortimer Street, London) he organised the Liberty Records Football team made up of various young industry luminaries and occasional guests who played regular friendly matches at Colliers Wood, South London. Among the players were Leapy Lee, Dave Margerrison, Dick Leahy and Daily Mirror editor Richard Stott. Lauder's personal music preferences were West Coast hippy bands such as Quicksilver Messenger Service and the Grateful Dead, which was reflected in his signing bands like Man and Help Yourself; but Lauder became known for releasing an