The Right Time to Strike
Once the CSN deal was inked, Geffen made L.A. his base. After all, Elliot Roberts was already based there and was bringing in talent, so Geffen knew it was the right time to strike. The two men reinforced their partnership as they drove up to Carl Gottlieb’s house one afternoon (Gottlieb was a Hollywood screenwriter and long-time friend of Crosby’s).
Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and David Geffen circa 1982. Photo by Brad Elterman / FIlmMagic / Getty Images
As Roberts recalled, “David stopped the car… turned to me and said, ‘Listen, let’s just do this.’” When Elliot started to complain about having done most of the hard work himself, Geffen told him to shut up. “You know you’ll make twice as much money with me,” he told him.