Last time I was in LA I ate at The Rainbow. The food is still excellent but the Strip is dead. Nothing like it was. In fact, LA as a city is dying. It’s a mess.
@ It used to be all radio driven and local DJ’s had huge influence. They broke a lot of bands . That element is no longer there. No Rodney Bingenhiemer. Everyone listened to the same radio stations. You had some DJ’s who were real characters.
Totally - the line between corporatism and organized crime is very very thin - really just the former is on the right side of the law cos they make the law (by bribing legislating politicians) - but otherwise similar business models.
Some very true points, and while we rolled thru in the late nineties, our goal was to jack the crowd with energy, and keep them jacked. No stoppages with mic spewage, no slow down tunes, just play the whole set tune to tune non stop high energy. Wind em up and keep them wound. As the drummer it was brutal, because with me it was hard hitting and fast tempos. It worked well, fickle fans were irrelevant, as we had the attitude to just let the chips fall where they may with the consumers of our art. Never made it big, never cared to, for us it was about great parties and great memories, and we got that in spades. Thx for the vid.
Thanks Brad. Much appreciated. That Guns N Roses song, One in a Million, basically sums it up. Man, I tell you what. Looking back, I would have been chewed up and spit out, if I went out there to Hollywood from lil ole Appleton, WI where I grew up. Peace.
My 1st band "early 80s" we were flat out told numerous times if the crowd ain't drinking we ain't paying. Our set list of 1/2 orig, 1/2 hard rock covers was forced into playing 100% radio friendly rock and anything girls danced to. That or not get that massive $50 cash at closing. Complain and risk getting blacklisted at every club within 200 miles.
had dreams made nightmares....made friends, lost dreams, Some went to prison some grow up, Some won some lost, Some gave up... Breakfast in a rig... supper in a glass, working all night, trashed all day some found life... some found death. Some made a living some not... some found god some found love some found lust...my prayers go out to the ones still struggling.. may god bless them and remove there burdens and heal souls...the bleeding from gods wounds still flows god bless all of you and hope you all have a humble and joyful new years eve, may your heart be filled with joy and your life be filled with love.. peace to you all
Awesome video Brad! Just subscribed. I recently played at the Whisky A Go Go with my band Kuarantine. It was really fun. So cool that you closed this video with such a cool message of keeping that vibe alive. All the best!
All true - I wasn't in that scene but played country in the late 80s, early 90s. We had connections at the highest levels, great original songs, understood the business aspects, had some luck and worked like hell, but there is this wildcard factor called "timing". By the time we got to the point where our music was being heard and the doors were opening, the market changed from groups to single singer types in the early 90s - Garth, Toby Keith, etc. Literally over night labels stopped signing bands and the window closed.
Good video. Everything you said is exactly spot on. I gigged in LA from 2002-2012. At that time, the "Indie/garage/hipster" music scene was the shit and the clubs in Silverlake were the places to play. While the city and scene may have changed, the business and how it's conducted remained the same, as you described. It was fun until we got management, then it started feeling like a job, then we began showcasing for labels and out come the wolves. Shit fell apart shortly after the stress of label attention and suggestions began. Good experience though, when I look back on it. My only advice for anyone in a band is to have an attorney draft your band agreement and represent you when the labels come knocking. It's a business so stick to your guns and don't let them change your lineup or the essence of your sound.
The business will never change - because the "Tribe" will never leave it. // That's why no-one makes bank - out-side of the inner-core. // I regret - not being able to accomplish those musical-goals; but I can (at least) be relieved - I didn't sell them my identity.
When EVH and RR got signed I planned to move to LA. Didn't make it. I had a friend that went to GIT out there and he said there were wild parties every night, possible not my scene. Florida had a good music scene going on. What is so interesting is you had all these teenage kids in a garage with this dream that they were going to beat the system, instead of getting a regular job they were going to be on a stage, get a record deal, become rich, famous and travel all around the world. I know and have known some great musicians, most don't make it but some are still out there, still performing.
Florida metal scene especially death metal was thriving in the early to mid 90s. So many great bands and albums being made at places like Morrisound in Tampa.
@@SuperStrik9 We used to play the Stadium Lounge across from Tampa Stadium that later became the Rockit club in the 80s. Tampa had one of the largest music stores anywhere Thoroughgood music? Being so close to Clearwater Beach, great times. Even Orlando was good. I even met George Lynches sister. I met George in Atlanta.
Great posts Brad. I too played the L.A. club circuit back in the '80s with Lip Service. Our first gig was at The Hong Kong Cafe on October 11, 1979. We played all of the historic venues finally playing The Whiskey in 1982. We were offered a sweet contract but I wanted nothing to do with that Satanic schiza. I'm still glad I walked away. We set an attendance record at The Starwood once. Robin Williams used to hang out with me when we played Madam Wong's Chinatown. I met Bob Dylan in front of Gazzarri's one night when it was my turn to pack the Magnum and watch our gear out on the boulevard. Now that I think about it, I could have been famous for assassinating Bob Dylan. But was a hero of mine early so we just shot the shit for a minute. He was stewed to the gills and he had horrible breath. Ah. Memories.
randifricke. Hey, that’s the second time in three days I see and hear about Dylan’s bad breath.! I do remember your band name. Never did see you play, I was too busy with my own drum and band practice in ‘79-‘80. In 80 we scored an outrageously great lead guitarist from Israel but he had to quit our r&r or at the time, “new wave” band there in LA. He was a professional who needed to work and make money playing music, no messing around. So like all bands we broke up.
Bro, so much truth in your video. I was in the London UK counterpart of the bands and music morass and things were exactly the same. The competition, the pay-to-play, the craziness. Me, myself acquired a nice heroin habit eventually, which I carried with me for or a couple of decades. I am still involved in music, still eke out some sort of living from it -playing it's all I can do - but I tell you straight: my children are not going to learn any instrument, they are not going to become pros. It takes a special kind of crazy to even wish to embark on such a path. I want my kids to live a calm, healthy existence. And I thought my parents were full of shit for warning me against the music business.... hahahaha....
I was an up-and-coming fashion and band photographer in the early 90s, and I had the time of my life! There were all the downsides mentioned in this vid, but what a scene! Fortunately, I kept my head (mostly) and never got sucked into the darkness. I hung out at the Whiskey and the Roxy all the time, watching my friend's bands like Heavy the World and Halfway Home. I used to drive a beat up pickup truck painted all over like EVH's Frankenstrat...it took 30 cans of red, white, and black spray paint. Even though it was a junk heap, it got lots of attention. One time, I was driving down Sunset going home after a show late at night, it was starting to rain, and my truck stalled at a light. I kept cranking it with no luck, until a big hair rocker dude broke off from his friends on the corner, came up to my window, pulled a bill out of his pocket and said "I'll give you $100 for your truck, right now!! Here you go, just walk away!" I kept cranking it, but he was insistent...plus, traffic was starting to back up and get angry with me. So I was starting to seriously consider his offer, but then I'd have no way to get home! Just as I was about to take his 100, I turned the key one more time, it started up and I pulled away from disappointed rocker dude with a shit eating grin on my face. Good times!!!
Brad ... One of the best LA bands from the Sunset Strip days wasn't even a hair/glam metal band ... it was the Long Ryders, a major part of the 80s Paisley Underground scene. Great band that came around at the wrong time and never reaped the success they should have. The point you made about the Sunset bubble is 100% correct as I remember it. The early-mid 80s was dominated by college radio bands like U2, REM, and the B52s. For every Motley, Quiet Riot, or Poison getting MTV exposure, there was a Knack, Tears for Fears, or GoGos getting huge radio airplay. Interesting time to look back on. I really enjoy your perspectives from ground zero. Happy New Year, my friend.
There were amazing bands of a types and its sad some of them didn't make it any bigger. music brings people together to sing, yell, jump around and just have a damn good time. The scene on the strip was such an amazing thing for thousands of like minded people and We all look back on it and can trade thousands of stories with each other. We got together again 2 1/2 years ago after a small 21 year break ... LOL... We played with the original line up of the ZEROS at the whisky and it was packed like we hoped it would be. We decided to come back as people remembered with all the stage walls, full glam with all the cloths ect... Fun party rock music and the response has been amazing. We play 3 times a year at the whisky and bring back some form of what was lost from the glory days of the strip. The difference is that even when these shows are sold out 20 minutes later you go outside and the strip is empty.... back in the day we all remember when there was thousands of people just hanging out and having a blast even if they coundn't get in the club.... Ok we all get older but what happened to everyone..... did ya all get tired??? the clock is ticking the wrong way these days so everyone should live your live to the fullest now and then and not have a bedtime of 11:30 on a Saturday night. People all say they miss the way the strip was .... well get some friends together and go support new music and of course go grab a drink and pizza at the rainbow after and hang out and have fun. Keep up you channel with the great talks about the strip and I hope to meet some of ya at our next show, in April with Steven Adler ....... STAY GLAM BE COOL .........Tony
@ for sure would love to come on and talk about the scene then and now …. Lost of good entertaining conversation there. Let me know whenever ya want to set something up and we can do it Thanks
Hey Brad, I didn't make it to the Sunset Strip but in my local scene in the Maryland, DC, VA area I was pretty successful with a band called No Justice. We achieved a slot as the opening act for bands like Shotgun Messiah, Tyketto and Saigon Kick. We had a guitarist that would practice his body movements and hair flips during band practice. And his guitar was always going out of tune. He didn't last very long after a few gigs. I stayed in the band for about eight years with two cassette release parties and one CD. We had awesome memories!
@@Trenton2000 we were more of a straight up Rock Band like Aerosmith. We tried to make the scene with our original songs but played covers by Megadeth and Metallica mostly.
So interesting to hear what was behind the scenes. Cause most if us just saw the finished product and thought it was all glamour. You are to be admired for being honest and not to mention you lived this for a while. Brad your a bad ass bro.
Now you understand why Axl Rose and some others flipped out so often. He`s a good guy who eventually snapped like so many others. I reached that point in a simple cover band from the stress of it all and the fights, risks, alcohol, lies and ripoffs. It was so much fun playing music and then it wasn`t. I can`t imagine getting caught up in the Big Time like Layne Staley, Hank Williams, Kurt Cobain, Darrell Abbot, Eddie Van Halen, Danny Joe Brown etc etc etc.
"Your look mattered more." BAM magazine classifieds!! 😂I remember them from living out in Long Beach '87-88. Hollyweird and the Strip were fun to hang out on after midnight, when things came alive, a whole different world than the same spot at midday.
By the late 80s and early 90s the L.A. music scene had become too homogenous and the bands seemed interchangeable and the scene was flooded with mediocrity. That really killed the 80s hr/hm and paved the way for grunge.
I was in a touring band based in Atlanta in the 90s and everything you just said was true in Atlanta as well!!!! The scene wasn't as big but it was still the same.
I moved out to Hollywood in 89, I played in a bunch of bands, and this dude is right on. My experience was slightly different because I wasn't in hair bands so much. God Zoo, kind of new wave, Crybabys, some fucked up, glam, rockabilly, stuff, and Rebel Rebel was a cyberpunk type band. Those are all a few of my old bands in the 80s/90s. But a lot of of my friends were in those hair metal bands. We played with all the glam bands, the glam punk bands, the punk joke bands, all that shit, we all mingled we were all the same, we all fought, drank, and fucked together. This shit makes me think back and kind of sad. I miss it.
Sad reality, i did visit the strip last year, I got to see Winger at the Whiskey and Slaughter at the Rainbow Bar Backyard Bash. So I had a small taste of what it once was...wish I was there back then, It would have been a great story to tell... sad it will never return because now there is no music scene anywhere...MC Hasbeen rules the charts, bummer
What about the Freemasonic/Satanic element? I’m not sure how aware you are about all the symbolism that’s put in the product, but I recall you hinting at the one-eye, at least. I go through my album collection and movies, and it’s everywhere. Once you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you can’t deny it….and it’s not just “artistic choices”. Years ago, I went “down the rabbit hole” when I stumbled upon a video about how Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” music video was chock full of Freemasonic/Illuminati/satanic symbolism, and behind the supposedly positive message, it was all there. Of course, you won’t find anything about this stuff like you used to. The saying, “You catch the most flak when you’re above the target” comes to mind. There’s much more to achieving “success” in this world than hard work and “luck”. That “brass ring” record contract is really indentured servitude or a guided cage. Gives me the heebie jeebies…… If you catch my drift.
Hello Brad ! We can imagine a different 'formula' for venues and 'live ' music... I know someone who inherited a place, that has a little theater in it . He uses the place to rehearse with his band and sometimes organize jams & barbecue with a few selected friends . From time to time, he organizes 'public' concerts, but only with bands he enjoys or think are talented and have something fresh to propose. He's not interested in having a sustained programing . He told me lots of local cover bands asked him to play there, but he said no . Obviously, he's in a position where he clearly doesn't need the money, to keep the place (he owns it), and prefers to invite some band, from time to time . Sound is good there (he invested in a good PA system), and people know, when they go there, that they'll have a good time , that often ends with a jam ! We had a small venue(200/300 tops), for a while , based on the same principle, invitational only, but at end, big jams ! We worked with local breweries, and the public was mostly local musicians that knew that at the end, there will be a monster jam , until the end of the night. All that to say that , there's hope, a different way is possible, probably small initiatives where music and relationships matters the most . Keep on Rocking , Stay Human and have all a fantastic New Year !
@@badbrad He tries to do that, from time to time, it's just that there are not that many interesting young bands around the area he's in . And he doesn't want the venue to have a weekly programing either... ps as a side note, he's the grand-grand-grand... son of the inventor of the 'Opinel' (French folding pocket knife) . Don't know if you've heard of them, very popular and 'traditional' here.
Listen, in the 80’s, as a musician, we had talent! You couldn’t fake it like today. We got up there and gave it all we had. Looking good was the gift of youth and feeling like a star was just pure attitude. You had to stand out from the rest, and let me tell you that was not easy, especially after Van Halen. Peace!
So true. Sad part is things haven't changed much except you don't have to pay to play. At least on the local level. The musicians that never got into drugs, at least not seriously, some are still gigging. I'm glad the volume isn't what we used to play at, plus either using a small amp or no amp by running direct is the way to go now. I can't believe at one time I gigged with two stacks. Although most of the time only one head and one cabinet was being used. But it sure looked cool. Most of us had daytime jobs and just gigged on the weekends. Sometimes we even play five nights a week while having a daytime job. That made Saturday nights really tough. Now being retired, like can gig anytime I want. Anything from Rock and Roll to acoustic Coffee House sets. EDITTED FOR SPELLING.
I didn't know how cut throat music business really is , worked as a roadie in early 80's for a all girl band in NY managed by 1 of the original members of jay and the the americans for about a year they just played clubs around LI & NYC it was alot of fun never saw anything really crazy or bad, learn alot watching your videos great job
Back in the days when I was younger and hung out there I always thought was so tacky looking with those posters plastered everywhere around Hollywood, and on top of each other; Every lamp post, wall and place they could find! Now I know why... Thanks!
Excellent video. What I never understood back in the 80's, I knew many great musicians who couldn't get into a band because they didn't have "the look". I never got that. Excellent musicians, but couldn't get into a band because they were on the chubby side or didn't have big hair. Happy New Year to you and your family Brad! Keep rocking like always!
I caught hell for the "look" in the South. My hair is still very long and they can`t stand it. The ladies loved it which caused major issues in places we played. It was unsafe for me to go to a bar or club alone except Biker places.
I remember reading that when Zakk Wilde joined Ozzy he hired a guitar teacher to teach Zakk how to play the songs. Of course Zakk was a good guitar player at the time but you know that his looks played a big part of it. And it was stated years earlier that Ozzy was all set to hire George Lynch who's hair was short at the time, they changed their mind and hired Jake E Lee instead. Paul Gilbert sent in a tape and was being considered and they asked him did he have the big hair and he did, then they asked him how old he was and he said 16. Too young.
Hey Brad cool video , at the very end you say please like and subscribe , no idea why TH-cam unsubscribed me ? I had to re-subscribe , no wonder I wasn’t getting your videos , glad you keep making the videos , they are all cool and I especially like the sunset strip ones 🤘
Brad, all great points you’ve made here, and most are relevant still today. Some of it reminds me of the old NY Broadway phrase..A broken heart for every light on Broadway….then when things turned really gritty it was.. A broken light for every heart on Broadway.. These days we have much more info readily available to see how the biz is done, and we have more options to navigate in the Socials.
My era was late ‘78 through ‘81. My band was Arch-Rival we had management (Puck) so no ‘pay to play’. Very competitive and very ‘crony’. If the management and label interests want to push you? You get pushed and promoted regardless of whether you are better than other bands etc…it really ended up ‘who you know’ and if your band had a huge draw or not. There is a pretty narrow window where you have to make an impact and ‘get signed’ or the circus moves on….we melted down and self destructed (lead singer diva rock star drugs and alcohol syndrome) crash and burned and the labels and management evaporated pretty quick….although I was on the official short list of guitar players given to Ozzy to replace Randy Rhoads when he died…that’s another story…
@@badbrad I work around the corner from there so its close .A boss I had earlier worked security there and knew everyone. he told he some pretty cool stories Unfortunately he passed a year ago but hes in my memory memory.
Hard truths. I was a little young. My step-dad had expensive equipment he filmed bluegrass festivals weddings with huge cam order had analog editing gear and vcr's. I was lucky for that I'd stay up late headbangers ball and record videos and larn licks that way. I couldn't grasp tabs and couldn't read music.. Still can't its ll by ear and feel. We had stellar jams Sunday night. Man I was like 13. But a couple kids would bring their guitars on the busbto school. And I'd hear them playing and man I sucked hahahaha. And had a few friends that always had headphones on, I was poor I didn't have a Walkman. I'd find new bands that way, it's hwo I found about frank zappa. Loudness , other more obscure bands. And when I went to Florida? Holy shit.. What a culture shock from upstate ny it was 2 years ahead of ny and the crack epidemic was just starting . Came home and it'd hit upstate ny. Horrible. Good people I went to school with became shady dirt bags getting arrested , can't get away with that crap in a small town word travels very fast. This is a good one dude they always are. I never miss an upload and usually late.for lives but I watch them all and share with friends. Cheers. Keep up the good work brother Brad.
Love your channel BB!!!....i hsve a question ❓...How hard was it to find that ONE GUY WHO COULD BE YOUR FRONT MAN? Hope you reply or do an episode on that .. one... Keep up the History of the Music to me is almost seemenly making some sorta come back. Thanks and Rock On!
I was there at that time playing in bands, & I can tell everyone you, Brad, arent lying or leaveing anything out. Thats how it was. One thing was the amount of anonymous sex that went on then. It wasnt hard to get laid.
100 percent accurate Happy New Year to you and yours I don't know what's better you're guitar playing or newly reporting Channel thank you for keeping it real and doing it on a professional level so many sensitive people these days the stories you have the memories you've created the friends and friendships you have acquired back then and until now the stories the memories you have from back then should be enough in payment from your top 10 list personally I cherish my Memories Back Then at the Hollywood strip you can turn them into hit songs because you have the talent I think if he had a number 11 on your list being there at the right place at the right time maybe I looked at it differently play some good music with friends have a great time and if you can rock somebody's world that did it for me it wasn't about how much money you can make how famous you want to be how many records you sold how many people you can f*** over I've always seen it this way friends before business or business before friendship and if you're doing it for the money and fame you're doing it all for the wrong reasons it was a lifestyle in a short period of time that can never be duplicated but it's all in our hearts and our soul and still comes out in our fingers it's what made you who you are today you can't buy it you can't relive it it's in your blood and in your soul and your heart beats and feed your mind maybe you should think about writing a book Sunset Strip music scene because you're very good at what you doing now so I'm finally going to hit the button you've earned my respect
I moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to play music. But even I was already like okay this this scene is the scenes done. Everybody looked the same. Everybody sounded as average as you could be. I was like yeah this this era of music is finished. Now. I still love that music. I never quit playing. It never quit. Loving it, but I knew as far as a mainstream success it was over.
Brad I was In a cover band in Omaha Nebraska In the 80s, It was all About bar sales, I remember working those phones, I can't even imagine the level of struggle on the strip
Pretty much spot on. It was weird playing the Strip and not being a "hair and boot' band. Started out paying around $400 per show and then less as we got bigger. Always at least broke even. In less than a year, we had bands paying $1500 to open for us. It was crazy! Bill Gazzarri loved us because our fans drank more than the rest of the bands combined.
I think this is why I was more of a fan of European Heavy Metal Bands and Trash/Speed Metal Bands. This Hair Metal Bands from the LA Scene have been to fake, Rock Boy Bands..😂
Yeah I'm from Cincinnati I wasn't on the strip til 2010. I was kickin it out here but it wasn't much different. So I can totally relate to what you're sayin. I had the talent but not the big hair. I finally ended up shaving my head which now fits a different esthetic. It's all good. I'm never giving up the dream because I feel my music is unique & the kind of change the business needs. It has a taste of just about everything but can't be labeled as any of them & might get It's own genre! I just don't know how to put it out there so the world can enjoy it!?
When bands used to (and still do) bring in studio 'ringers' to play tricky rhythm parts and solos on their albums, I always used to think, 'why don't they just get a guitar player who can actually play the parts...or even hire the guy who played in the studio'? hehe A lot of studio guys are studio guys because of their looks. Can you picture a guy like Tim Pierce rocking out on stage with Warrant or Poison? hehe. He can play circles around any of those guys..but like Brad said, image was more valued than talent. Since I started playing at 11 or 12, back in 1991 or 92, I knew that Warrant used a guy named Mike Slamer on their first couple of albums...and as a kid, I always wondered why they didn't hire him. It isn't like Warrant's guitar players were overly good looking...
Ultimately warrant got signed on their success on the L.A. club circuit. But once a producer got them in the studio he knew they would be competing against EVH, Lynch and the other greats of that time and the Warrant guys weren’t at that level and the clock was ticking so they call in a ringer.
@@badbrad Brad, you probably already knew this, but for those who were not aware, here's the true story of how Warrant got signed. At the time, I was guitarist in a band called Redline. I was good friends with Paul Gilbert and the guys from RacerX. RacerX was very huge and were selling out shows everywhere they played. RacerX scheduled a showcase for the record labels. They wanted to have the place fully packed to impress the label reps, so they had Warrant open for them. I won't list all of the details and factors, but in short, Warrant got signed.
Brad- your channel is so fun! I lived there during the next Generation around 2001- It was like a resurgence! You could still see RATT or LA Guns on any given night. There were still many of us doin like Disturbed or Buckcherry style stuff. EVERYTHING you listed applied. Im so happy to have bounced around different bands playing with amazing guys and gals. Kids nowadays don’t get to do any of it. LA lost its flare. Makes me sad. Happy New Year🇺🇸🎉
Great points. I lived through that crap from 87-91 then I realized what a rip off it was and from then on, I had bands that played originals AND covers. We'd have to play 2-3 sets a night but we got paid something and we built a following much more easily. There's an actual demand for music when you play cover gigs, you just throw your originals in the mix. I haven't had one gig where they said you couldn't do that. Original gigs were a rip-off. Still are
Guns and Roses really must have had something specially to survive that and become as huge as they did. Maybe some luck too, obviously hard work and meating the right people. The Sunset Strip sounds rough and dangerous even if fun too.
You gave me flashbacks Brad,, I could laugh or cry haha,, but I can laugh now,,I never made it out there, but I had a big taste of it where I was at.. my half-brother Darin was heading out there in the late nineties with his band and a couple of demo albums they had cut,, they were going to stop work in Arizona first,with his rock band but sadly,died before he could go. I was fortunate to record with him and his band in Minneapolis ,a couple years before he died. 🙏🐦
My old band and I were very lucky as far as playing on the strip without having to pay for it. This was back in the mid 2010’s and it was very fun. Unfortunately, our issues were internal and we just didn’t really really see eye to eye within the band.
Brother once again you’re ON POINT! I like you was in the middle of the sunset strip scene in bands from 1990-2000s ! Had a couple of songs on KNAC AND KLOS fighting tooth and nail with all you stated! It was a dog eat dog backstabbing corrupt industry unfortunately….
I was there often between '81-'91 and then a few more times from '95-'00 for work & for fun. I know all this info but still enjoyed your vid, Brad. What band/bands were you in or what artist did you play for? What's your last name or what was your stage name? I see your RIAA Gold & Platinum certified so I'm curious. The odds for Los Angeles hard rock/metal success from '81-'91 was very, very difficult. Super cut-throat and you had to work your tail off. The club managers & owners didn't care if people watched any specific band..that wasn't what it was about at the Roxy, The Whisky, the Troubadour or even down at Gazzari's..they wanted people inside the club BUYING liquor. People inside means they'll likely be buying 2-3 or more alcoholic drinks per person and that's all the club runners cared about. There's so many cool bands from L.A. that either got signed & dropped fast due to stupid record company BS or were never signed that made some killer tunes.
You could write a book on this….and many have. Excellent commentary….steven Adler, Cherie Currie, the eagles, kiss, all had books that gave a small piece to a larger puzzle…the big illusion…the untold stories of heartache….i had a copy of screamer magazine when I lived in winnipeg….in the late eighties…I ordered a ton of tapes from that magazine….great stuff but you saw the competition easily….in a way I was glad I kept my day job…and my sanity…rock on brad….maybe a self published tome from your chair? If so keep it sleazy and name names ha ha…..namaste!
It’s all in “Tinstletown Rebellion” by Frank Zappa. “Did you know that in Tinseltown the people down there think that substance is a bore… And if your new wave group looks good They’ll hurry on back for more Because leather groups And plastic groups And groups that look real queer The Tinstletown affictionados COME TO SEE AND NOT TO HEAR” Thanks for the video dude!
I got divorced at 33 in 2003 and moved to LA for a year,worked at 7700 sunset Blvd, would leave at lunch and go to the Rainbow,Lemme was there many times,usually him and 1 or two regulars,hung at all the places I read about in the 80s,there was still a scene, I feel like it was the end of it,but one of the best years of my life,lol..been back in Chicago since
If you went to LA in the 80s hoping to be a rockstar only to find out it was more about looks, beauty and clothes not your playing or singing? Did this affect your career, finances, family life and ability to thrive then and later in life? Even Now? If so we may be able to get you money. Call the law firm of Dewey Cheatum and Howe. In fact even if you never went to LA in the 80s but thought about it a couple times you still may be entitled to be compensated. If you ended up with or ever had an addiction or std due to the 80s music scene in LA don't hesitate and call right away. .
I was at the Whisky some days ago watching Stephen Pearcy from Ratt ( being there many times seeing bands ) went to the rainbow before the show !!! All those pictures from rockstars getting party in the walls, all these crazy histories of the band members of famous bands!!! Man it felt like a cemetery, the waitress of the rainbow were so disrespectful to the people inside of the bar buying food, I almost had to look for someone so I could get my fucking cheese buger with coke. That place is pretty much a nostalgic place with a lot of memories and the Lemmy Statue, like a museum of 80s.... The concert starts, Stephen Pearcy sounded terrible, he was pretty much murdering those Ratt classics really bad, some people started leave the place before they were playing round and round !!!The drummer of the Bullet boys was really good though, same with that guy playing guitar from Enuff z Nuff Monaco , I could feel the nostalgic vibe , seeing a bunch of bald guys including my self in the audience and some guys with bandanas in their heads on their late 50s or early 60s, some young kids pretending to dress like if they were in the 80s .. as an 80s music lover it was fun but kinda of pathetic at the same time... As a musician and someone who has the records and loves the genre( my band even had a mix done by Beau Hill), I was disappointed..... The nostalgic fact is what makes people like us still listening to these bands, but Stephen Pearcy is almost 70 and he was dancing and dressing as if he was still in the 80s, his voice is completely gone.....I went to Jack Russell some years ago and he was really good, but Stephen Pearcy iIt was like seeing the Fat Evils version of the 80s....same with Dokken and even the worst Motley doing the Mili Vanili thing......The 80s were 40 years ago...hard to accept. I don't believe anybody in the 80s from that scene was listening to music from the 40s ..... Man music sucks nowadays a lot...cool thing I met Mandy Lion at the end of the gig, he was very humble though Sunset Strip now is just a cemetery with some nostalgic acts playing the venues
Man I hear you. What was the deal with the waitresses at the Rainbow? I started noticing probably 13 years ago that going to say a Van Halen show...we are all getting old. Back then in the day I never gave that a consideration.
@@badbrad terrible service, they only come to your table to get your order if you look for them !!! ! I remember some years ago Steve O was getting party inside the rainbow, Ron Jeremy was there too, the Hollywood Jesus guy walking outside the strip, you could see a bunch of famous people and still have that nostalgic rock n roll vibe !!! The service was good, Mario the owner was still alive. I would say this last time I was there The Sunset Strip now is pretty much like a ghost town .
Pay to play is disgusting wherever and whenever it happens. Imo the focus on image above all else was one of the main reasons the scene got killed. By the early 90s music fans in general were sick of it.
Funny. People talk about the sunset strip like it meant something. There is a huge big world out therr where bands toured. The sunset strip was a coin in the ocean in the grand scheme of things!
And to think a drummer and i were heading there Via Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle then on down to LA. we did this in 83 but only got as far as Toronto. Makes you wonder.
There was a great rock/metal scene in NYC/Long Island in the 80s and 90s. We had Anthrax and Twisted Sister, but there were smaller bands like Danger Danger, Tyketto, Valentine/Open Skyz, and so many others. Everything you said in this video applied in NYC too. Image was the name of the game, there were and still are some amazing musicians who either never made it or only broke through late in life, like Mike Morales, who played drums in tribute bands and small bands for literal decades until he got a gig with Dennis Deyoung. Now Dennis is off the road too. Now that scene is pretty much dead, but there’s a new indie scene that’s almost self-made. I’m happy that people are making their own music now but I feel like the overall level of musicianship has gone down, a lot more of the younger guys I jam with don’t know about dynamics, timing, and groove the way we did in the 80s. Lots of drag timing now, and people don’t do little things like backing off when someone’s singing, etc. as much. But music always changes every year, and every era has great musicians. Happy new year BROOOOOOOOOOOOO
The NYC scene, now we're talking. The Limelight was always fun. I was lucky enough to experience both the east coast and west coast scene. I started playing clubs at 16 years old. Different lifetime.
I can`t imagine paying to play in the South but we often did when they padded our bar tabs or changed the agreement we had at paytime. I caught them several times scamming me on tabs and sometimes I had over 300 miles to drive to get back home the next morning. We drove to north Arkansas once and towards the end of the show the jerk bar owner says our appearance is offensive to his audience who loved us and we weren`t getting a dime. I went to my car and came back and pulled a S&W revolver and slammed it on the bar and demanded gas money. A state trooper came, defended us (the audience did too), and they made sure we had enough gas AND an escort to Texarkana where the bass player lived. We did an acoustic show for him there and called and booked a gig in Coushatta, La at the Wagon Wheel for the next night on my birthday. I really got tired of the drama.
Yeah the strip is kinda dead. I’m surprised it lasted and assumed as many forms and variations over the decades as it did. The strip has had It’s “long time”. I Was out there recently and it feels a bit ossified and stale. All scenes lie dead eventually. Probably the greatest pool of signed bands of any scene? San Francisco, Village, Motown, Liverpool are all long gone. Yeah , The Strip. What was last LA Sunset band to create a stir?? I was out in LA going to clubs from 89-93. A lot of good bands got signed and overlooked, or for whatever reason didn’t happen? The Sunset strip sound was quite varied but it transformed from; Hair up metal, to hair down, moto-cycle club metal, G&R “Grunge” metal, like The Hangmen. The music business has always been exactly as you mentioned, more hype than substance, a gimmick. Paying people to sing into a box makes for a crazy parade.
Rule#1 manage your money as a first priority..dont let your Gf or friends interrupt your income from coming in consistently..Rule#2 knowing how you make a million at ..10 cent with a record company, and how you can turn that into .2.70 percent with your own efforts, so knowing this will take the time line to make a million with a lot less dependences of a band and the record deal....but you need that still to support your endeavors.
I never heard of the band Circus. They have a YT channel with several videos of them hanging out on the strip promoting a headling the show the next night. The videos make you feel like you're right there. This was toward the end when it was illegal to hang flyers.
@badbrad The video quality is amazing considering the time period. I was too young to visit the strip at its peak but these videos and more importantly, YOUR stories give me a glimpse into what it was really like.
Circus were huge for a few months. They had a lot of money behind them, always had pages in the local band magazines. They weren't as good as thier look though
All I ever hear is Don Henley’s voice”down at the sunset grill “ when I see the sunset reference. I live in the first part of the country for the sunrise, so everything is advertised opposite here.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ im figuring that a sense of entitlement wouldn't cut the mustard on the strip, I'm liking that you are peeling the old onion, letting us know inner workings, who's said that about the biz,a long plastic hallway,thieves and pimps (it ain't easy) run free and good men d*e like dogs? bad times don't last,but bad guys do,hard work pays off,some dreams come true .
You are here and came to Tennessee and succeeded,my buds were wanting to be you,you did good on West Coast ,my boys wanted success without paying dues,y like you said,it involves doing what you don't like,like the phone,I hate it like u do.but one guy has gone to be with God,and the other guy Tom H. he's on here but I have not talked with him but we could pickup like it was still sixth grade.full disclosure I'm sure you know that first quote was Thompson,the bad part was Scott Hall aka razor Ramon at WWE hall of fame. nothing new,you know?thanks for blessing,you are doing God's work . Happy 25.
Oh question for not now but when you get time,in the 70s and 80s Memphis got tons of rock concerts then it slowed to next to nothing by now . little rock comes after Nashville for whoever is touring.do you have an opinion on this?
Did that scene between 1989 and 1992. Brutal. Got close to a few deals, but we self-sabotaged ourselves…like many other bands. Great video.
Same time frame for me too. Brad nailed it
Last time I was in LA I ate at The Rainbow. The food is still excellent but the Strip is dead. Nothing like it was. In fact, LA as a city is dying. It’s a mess.
I had the same experience.
@ It used to be all radio driven and local DJ’s had huge influence. They broke a lot of bands . That element is no longer there. No Rodney Bingenhiemer. Everyone listened to the same radio stations. You had some DJ’s who were real characters.
Agreed 👍 the strip has been dead for years ….
Too many junkies, illegals and woke losers...it was good while it lasted. RIP, LA.
@@douglasnielson8250 i bet if you opened a hispanic club on the strip it would get a audience of 800,000
It's almost like the Music Industry starts trends to capitalize on not only music fans, but also the talent itself. It's mafia like.
Those in the business call it “culture creation”
Sure! It’s quite like the fashion industry !! Change it all the time and the people will follow the bouncing ball! Eh.
Totally - the line between corporatism and organized crime is very very thin - really just the former is on the right side of the law cos they make the law (by bribing legislating politicians) - but otherwise similar business models.
Some very true points, and while we rolled thru in the late nineties, our goal was to jack the crowd with energy, and keep them jacked. No stoppages with mic spewage, no slow down tunes, just play the whole set tune to tune non stop high energy. Wind em up and keep them wound. As the drummer it was brutal, because with me it was hard hitting and fast tempos. It worked well, fickle fans were irrelevant, as we had the attitude to just let the chips fall where they may with the consumers of our art. Never made it big, never cared to, for us it was about great parties and great memories, and we got that in spades. Thx for the vid.
Same bro, drums, all of it
@@michaelwills1926 Yeah, weren't many doing it, but it worked for us and our tunes.
Thanks Brad. Much appreciated. That Guns N Roses song, One in a Million, basically sums it up. Man, I tell you what. Looking back, I would have been chewed up and spit out, if I went out there to Hollywood from lil ole Appleton, WI where I grew up. Peace.
It was a tough scene
For sure no matter how you feel about the lyrics.
@@teijaflink2226the most honest song in rock and roll
My 1st band "early 80s" we were flat out told numerous times if the crowd ain't drinking we ain't paying. Our set list of 1/2 orig, 1/2 hard rock covers was forced into playing 100% radio friendly rock and anything girls danced to. That or not get that massive $50 cash at closing. Complain and risk getting blacklisted at every club within 200 miles.
had dreams made nightmares....made friends, lost dreams, Some went to prison some grow up, Some won some lost, Some gave up... Breakfast in a rig... supper in a glass, working all night, trashed all day some found life... some found death. Some made a living some not... some found god some found love some found lust...my prayers go out to the ones still struggling.. may god bless them and remove there burdens and heal souls...the bleeding from gods wounds still flows god bless all of you and hope you all have a humble and joyful new years eve, may your heart be filled with joy and your life be filled with love.. peace to you all
Wise words.....
@@badbrad thank you brad hope all is well and have a wonderful new years. DUUUDDDE!
Some great poetry there.
@@JoanRuthazer thank you
Awesome video Brad! Just subscribed. I recently played at the Whisky A Go Go with my band Kuarantine. It was really fun. So cool that you closed this video with such a cool message of keeping that vibe alive. All the best!
Thanks! Keep on rockin'!
All true - I wasn't in that scene but played country in the late 80s, early 90s. We had connections at the highest levels, great original songs, understood the business aspects, had some luck and worked like hell, but there is this wildcard factor called "timing". By the time we got to the point where our music was being heard and the doors were opening, the market changed from groups to single singer types in the early 90s - Garth, Toby Keith, etc. Literally over night labels stopped signing bands and the window closed.
Yep. The music industry is brutal and unforgiving.
wow 😢😢😢
Good video. Everything you said is exactly spot on. I gigged in LA from 2002-2012. At that time, the "Indie/garage/hipster" music scene was the shit and the clubs in Silverlake were the places to play. While the city and scene may have changed, the business and how it's conducted remained the same, as you described. It was fun until we got management, then it started feeling like a job, then we began showcasing for labels and out come the wolves. Shit fell apart shortly after the stress of label attention and suggestions began. Good experience though, when I look back on it. My only advice for anyone in a band is to have an attorney draft your band agreement and represent you when the labels come knocking. It's a business so stick to your guns and don't let them change your lineup or the essence of your sound.
Interesting to hear the venues changed but the overall experience was the same.
The business will never change - because the "Tribe" will never leave it. // That's why no-one makes bank - out-side of the inner-core. // I regret - not being able to accomplish those musical-goals; but I can (at least) be relieved - I didn't sell them my identity.
When EVH and RR got signed I planned to move to LA. Didn't make it. I had a friend that went to GIT out there and he said there were wild parties every night, possible not my scene. Florida had a good music scene going on. What is so interesting is you had all these teenage kids in a garage with this dream that they were going to beat the system, instead of getting a regular job they were going to be on a stage, get a record deal, become rich, famous and travel all around the world. I know and have known some great musicians, most don't make it but some are still out there, still performing.
Some are still out there.
Same brother.
Florida metal scene especially death metal was thriving in the early to mid 90s. So many great bands and albums being made at places like Morrisound in Tampa.
I'm still here just not playing out currently. Only practicing & writing at home!
@@SuperStrik9 We used to play the Stadium Lounge across from Tampa Stadium that later became the Rockit club in the 80s. Tampa had one of the largest music stores anywhere Thoroughgood music? Being so close to Clearwater Beach, great times. Even Orlando was good. I even met George Lynches sister. I met George in Atlanta.
Great posts Brad. I too played the L.A. club circuit back in the '80s with Lip Service.
Our first gig was at The Hong Kong Cafe on October 11, 1979. We played all of the historic venues finally playing The Whiskey in 1982. We were offered a sweet contract but I wanted nothing to do with that Satanic schiza. I'm still glad I walked away.
We set an attendance record at The Starwood once. Robin Williams used to hang out with me when we played Madam Wong's Chinatown. I met Bob Dylan in front of Gazzarri's one night when it was my turn to pack the Magnum and watch our gear out on the boulevard.
Now that I think about it, I could have been famous for assassinating Bob Dylan. But was a hero of mine early so we just shot the shit for a minute.
He was stewed to the gills and he had horrible breath.
Ah. Memories.
randifricke. Hey, that’s the second time in three days I see and hear about Dylan’s bad breath.! I do remember your band name. Never did see you play, I was too busy with my own drum and band practice in ‘79-‘80. In 80 we scored an outrageously great lead guitarist from Israel but he had to quit our r&r or at the time, “new wave” band there in LA. He was a professional who needed to work and make money playing music, no messing around. So like all bands we broke up.
Bro, so much truth in your video. I was in the London UK counterpart of the bands and music morass and things were exactly the same. The competition, the pay-to-play, the craziness. Me, myself acquired a nice heroin habit eventually, which I carried with me for or a couple of decades. I am still involved in music, still eke out some sort of living from it -playing it's all I can do - but I tell you straight: my children are not going to learn any instrument, they are not going to become pros. It takes a special kind of crazy to even wish to embark on such a path. I want my kids to live a calm, healthy existence. And I thought my parents were full of shit for warning me against the music business.... hahahaha....
Man you sound like you been through it!
I was an up-and-coming fashion and band photographer in the early 90s, and I had the time of my life! There were all the downsides mentioned in this vid, but what a scene! Fortunately, I kept my head (mostly) and never got sucked into the darkness. I hung out at the Whiskey and the Roxy all the time, watching my friend's bands like Heavy the World and Halfway Home. I used to drive a beat up pickup truck painted all over like EVH's Frankenstrat...it took 30 cans of red, white, and black spray paint. Even though it was a junk heap, it got lots of attention. One time, I was driving down Sunset going home after a show late at night, it was starting to rain, and my truck stalled at a light. I kept cranking it with no luck, until a big hair rocker dude broke off from his friends on the corner, came up to my window, pulled a bill out of his pocket and said "I'll give you $100 for your truck, right now!! Here you go, just walk away!" I kept cranking it, but he was insistent...plus, traffic was starting to back up and get angry with me. So I was starting to seriously consider his offer, but then I'd have no way to get home! Just as I was about to take his 100, I turned the key one more time, it started up and I pulled away from disappointed rocker dude with a shit eating grin on my face. Good times!!!
Classic story!
Played in the Sunset Scene from ‘84-‘91 and all you say it true but man did we have some fun, wouldn’t trade those times for anything
We did have fun!!🤩
Most people will never know the thrill of the scene. Memories worth keeping if ya can remember
Brad ... One of the best LA bands from the Sunset Strip days wasn't even a hair/glam metal band ... it was the Long Ryders, a major part of the 80s Paisley Underground scene. Great band that came around at the wrong time and never reaped the success they should have. The point you made about the Sunset bubble is 100% correct as I remember it. The early-mid 80s was dominated by college radio bands like U2, REM, and the B52s. For every Motley, Quiet Riot, or Poison getting MTV exposure, there was a Knack, Tears for Fears, or GoGos getting huge radio airplay. Interesting time to look back on. I really enjoy your perspectives from ground zero. Happy New Year, my friend.
Happy New Year!!!
There were amazing bands of a types and its sad some of them didn't make it any bigger. music brings people together to sing, yell, jump around and just have a damn good time. The scene on the strip was such an amazing thing for thousands of like minded people and We all look back on it and can trade thousands of stories with each other. We got together again 2 1/2 years ago after a small 21 year break ... LOL... We played with the original line up of the ZEROS at the whisky and it was packed like we hoped it would be. We decided to come back as people remembered with all the stage walls, full glam with all the cloths ect... Fun party rock music and the response has been amazing. We play 3 times a year at the whisky and bring back some form of what was lost from the glory days of the strip. The difference is that even when these shows are sold out 20 minutes later you go outside and the strip is empty.... back in the day we all remember when there was thousands of people just hanging out and having a blast even if they coundn't get in the club.... Ok we all get older but what happened to everyone..... did ya all get tired??? the clock is ticking the wrong way these days so everyone should live your live to the fullest now and then and not have a bedtime of 11:30 on a Saturday night. People all say they miss the way the strip was .... well get some friends together and go support new music and of course go grab a drink and pizza at the rainbow after and hang out and have fun. Keep up you channel with the great talks about the strip and I hope to meet some of ya at our next show, in April with Steven Adler ....... STAY GLAM BE COOL .........Tony
Man I wondered about that. The party used to rage on after the gig. If you ever want to come on and talk about those days let me know.
@ for sure would love to come on and talk about the scene then and now …. Lost of good entertaining conversation there.
Let me know whenever ya want to set something up and we can do it
Thanks
Hey Brad, I didn't make it to the Sunset Strip but in my local scene in the Maryland, DC, VA area I was pretty successful with a band called No Justice. We achieved a slot as the opening act for bands like Shotgun Messiah, Tyketto and Saigon Kick. We had a guitarist that would practice his body movements and hair flips during band practice. And his guitar was always going out of tune. He didn't last very long after a few gigs. I stayed in the band for about eight years with two cassette release parties and one CD. We had awesome memories!
Wow that’s interesting. Hair flips are fine and dandy but ya gotta play in tune 😂
Were you a glam band?
@@Trenton2000 we were more of a straight up Rock Band like Aerosmith. We tried to make the scene with our original songs but played covers by Megadeth and Metallica mostly.
So interesting to hear what was behind the scenes. Cause most if us just saw the finished product and thought it was all glamour. You are to be admired for being honest and not to mention you lived this for a while. Brad your a bad ass bro.
Thanks Joey!
Now you understand why Axl Rose and some others flipped out so often. He`s a good guy who eventually snapped like so many others. I reached that point in a simple cover band from the stress of it all and the fights, risks, alcohol, lies and ripoffs. It was so much fun playing music and then it wasn`t. I can`t imagine getting caught up in the Big Time like Layne Staley, Hank Williams, Kurt Cobain, Darrell Abbot, Eddie Van Halen, Danny Joe Brown etc etc etc.
"Your look mattered more." BAM magazine classifieds!! 😂I remember them from living out in Long Beach '87-88. Hollyweird and the Strip were fun to hang out on after midnight, when things came alive, a whole different world than the same spot at midday.
I remember those days. The scene was so much different after midnight.
By the late 80s and early 90s the L.A. music scene had become too homogenous and the bands seemed interchangeable and the scene was flooded with mediocrity. That really killed the 80s hr/hm and paved the way for grunge.
I was in a touring band based in Atlanta in the 90s and everything you just said was true in Atlanta as well!!!! The scene wasn't as big but it was still the same.
I moved out to Hollywood in 89, I played in a bunch of bands, and this dude is right on. My experience was slightly different because I wasn't in hair bands so much. God Zoo, kind of new wave, Crybabys, some fucked up, glam, rockabilly, stuff, and Rebel Rebel was a cyberpunk type band. Those are all a few of my old bands in the 80s/90s. But a lot of of my friends were in those hair metal bands. We played with all the glam bands, the glam punk bands, the punk joke bands, all that shit, we all mingled we were all the same, we all fought, drank, and fucked together. This shit makes me think back and kind of sad. I miss it.
I hear you!
"The top level of the amateur leagues". Man, I feel that. Love your videos!
It's a tough game! Thank you!
We saw a lot of this here on the east coast in the late 80s early 90s... Great stuff Brad.
thanks bro
Sad reality, i did visit the strip last year, I got to see Winger at the Whiskey and Slaughter at the Rainbow Bar Backyard Bash. So I had a small taste of what it once was...wish I was there back then, It would have been a great story to tell... sad it will never return because now there is no music scene anywhere...MC Hasbeen rules the charts, bummer
What about the Freemasonic/Satanic element? I’m not sure how aware you are about all the symbolism that’s put in the product, but I recall you hinting at the one-eye, at least. I go through my album collection and movies, and it’s everywhere. Once you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you can’t deny it….and it’s not just “artistic choices”. Years ago, I went “down the rabbit hole” when I stumbled upon a video about how Taylor Swift’s “Shake it Off” music video was chock full of Freemasonic/Illuminati/satanic symbolism, and behind the supposedly positive message, it was all there. Of course, you won’t find anything about this stuff like you used to. The saying, “You catch the most flak when you’re above the target” comes to mind. There’s much more to achieving “success” in this world than hard work and “luck”. That “brass ring” record contract is really indentured servitude or a guided cage. Gives me the heebie jeebies…… If you catch my drift.
That stuff gives me the heebie jeebies as well..I never got high enough on the totem pole so to speak to be pulled in.
Troof my friend. You speak Troof
Yeah if that's what it really takes to be famous is to be debaucherous to extreme levels I'd rather not make it!
11. "Hearing loss is now the norm among fans and musicians".
It can be.
What`s that?
Hello Brad ! We can imagine a different 'formula' for venues and 'live ' music... I know someone who inherited a place, that has a little theater in it . He uses the place to rehearse with his band and sometimes organize jams & barbecue with a few selected friends . From time to time, he organizes 'public' concerts, but only with bands he enjoys or think are talented and have something fresh to propose.
He's not interested in having a sustained programing . He told me lots of local cover bands asked him to play there, but he said no . Obviously, he's in a position where he clearly doesn't need the money, to keep the place (he owns it), and prefers to invite some band, from time to time . Sound is good there (he invested in a good PA system), and people know, when they go there, that they'll have a good time , that often ends with a jam !
We had a small venue(200/300 tops), for a while , based on the same principle, invitational only, but at end, big jams ! We worked with local breweries, and the public was mostly local musicians that knew that at the end, there will be a monster jam , until the end of the night. All that to say that , there's hope, a different way is possible, probably small initiatives where music and relationships matters the most . Keep on Rocking , Stay Human and have all a fantastic New Year !
I like that concept now if we could just get him to have young bands every weekend..
@@badbrad He tries to do that, from time to time, it's just that there are not that many interesting young bands around the area he's in . And he doesn't want the venue to have a weekly programing either...
ps as a side note, he's the grand-grand-grand... son of the inventor of the 'Opinel' (French folding pocket knife) . Don't know if you've heard of them, very popular and 'traditional' here.
@@badbrad Also, France is not like the US, way less bands around here
Great video 👍🎸🔥💯
Glad you liked it!
@badbrad 👍
Listen, in the 80’s, as a musician, we had talent! You couldn’t fake it like today. We got up there and gave it all we had. Looking good was the gift of youth and feeling like a star was just pure attitude. You had to stand out from the rest, and let me tell you that was not easy, especially after Van Halen. Peace!
Well said Doug!
Traveled from Modesto Calif. and parted on the strip several times in the mid 80's...
Right on!!!
So true. Sad part is things haven't changed much except you don't have to pay to play. At least on the local level. The musicians that never got into drugs, at least not seriously, some are still gigging. I'm glad the volume isn't what we used to play at, plus either using a small amp or no amp by running direct is the way to go now. I can't believe at one time I gigged with two stacks. Although most of the time only one head and one cabinet was being used. But it sure looked cool. Most of us had daytime jobs and just gigged on the weekends. Sometimes we even play five nights a week while having a daytime job. That made Saturday nights really tough. Now being retired, like can gig anytime I want. Anything from Rock and Roll to acoustic Coffee House sets.
EDITTED FOR SPELLING.
Cool post!
I didn't know how cut throat music business really is , worked as a roadie in early 80's for a all girl band in NY managed by 1 of the original members of jay and the the americans for about a year they just played clubs around LI & NYC it was alot of fun never saw anything really crazy or bad, learn alot watching your videos great job
Thank you!
This was good!
Thank you!!!
Back in the days when I was younger and hung out there I always thought was so tacky looking with those posters plastered everywhere around Hollywood, and on top of each other; Every lamp post, wall and place they could find!
Now I know why... Thanks!
I hear ya!
Excellent video. What I never understood back in the 80's, I knew many great musicians who couldn't get into a band because they didn't have "the look". I never got that. Excellent musicians, but couldn't get into a band because they were on the chubby side or didn't have big hair. Happy New Year to you and your family Brad! Keep rocking like always!
It was all about image…. At least in the rock world then. MTV played a big part in that. Video killed the radio star
I caught hell for the "look" in the South. My hair is still very long and they can`t stand it. The ladies loved it which caused major issues in places we played. It was unsafe for me to go to a bar or club alone except Biker places.
@@badbrad My friend just mentioned that the other day how MTV was about image. Wow haha!
I remember reading that when Zakk Wilde joined Ozzy he hired a guitar teacher to teach Zakk how to play the songs. Of course Zakk was a good guitar player at the time but you know that his looks played a big part of it. And it was stated years earlier that Ozzy was all set to hire George Lynch who's hair was short at the time, they changed their mind and hired Jake E Lee instead. Paul Gilbert sent in a tape and was being considered and they asked him did he have the big hair and he did, then they asked him how old he was and he said 16. Too young.
@@baneverything5580I tell my kids about this and they can’t believe the world was ever such a place, but it’s true. Pretty much like ya said.
You were so THERE!
Oh ya.
GREAT vid... perhaps your best yet!
Thanks man!
Hey Brad cool video , at the very end you say please like and subscribe , no idea why TH-cam unsubscribed me ? I had to re-subscribe , no wonder I wasn’t getting your videos , glad you keep making the videos , they are all cool and I especially like the sunset strip ones 🤘
Wow not sure but glad you came back and resubscribed. Thank you!
Brad, all great points you’ve made here, and most are relevant still today.
Some of it reminds me of the old NY Broadway phrase..A broken heart for every light on Broadway….then when things turned really gritty it was.. A broken light for every heart on Broadway..
These days we have much more info readily available to see how the biz is done, and we have more options to navigate in the Socials.
Yes the game has changed quite a bit.
My era was late ‘78 through ‘81. My band was Arch-Rival we had management (Puck) so no ‘pay to play’. Very competitive and very ‘crony’. If the management and label interests want to push you? You get pushed and promoted regardless of whether you are better than other bands etc…it really ended up ‘who you know’ and if your band had a huge draw or not. There is a pretty narrow window where you have to make an impact and ‘get signed’ or the circus moves on….we melted down and self destructed (lead singer diva rock star drugs and alcohol syndrome) crash and burned and the labels and management evaporated pretty quick….although I was on the official short list of guitar players given to Ozzy to replace Randy Rhoads when he died…that’s another story…
Wow what a story!
“The scene was a bubble” … no truer words have been said. That’s why I liked playing Madame Wong’s West more than playing on the strip.
You just described a lot of what I saw and lived. Great vid. I was just at the rainbow 4 weeks ago-Their foods still great.
The food there is awesome, glad you got to go back!
@@badbrad I work around the corner from there so its close .A boss I had earlier worked security there and knew everyone. he told he some pretty cool stories Unfortunately he passed a year ago but hes in my memory memory.
Hard truths.
I was a little young.
My step-dad had expensive equipment he filmed bluegrass festivals weddings with huge cam order had analog editing gear and vcr's.
I was lucky for that I'd stay up late headbangers ball and record videos and larn licks that way.
I couldn't grasp tabs and couldn't read music.. Still can't its ll by ear and feel.
We had stellar jams Sunday night.
Man I was like 13.
But a couple kids would bring their guitars on the busbto school. And I'd hear them playing and man I sucked hahahaha.
And had a few friends that always had headphones on, I was poor I didn't have a Walkman.
I'd find new bands that way, it's hwo I found about frank zappa. Loudness , other more obscure bands.
And when I went to Florida? Holy shit.. What a culture shock from upstate ny it was 2 years ahead of ny and the crack epidemic was just starting .
Came home and it'd hit upstate ny.
Horrible.
Good people I went to school with became shady dirt bags getting arrested , can't get away with that crap in a small town word travels very fast.
This is a good one dude they always are. I never miss an upload and usually late.for lives but I watch them all and share with friends.
Cheers. Keep up the good work brother Brad.
Thanks, man! I really appreciate it!
Loudness!
Love your channel BB!!!....i hsve a question ❓...How hard was it to find that ONE GUY WHO COULD BE YOUR FRONT MAN? Hope you reply or do an episode on that .. one... Keep up the History of the Music to me is almost seemenly making some sorta come back. Thanks and Rock On!
That was the hardest thing in the world to find and we didn’t succeed
I was there at that time playing in bands, & I can tell everyone you, Brad, arent lying or leaveing anything out. Thats how it was. One thing was the amount of anonymous sex that went on then. It wasnt hard to get laid.
You're not lying there.
Hey Brad, you got a truckload of 🐱 didn't you?😂
Testify Brother, Testify!!!! Happy New Year!
Pondering what Badbrad is cooking up in the lab for 2025 ; )
Lots of good stuff! 2025 will be epic!
100 percent accurate Happy New Year to you and yours I don't know what's better you're guitar playing or newly reporting Channel thank you for keeping it real and doing it on a professional level so many sensitive people these days the stories you have the memories you've created the friends and friendships you have acquired back then and until now the stories the memories you have from back then should be enough in payment from your top 10 list personally I cherish my Memories Back Then at the Hollywood strip you can turn them into hit songs because you have the talent I think if he had a number 11 on your list being there at the right place at the right time maybe I looked at it differently play some good music with friends have a great time and if you can rock somebody's world that did it for me it wasn't about how much money you can make how famous you want to be how many records you sold how many people you can f*** over I've always seen it this way friends before business or business before friendship and if you're doing it for the money and fame you're doing it all for the wrong reasons it was a lifestyle in a short period of time that can never be duplicated but it's all in our hearts and our soul and still comes out in our fingers it's what made you who you are today you can't buy it you can't relive it it's in your blood and in your soul and your heart beats and feed your mind maybe you should think about writing a book Sunset Strip music scene because you're very good at what you doing now so I'm finally going to hit the button you've earned my respect
Thank you so much!
Great video. I miss late 80s Hollywood though. I really do.
It was a great time.
I moved to Los Angeles in 1989 to play music. But even I was already like okay this this scene is the scenes done. Everybody looked the same. Everybody sounded as average as you could be. I was like yeah this this era of music is finished. Now. I still love that music. I never quit playing. It never quit. Loving it, but I knew as far as a mainstream success it was over.
Brad I was In a cover band in Omaha Nebraska
In the 80s, It was all About bar sales, I remember working those phones, I can't even imagine the level of struggle on the strip
We are beer salesmen.
Pretty much spot on. It was weird playing the Strip and not being a "hair and boot' band. Started out paying around $400 per show and then less as we got bigger. Always at least broke even. In less than a year, we had bands paying $1500 to open for us. It was crazy! Bill Gazzarri loved us because our fans drank more than the rest of the bands combined.
Right on that helps!
I think this is why I was more of a fan of European Heavy Metal Bands and Trash/Speed Metal Bands. This Hair Metal Bands from the LA Scene have been to fake, Rock Boy Bands..😂
There was a sunset strip for every scene
Was there 87 - 96.... Loved it
Dude sweet
Hey ty for the knowledge!
You're welcome.
Played the Strip 85-89 - most of your points are about right. We called that G&R gypsy junky look 'gutter glam'.
Good term!
Yeah I'm from Cincinnati I wasn't on the strip til 2010. I was kickin it out here but it wasn't much different. So I can totally relate to what you're sayin. I had the talent but not the big hair. I finally ended up shaving my head which now fits a different esthetic. It's all good. I'm never giving up the dream because I feel my music is unique & the kind of change the business needs. It has a taste of just about everything but can't be labeled as any of them & might get It's own genre! I just don't know how to put it out there so the world can enjoy it!?
Plenty of online distributors out there. Distrokid, Cdbaby. Thanks for chiming in.
@badbrad Thanks for replying. I don't really know what those are sorry.
Love the hand signs! "Tell your brother...."
Right On!
When bands used to (and still do) bring in studio 'ringers' to play tricky rhythm parts and solos on their albums, I always used to think, 'why don't they just get a guitar player who can actually play the parts...or even hire the guy who played in the studio'? hehe A lot of studio guys are studio guys because of their looks. Can you picture a guy like Tim Pierce rocking out on stage with Warrant or Poison? hehe. He can play circles around any of those guys..but like Brad said, image was more valued than talent. Since I started playing at 11 or 12, back in 1991 or 92, I knew that Warrant used a guy named Mike Slamer on their first couple of albums...and as a kid, I always wondered why they didn't hire him. It isn't like Warrant's guitar players were overly good looking...
Ultimately warrant got signed on their success on the L.A. club circuit. But once a producer got them in the studio he knew they would be competing against EVH, Lynch and the other greats of that time and the Warrant guys weren’t at that level and the clock was ticking so they call in a ringer.
@@badbrad
Brad, you probably already knew this, but for those who were not aware, here's the true story of how Warrant got signed. At the time, I was guitarist in a band called Redline. I was good friends with Paul Gilbert and the guys from RacerX. RacerX was very huge and were selling out shows everywhere they played. RacerX scheduled a showcase for the record labels. They wanted to have the place fully packed to impress the label reps, so they had Warrant open for them. I won't list all of the details and factors, but in short, Warrant got signed.
Warrant had the star appeal perhaps Racer x didn’t.
Brad- your channel is so fun!
I lived there during the next Generation around 2001-
It was like a resurgence! You could still see RATT or LA Guns on any given night. There were still many of us doin like Disturbed or Buckcherry style stuff. EVERYTHING you listed applied.
Im so happy to have bounced around different bands playing with amazing guys and gals. Kids nowadays don’t get to do any of it. LA lost its flare. Makes me sad.
Happy New Year🇺🇸🎉
Thank you! Happy New Year!
To think Cobain blew it all away while retaining 100% creative control is mind boggling 🫨
😮😅Had to do 2......Pay to play back in Blighty also.
Wow
I suppose this is why the ones who make it are held in such high regard, right or wrong.
Great points. I lived through that crap from 87-91 then I realized what a rip off it was and from then on, I had bands that played originals AND covers. We'd have to play 2-3 sets a night but we got paid something and we built a following much more easily. There's an actual demand for music when you play cover gigs, you just throw your originals in the mix. I haven't had one gig where they said you couldn't do that. Original gigs were a rip-off. Still are
Guns and Roses really must have had something specially to survive that and become as huge as they did. Maybe some luck too, obviously hard work and meating the right people. The Sunset Strip sounds rough and dangerous even if fun too.
It was all those things....
Sometimes it wasn't all about talent
Absolutely
You gave me flashbacks Brad,, I could laugh or cry haha,, but I can laugh now,,I never made it out there, but I had a big taste of it where I was at.. my half-brother Darin was heading out there in the late nineties with his band and a couple of demo albums they had cut,, they were going to stop work in Arizona first,with his rock band but sadly,died before he could go. I was fortunate to record with him and his band in Minneapolis ,a couple years before he died. 🙏🐦
I am sorry for your loss. I am glad it now can bring back fond memories.
My old band and I were very lucky as far as playing on the strip without having to pay for it. This was back in the mid 2010’s and it was very fun. Unfortunately, our issues were internal and we just didn’t really really see eye to eye within the band.
Brother once again you’re ON POINT! I like you was in the middle of the sunset strip scene in bands from 1990-2000s ! Had a couple of songs on KNAC AND KLOS fighting tooth and nail with all you stated! It was a dog eat dog backstabbing corrupt industry unfortunately….
Man you know it!
I was there often between '81-'91 and then a few more times from '95-'00 for work & for fun. I know all this info but still enjoyed your vid, Brad. What band/bands were you in or what artist did you play for? What's your last name or what was your stage name? I see your RIAA Gold & Platinum certified so I'm curious. The odds for Los Angeles hard rock/metal success from '81-'91 was very, very difficult. Super cut-throat and you had to work your tail off. The club managers & owners didn't care if people watched any specific band..that wasn't what it was about at the Roxy, The Whisky, the Troubadour or even down at Gazzari's..they wanted people inside the club BUYING liquor. People inside means they'll likely be buying 2-3 or more alcoholic drinks per person and that's all the club runners cared about. There's so many cool bands from L.A. that either got signed & dropped fast due to stupid record company BS or were never signed that made some killer tunes.
My plaques are from my time in Nashville......L.A. was just an apprenticeship
@@badbrad o.k. cool, who have you played for or with to get those discs?
A country artist named Colt Ford
still waiting to watch a real - take no prisoner - documentary about that scene
Not enough footage exists
Nothing has changed then - whether you're in Hollywood or hoxton...
Never been to Hoxton
You could write a book on this….and many have. Excellent commentary….steven Adler, Cherie Currie, the eagles, kiss, all had books that gave a small piece to a larger puzzle…the big illusion…the untold stories of heartache….i had a copy of screamer magazine when I lived in winnipeg….in the late eighties…I ordered a ton of tapes from that magazine….great stuff but you saw the competition easily….in a way I was glad I kept my day job…and my sanity…rock on brad….maybe a self published tome from your chair? If so keep it sleazy and name names ha ha…..namaste!
You're right, a lot of people have written about it, but it's all still a mystery.
Absolutely my friend. All that you said here was 100% true but wasn't it amazing? 1981-1989 was incredible
It was pretty amazing.
It’s all in “Tinstletown Rebellion” by Frank Zappa.
“Did you know that in Tinseltown the people down there think that substance is a bore…
And if your new wave group looks good
They’ll hurry on back for more
Because leather groups
And plastic groups
And groups that look real queer
The Tinstletown affictionados
COME TO SEE AND NOT TO HEAR”
Thanks for the video dude!
My reply! You beat me to it!!!🎉🎉🎉
@ my brother 😂
I got divorced at 33 in 2003 and moved to LA for a year,worked at 7700 sunset Blvd, would leave at lunch and go to the Rainbow,Lemme was there many times,usually him and 1 or two regulars,hung at all the places I read about in the 80s,there was still a scene, I feel like it was the end of it,but one of the best years of my life,lol..been back in Chicago since
That is cool that you had that experience!
If you went to LA in the 80s hoping to be a rockstar only to find out it was more about looks, beauty and clothes not your playing or singing? Did this affect your career, finances, family life and ability to thrive then and later in life? Even Now? If so we may be able to get you money. Call the law firm of Dewey Cheatum and Howe. In fact even if you never went to LA in the 80s but thought about it a couple times you still may be entitled to be compensated. If you ended up with or ever had an addiction or std due to the 80s music scene in LA don't hesitate and call right away.
.
The Poser Era ushered in the Grunge Era. They basically caused their own death...
I was playing on the Strip and cut my teeth playing R&B and Jazz. Not everyone was a poser. That's an oversimplified statement.
I was at the Whisky some days ago watching Stephen Pearcy from Ratt ( being there many times seeing bands ) went to the rainbow before the show !!! All those pictures from rockstars getting party in the walls, all these crazy histories of the band members of famous bands!!! Man it felt like a cemetery, the waitress of the rainbow were so disrespectful to the people inside of the bar buying food, I almost had to look for someone so I could get my fucking cheese buger with coke. That place is pretty much a nostalgic place with a lot of memories and the Lemmy Statue, like a museum of 80s.... The concert starts, Stephen Pearcy sounded terrible, he was pretty much murdering those Ratt classics really bad, some people started leave the place before they were playing round and round !!!The drummer of the Bullet boys was really good though, same with that guy playing guitar from Enuff z Nuff Monaco , I could feel the nostalgic vibe , seeing a bunch of bald guys including my self in the audience and some guys with bandanas in their heads on their late 50s or early 60s, some young kids pretending to dress like if they were in the 80s .. as an 80s music lover it was fun but kinda of pathetic at the same time... As a musician and someone who has the records and loves the genre( my band even had a mix done by Beau Hill), I was disappointed..... The nostalgic fact is what makes people like us still listening to these bands, but Stephen Pearcy is almost 70 and he was dancing and dressing as if he was still in the 80s, his voice is completely gone.....I went to Jack Russell some years ago and he was really good, but Stephen Pearcy iIt was like seeing the Fat Evils version of the 80s....same with Dokken and even the worst Motley doing the Mili Vanili thing......The 80s were 40 years ago...hard to accept. I don't believe anybody in the 80s from that scene was listening to music from the 40s ..... Man music sucks nowadays a lot...cool thing I met Mandy Lion at the end of the gig, he was very humble though
Sunset Strip now is just a cemetery with some nostalgic acts playing the venues
Man I hear you. What was the deal with the waitresses at the Rainbow? I started noticing probably 13 years ago that going to say a Van Halen show...we are all getting old. Back then in the day I never gave that a consideration.
@@badbrad terrible service, they only come to your table to get your order if you look for them !!!
! I remember some years ago Steve O was getting party inside the rainbow, Ron Jeremy was there too, the Hollywood Jesus guy walking outside the strip, you could see a bunch of famous people and still have that nostalgic rock n roll vibe !!! The service was good, Mario the owner was still alive. I would say this last time I was there The Sunset Strip now is pretty much like a ghost town .
Sorry to hear that. We had pretty good service when we went a couple years ago. But it was dead so ....they had nothing else to do.
Pay to play is disgusting wherever and whenever it happens. Imo the focus on image above all else was one of the main reasons the scene got killed. By the early 90s music fans in general were sick of it.
oooo man what do you guys think about all these tribute bans
I guess they keep the music alive?
I just saw an AC/DC tribute band, Thunderstruck they were excellent
Funny. People talk about the sunset strip like it meant something. There is a huge big world out therr where bands toured. The sunset strip was a coin in the ocean in the grand scheme of things!
It was an important scene that meant alot to alot of people. There were other scenes equally important.
Living on the Strip in the 80s was akin to living in Haight-Ashbury in the 60s.
Both vibrant scenes
if you"re not appearing, you"re disappearing.
Very true!
And to think a drummer and i were heading there Via Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle then on down to LA. we did this in 83 but only got as far as Toronto. Makes you wonder.
wow!
There was a great rock/metal scene in NYC/Long Island in the 80s and 90s. We had Anthrax and Twisted Sister, but there were smaller bands like Danger Danger, Tyketto, Valentine/Open Skyz, and so many others.
Everything you said in this video applied in NYC too. Image was the name of the game, there were and still are some amazing musicians who either never made it or only broke through late in life, like Mike Morales, who played drums in tribute bands and small bands for literal decades until he got a gig with Dennis Deyoung. Now Dennis is off the road too.
Now that scene is pretty much dead, but there’s a new indie scene that’s almost self-made. I’m happy that people are making their own music now but I feel like the overall level of musicianship has gone down, a lot more of the younger guys I jam with don’t know about dynamics, timing, and groove the way we did in the 80s. Lots of drag timing now, and people don’t do little things like backing off when someone’s singing, etc. as much.
But music always changes every year, and every era has great musicians.
Happy new year BROOOOOOOOOOOOO
Broooooooo Happy New Year the NY scene had some absolute legends.
The NYC scene, now we're talking. The Limelight was always fun. I was lucky enough to experience both the east coast and west coast scene. I started playing clubs at 16 years old. Different lifetime.
I can`t imagine paying to play in the South but we often did when they padded our bar tabs or changed the agreement we had at paytime. I caught them several times scamming me on tabs and sometimes I had over 300 miles to drive to get back home the next morning. We drove to north Arkansas once and towards the end of the show the jerk bar owner says our appearance is offensive to his audience who loved us and we weren`t getting a dime.
I went to my car and came back and pulled a S&W revolver and slammed it on the bar and demanded gas money. A state trooper came, defended us (the audience did too), and they made sure we had enough gas AND an escort to Texarkana where the bass player lived. We did an acoustic show for him there and called and booked a gig in Coushatta, La at the Wagon Wheel for the next night on my birthday. I really got tired of the drama.
Wow
If pay-to-play didn't do you in, the money you had to recoup to the record label that signed you for recording and touring costs did.
So true!
Being from outta town (mpls) didn't help. We found some clubs, cat club , club lingere, and upstairs at the rainbow room that weren't as payee to play
Yeah the strip is kinda dead. I’m surprised it lasted and assumed as many forms and variations over the decades as it did.
The strip has had It’s “long time”.
I Was out there recently and it feels a bit ossified and stale. All scenes lie dead eventually. Probably the greatest pool of signed bands of any scene?
San Francisco, Village, Motown, Liverpool are all long gone. Yeah , The Strip. What was last LA Sunset band to create a stir??
I was out in LA going to clubs from 89-93. A lot of good bands got signed and overlooked, or for whatever reason didn’t happen? The Sunset strip sound was quite varied but it transformed from; Hair up metal, to hair down, moto-cycle club metal, G&R “Grunge” metal, like The Hangmen.
The music business has always been exactly as you mentioned, more hype than substance, a gimmick. Paying people to sing into a box makes for a crazy parade.
It does indeed
Rule#1 manage your money as a first priority..dont let your Gf or friends interrupt your income from coming in consistently..Rule#2 knowing how you make a million at ..10 cent with a record company, and how you can turn that into .2.70 percent with your own efforts, so knowing this will take the time line to make a million with a lot less dependences of a band and the record deal....but you need that still to support your endeavors.
Dr Starr, Paradise, XYZ, Taz, Hans Naughty, warrant…are you with me?
I never heard of the band Circus. They have a YT channel with several videos of them hanging out on the strip promoting a headling the show the next night. The videos make you feel like you're right there. This was toward the end when it was illegal to hang flyers.
I have watched some of those. Yeah it's too bad we all didn't have access to camcorders.
@badbrad The video quality is amazing considering the time period. I was too young to visit the strip at its peak but these videos and more importantly, YOUR stories give me a glimpse into what it was really like.
Do you have a link to that channel?
@@floresnashvilledrummer Search for Circus band sunset strip.
Circus were huge for a few months. They had a lot of money behind them, always had pages in the local band magazines. They weren't as good as thier look though
BAD BRAD HELLO!!!
Hello!!!👋
All I ever hear is Don Henley’s voice”down at the sunset grill “ when I see the sunset reference. I live in the first part of the country for the sunrise, so everything is advertised opposite here.
Yeah that chorus sticks in your head.
@ plus I had no idea what he was talking about for thirty years or so, I kinda made it a Grateful Dead eske video in my head. 😂
Minus the excessive partying the business and game is the same but the venues pay the same as they did in 1980
I hear that a lot.
Zappa was stating all of this in REAL TIME.
Tinseltown Rebellion.🎉
Yes indeed!
@badbrad BTW I saw you play some nice licks on one of your videos! Post more!!!
@@peter-ek3uh Will do!
We called it the Blvd of broken Dreams☹️
Oh man you know it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ im figuring that a sense of entitlement wouldn't cut the mustard on the strip, I'm liking that you are peeling the old onion, letting us know inner workings, who's said that about the biz,a long plastic hallway,thieves and pimps (it ain't easy) run free and good men d*e like dogs? bad times don't last,but bad guys do,hard work pays off,some dreams come true .
You nailed it. It was a tough time for sure.👍🏻
You are here and came to Tennessee and succeeded,my buds were wanting to be you,you did good on West Coast ,my boys wanted success without paying dues,y like you said,it involves doing what you don't like,like the phone,I hate it like u do.but one guy has gone to be with God,and the other guy Tom H. he's on here but I have not talked with him but we could pickup like it was still sixth grade.full disclosure I'm sure you know that first quote was Thompson,the bad part was Scott Hall aka razor Ramon at WWE hall of fame. nothing new,you know?thanks for blessing,you are doing God's work . Happy 25.
Oh question for not now but when you get time,in the 70s and 80s Memphis got tons of rock concerts then it slowed to next to nothing by now . little rock comes after Nashville for whoever is touring.do you have an opinion on this?
So, you were in the band Tuff? Did a drummer from Detroit named Jimi Winalis, or Jimi Lord (stage name) jam with you in Tuff?
I was not in the band Tuff.
@ sorry. I don’t know why I was under that impression. Thought one of your vids mentioned them.
@@andthensome512 They were on the cover of a bam magazine that my band was featured in....
@badbrad Jorge was the guitar player in tuff, he is a junkie now according to Stevie rochelle