INSIDE PITCH: Veteran rock critic John Mendelssohn,...

INSIDE PITCH: Veteran rock critic John Mendelssohn, who has been hired by Birch Lane Press to write an unauthorized biography of show-biz mega-mogul David Geffen, has been getting a frosty reception from many industry insiders around town. And not by chance. Not only has Geffen refused to speak with Mendelssohn, but he recently sent a form letter to a number of show-biz acquaintances (even ones he isn’t speaking to), reminding them that he hasn’t participated in the project. “As you know,” he writes. “I have generally tried to be private about my life and my activities and I consider my private life, my background and even my business affairs all confidential matters. . . . I just wanted you to be aware of my feelings before you make any decision about speaking to Mr. Mendelssohn.”

Mendelssohn, whose most recent book was a 1985 biography of the Kinks, insists he’s not writing a Kitty Kelley-style expose of Geffen’s private life. “It’s not going to be a great scholarly tome,” he says. “But it’s certainly not an assassination attempt either. My goal is to write an accurate, responsible book, but it’s difficult to paint a fair portrait of the man when only his enemies will talk to me.” Mendelssohn wouldn’t say who he’s spoken to, but insists that his sources haven’t completely dried up. “I guess an awful lot of people didn’t get David’s letter,” he says. “In fact, a couple of people contacted me specifically because they weren’t included on his mailing list.”