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Sunday, July 30, 2006
crazy week



A crazy week in the books. As I mentioned in the last blog entry I am teaching at Camp Jam.

I didn’t really know what to expect, but it’s been very cool. Some of the kids (teenagers) really have a lot of talent. I’m teaching them the basics of songwriting, recording, and mixing and when we were done with the week one projects it does NOT sound like 11 year olds and 15 year olds at all! Very cool.

I’ve also still got all of my Chop Shop and WRIF duties as well for these weeks, so most days I’m at the school until 4:30pm and then off to work one of the 2 other jobs. I’m still usually asleep by 11:30pm and up at 7:30am so I’m getting plenty of sleep, I just have not had any off time to watch t.v. or more importantly, do some research for my fantasy football team. After all the draft is only a month away.

The photo is from St. Clair Summerfest. I was there broadcasting live on Sunday. Everyone seemed to be having fun, and the weather wasn’t too crazy.

Stay as cool as you can for the next 2 days.

I’ll be at Billy Idol on Monday, stop by and say hello.

Black Out.
6:59 PM

Sunday, July 23, 2006
Teacher Black


Starting Monday I will be one of the instructors for Camp Jam, where teen-aged musicians come together to lean everything about the music world.

I am in charge of the recording, mixing, editing and sound classes.

I'm expecting this to be an absolute blast, but it will make for a busy 2 weeks between classes five days a week, WRIF responabilities and 2 Chop Shop shows a week.

I'm not complaining, in-fact I'm looking forward to it, I'm just letting you know it might be awhile before I return your email.

Black out.
1:13 PM

Friday, July 21, 2006
Tesla




Yesterday was Tesla day for me. I went to sound-check at 1:30pm. Tesla is always one of the more entertaining bands at a sound-check. They mess around a lot and play a bunch of cover songs. It’s kind of fun to be the only person in the pavilion at the old Pine Knob, and watch Tesla play "Rock of Ages" from Def Leppard, "Free For All" from Nugent and some Rolling Stones songs as well.

After sound-check, I went back to catering and met the new guitarist Dave Rude. The whole band and crew, except Frank Hannon and I sat around for 35 minutes trading rock and roll stories about everyone from Dragonforce to Guns ‘N Roses.
Next, when Frank showed up, he and I went off to the dressing room to record a Chop Shop interview. It was nice to catch up with Frank, he’s a very talented guitarist and always speaks his mind.

At 3pm I had to get to my chiropractic appointment at chiropractic USA in Oxford.

Before you know it it’s 5pm and I’m back in Clarkston, at the WRIF tent in the parking lot doing breaks on the ‘RIF with Arthur P. and greeting listeners on their way into the show.

At 7:30 I met a couple of friends and went to grab something to eat. At 8:30pm it was time to head back-stage for the meet & greet. I took my "guests" and some WRIF winners back to meet the band.

At 9:30 the band hit the stage, They were kind enough to give me a photo pass so I went to the photo pit in front of the stage and click a few shots, as you can see.

Overall a very good rock and roll day.

Black
10:47 AM

Wednesday, July 19, 2006
OZZFEST



It’s 1:30 on a Wednesday afternoon, and I’m at Ozzfest…..playing Zakk Wylde’s world famous Bulls-eye Les Paul guitar! This job does have its perks!

Zakk has been busy working on the new B.L.S. cd "Shot to Hell" and recording the new Ozzy cd at the same time. Plus its summer and that means Ozzfest. I worked my way over to the tour bus and spent some time with my old friend. We recorded a WRIF interview, and a Chop Shop interview, then Zakk played me 2 songs from his yet to be released cd…..B.L.S. fans will NOT be disappointed.

After the interviews, we spent 15 minutes or so catching up, talking about families and sports mostly. Then before I left Zakk wanted me to check out his new Dean, Dimebag model guitar. I strummed around on it and then asked the big question, "Do you mind if I play the ‘Bulls-eye"?
Zakk said, "anytime brother, you know that." So I picked it up and played a few notes, and Zakk says, "Is this your camera"? And the next thing you know I have a photo of me on Zakk’s bus, playing Zakk’s guitar, taken by the big Viking king himself. Excuse me while I glow!

Ozzfest was awesome this year. I also got to interview Harold from Dragonforce, Dan Donegan from Disturbed, and Synyster Gates from Avenged Sevenfold.

I hope your Wednesday was just as fun.

Black out.
9:16 PM

Thursday, July 13, 2006


As you can tell from the last blog entry, the Sabrina Black Foundation website is up and running.
Sparky and Jeremy did all the web design and work while sitting outside at our house in one of Sabrina’s favorite places in the world, on the patio with her garden and pond in the background.

It just seems so perfect to me that we were able to create the entire site from one of “her” places, so I decided to share a photo of the occasion.

The link is www.sabrinablackfoundation.org

Black
10:18 AM

Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Sabrina Black Foundation



As most of you all know, my amazing wife Sabrina lost her life to cancer a few months ago after a 6-year battle.

To honor her memory we have created the Sabrina Black Foundation. The SBF will be a 501-C3 non-profit foundation that will help eliminate hospital bills for cancer patients by working anonymously through local billing offices.

If you are interested in the details please visit www.sabrinablackfoundation.org

I am officially going public with the website on Thursday during the Stoney & Wojo radiothon, which will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Sabrina used to work with Stoney & Wojo, and they have asked me to join them in her place this year.

It is my goal to be able to help our first patient this December, just 9 months after her passing. I’m confident that we will be able to do it, and I know it would make her very proud.

Thank you all so much for your love and support over the last 6 years, you helped to make us very lucky and blessed. Now it’s our turn to return the favor to others in need.

God bless

Steve Black
9:46 PM

Monday, July 03, 2006
oh captian my captian



What can you say? Steve Yzerman will go into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a 3 time Stanley Cup Champion, a legendary captain and a first class citizen.

I had the opportunity to cover the Red Wings as a member of the press, and I’ve talked to Steve many times, and even got to play hockey against him once in a charity game (me & Yzerman in the photo) and he was always a stand up guy. Hockey fans everywhere will miss him.

I’ll stick to my position of a year ago, and hope that the Red Wings name Zetterberg the next caption.

ENJOY YOU RETIREMENT AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT MEMORIES.

Black out
1:50 PM

Sunday, July 02, 2006
sometimes it makes you mad.

Sometimes the most frustrating part of running a syndicated show is setting up the interviews. Here is a real life example, I’ve left out the name of the band and we will just call the guitarist "guitarist X".

Once I’ve decided I’d like to have "guitarist X" on the show I contact his publicity agent first, if he has one. So I sent an email requesting the interview in-person while his band is in town. I did this 3 full weeks before the show. After 5 days with no response I re-sent the email. 2 more days with no response.

Next I move onto the record label, in this case it’s a classic artist who doesn’t have much "new product" so they are on a tiny label, who decides not to return my email.

We are only about 10 days away from the show, so this time I contact the venue and promoters who want as much press as possible to help sell tickets for the show. They provide me with a number for the bands management. I called and they told me "It sounds like a good show, but the publicist has to make the call on weather or not he can do the show". I explained that the publicist was not returning my email, so they provided me with his phone number.
I called the publicist, who I was told by the secretary, had broken his foot and was out of the office. She suggested I email him, which I did….it got no response.

4 days before the show, I called the press agent again…..He’s still out with a broken foot. I asked if anyone was handling his artists and that I needed an answer. They said "no", and that "I should email him", which I did for the 4th time……no response.

The day before the show, I went ahead and made "loose" plans just in case, but clearly this interview was not going to happen.

24 hours before the show…..and an email arrives from the publicist. It says "Guitarist X" has agreed to the interview, and that is it. No time, or place or on-site contact information was included. So I reply to the email and wait.

12 hours before the show, I can’t wait any longer. I call the press agent’s office and explain that the interview has been approved, but I have no contact info. The office gives me the number for the tour manager. I call him right away to set up a time, he of course has no idea who I am, and it’s the first he has heard about any interviews! I explain to him what the Chop Shop is and that it’s on 29 radio stations, and he says "cool, I’ll have ‘guitarist X’ call you in an hour or two".

9 hours before the show "guitarist X" calls my cell, he’s excited to do the show, but he’s at the airport, and his signal is breaking up. "I’ll have to call you back when I get to Detroit".

6 hours before the show, "Guitarist X" calls and says to meet him at 8:30pm at the venue.

Now after all this, you have no idea what to expect, but every thing worked out perfectly. The band and tour manager treated me great with all-access passes and front row center tickets. "Guitarist X’ did the interview like the old pro he is, then took me side stage to show off some of the cooler guitars in his collection. They even gave me access to free food and drink. It was first class all the way….after 20 days of hell trying to go through all the proper channels…….next time "guitarist X" said just email or call me directly". He gave me his cell number and email address…..all’s well that ends well!

Black out.
10:50 AM



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