I spent last Saturday at the Rock on the Range Festival, here is the rundown on my big day at work.
11:00am – I arrived on site to Crew Stadium in Columbus. I picked up my media credentials and worked my way over to the media tent. I got checked in and met some of the on-site contacts for the day, and then took a walk around the stadium to get my baring.
12:00pm – I met up with Steve from Geffen (Universal) records. We sat down in the Miller/V.I.P. tent and caught up on the music world. We also saw a few songs from the Opening band Whitestarr.
1:00pm – Steve took me over to the Puddle of Mudd tour bus, so I could record the 1st Chop Shop interview of the day with Wes Scantlin. This is the 1st time I’ve ever met or talked with anyone from Puddle of Mudd.
2:00pm – Steve lead me to the Papa Roach dressing room, where I waited for Jerry Horton. Jerry had some family in town for the big festival so was running late. That’s normally not a big deal but 3 Days Grace was expecting me at 2:20pm. I was just about to leave and re-schedule with Jerry when he walked in at :12 after. Jerry apologized and we did a quick 12-minute interview.
2:25pm – I’m late for my 3 Days Grace interview, and their tour bus is on the other side of the stadium. Their tour manager called just as I was arriving at 2:35 15 minutes late! Lucky for me this is the 3rd time I’ve interviewed Barry Stock and he was totally cool with me running behind.
2:50pm – Now I’m jogging from the front of house "Tour Bus Corral" to get back to the media tent where I’m meeting the two guitarists from Operator at 3:00.
3:10pm – Operator has not arrived yet, but there rep. Jim Crow says they are on the way. The guys from the band Whitestarr are there so I take a few minutes to record some footage with guitarist Rainbow.
3:20pm – I sit down in the media tent with Ricky and Paul from Operator. Ricky is hitting the Jack and Coke pretty hard, so this show might end up being pretty funny.
3:45pm – I made my way back to the 2nd stage area and climbed aboard the Black Stone Cherry tour bus. The band is running late due to there meet & greet. Ben’s girlfriend and Joe the tour manager keep me company while I wait. My next interview isn’t until 4:15 so I’m not in a big rush.
4:05pm – Ben Wells arrives and we blast through another interview.
4:20pm - I’ve worked my way back to the Bus Corral, Mark King from Hinder found me in the walkway and we went on the Hinder tour bus to knock out interview # 7 of the day.
4:55pm – Back to the media tent to talk to Keith Nelson of Buckcherry.
5:15pm – My next interview is not for another 30 minutes, so I worked my way back to the 2nd stage dressing rooms and find the catering room. I sat down with several of the guys from Black Stone Cherry to finally get something to eat.
5:40 – I have a small problem. My Evanescence interview is set for 5:45, but I just got a call from Breaking Benjamin, and they want to go now. I asked to push it back 10 minutes and they agree. Luckily Terry from Evanescence is ready to go 5 minutes early.
5:55pm – I jump from one tour bus to another and I’m sitting down with Ben Bernley for my 10th (and last) interview of the day.
6:15pm – I grab a water and a cookie from catering and step backstage to say hello to Slash. I just interviewed Slash last week, so he asked how it turned out, and we talked for about 3 minutes, and then it was time for Velvet Revolver to hit the stage.
7:15pm – Velvet Revolver goes on and I’m in the photographers pit for the 1st 3 songs (I took these photos). After that I’m in the VIP section behind the stage watching the show with all the other bands and their families.
8:45pm – Evanescence goes on, Again I’m in the pit for the first 3 songs. I sent the rest of their set watching the show from different areas of the venue.
10:10 – ZZ Top closes the show. I watch the first 3 songs in the photo pit. Then back to the VIP section.
12am – I’m back at the hotel, spent.
7:00am – Up early to shower, eat a muffin and start the drive home. I’m on the air in 5 hours.
9:30am – I’m in Findlay, Ohio and I wonder if I can get the ‘RIFF. I’m in luck, I can listen to the last half of the Chop Shop!
12 noon – Back in Detroit and back in time for my Sunday air-shift on the mighty 101, WRIF!
¶ 3:27 PM
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Perfect 10 - Queen
I got an email this week from D. Craig asking to see my top 10 Queen songs, so here's this week's entry.
1. Spread Your Wings
2. It's Late
3. Tie Your Mother Down
4. '39
5. Who Needs You
6. Keep Youself Alive
7. I Want It All
8. Get Down, Make Love
9. The Prophet's Song
10. The Game.
Thanks,
¶ 12:25 PM
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Perfect 10 - Dio
Dio is in town tonight with Sabbath (Heaven & Hell) so I decided to post my weekly Perfect 10 in honor of his solo work as well as Rainbow and Black Sabbath:
1. Invisible - Dio
2. Neon Knights - Black Sabbath
3. Man on the Silver Mountain - Rainbow
4. Shame on the Night - Dio
5. Children of the Sea - Black Sabbath
6. Temple of the King - Rainbow
7. All the Fools Sailed Away - Dio
8. Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath
9. Stand up and Shout - Dio
10. We Rock - Dio
¶ 8:19 PM
Friday, May 11, 2007
Happy Birthday Chop Shop
The Chop Shop Guitar Show made its debut during the week of May 17th, 2004, and over the next 156 weeks has grown and expanded including the debut of Chop Shop Classic for classic rock stations.
The show including our annual Ozzy/Halloween special and the T.S.O. Christmas Specials have aired on more than 120 rock station in 41 States.
The Chop Shop will celebrate the third anniversary this week with highlights from the first three years, including moments with Dave Grohl(Foo Fighters), Paul Stanley(KISS), Jason Krause(Kid Rock), and George Lynch(Dokken,) and an all-star salute to Dimebag Darrell Abbott
I have interviewed over 100 guitar players including David Gilmour, Tony Iommi, Tom Morello, Slash, and Zakk Wylde, who was a special guest host of The Chop Shop recently.
The Chop Shop is the exclusive home of The Chop Shop Guitar Hall of Fame, with 20 legendary rock guitarists inducted so far.
Thanks for all your support. We’re looking forward to season 4, to continue providing great music and great radio to all the listeners across the country.
¶ 8:37 AM
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
A Message from Chevelle:
"We regret to inform you that we are unable to perform our scheduled tour dates (until further notice) due to the entire trailer full of pretty much ALL our gear we own getting STOLEN TODAY (May 9) from the Clarion Dallas Park Central hotel at approximately 11:00 a.m.
"If anyone has any information, or sees a light gray KZ Cargo trailer, with an Illinois plate 57002. Please call 911 or your local police authority.
"Most items are labeled 'Chevelle' and if you notice anything suspicious on eBay or other online resellers selling 'authentic' CHEVELLE items... Pete's guitars, Dean's basses, Sam's drums, amplifiers, risers, backdrops, tee shirts... please call the police ... or [send an] email [to]: thestolenchevellegear@hotmail.com.
"Any information would be greatly appreciated... and we hope to see you soon...but it will take some time to get all our items replaced.
¶ 6:28 PM
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Perfect 10 - ZZ Top
I just confirmed that I'll be going to Columbus for the Rock on the Rage festival to interview
ZZ TOP
EVANESCENCE
VELVET REVOLVER
HINDER
PAPA ROACH
BREAKING BENJAMIN
CHEVELLE
THREE DAYS GRACE
BUCKCHERRY
PUDDLE OF MUDD
BLACK STONE CHERRY
& OPERATOR
So in honor of the headliner, here's my ZZ Top Perfect 10;
1. Fool For Your Stockings
2. Arrested For Driving While Blind
3. Just Got Paid
4. Waiting For The Bus
5. Cheap Sunglasses
6. Manic Machnic
7. La Grange
8. Heard It On The X
9. I Thank You
10. Pearl Necklace
¶ 8:51 PM
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
NHL Playoffs
So I've been taking some heat in my email about not posting my hockey predictions this year. The main reason I skiped it this year is I don't have much faith in the Wings this year, and I knew I'd cath some flack for that.
Anyway here's my thoughts better late than never.
I think the Ducks are the best team in the NHL, and even if the Wings somehow get by the Sharks, I don't think they have enough talent to make it to the Cup.
In the East I love Buffalo, but Hockey playoffs often come down to match-ups. I think the Devils if they make it to the East finals could beat the Sabers.
My pick before the playoffs started was the Ducks over the Sabers, I'm wavering on that call a little thinking the Devils could still make a run, but I guess I'll stick by my guns. Ducks win the cup in 007.
I hope I'm wrong Wings fans.
Black
¶ 10:43 PM
