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!