Promotion Man Podcast

Bill Schnee is an internationally renowned producer, engineer, and mix master. He has received over 135 gold and platinum records and more than 50 Top 20 singles that run the gamut from Barbara Streisand to The Jacksons, Rod Stewart, Steely Dan and Whitney Houston to Dire Straits. Bill Schnee's new book is titled Chairman at the Board and is available now he shares fantastic stories about Three Dog Night, Huey Lewis & the News, The Smiths, Boz Scaggs, All of the Beatles, Miles Davis and many many more.  "If you love hot records and the behind -the--scenes stories of how they were made, you'll love this book. This is inside stuff everyone wants to know about, from a guy who helped make it all happen" - Huey Lewis   Recommend Music:  Three Dog Night: "Elis Coming" Three Dog Night: "Easy to be Hard" Three Dog Night: "Celebrate" Smith: "Baby its You" Steely Dan: "Peg" Steely Dan: "Hey Nineteen" Huey Lewis & the News: "Couple Days Off"

This week's episode is with Bill Pfordrescher who worked with many bands and record labels but for me and Bill we met because of Ambrosia when they were signed to Warner Bros Records. "Biggest part of me" "Thats How Much I feel" were to become huge hits for WB and I was instrumental in promoting those songs first and then the rest of my associates at WB helped take them all the way. Bill, has wonderful stories about TOOL, Kenny Wayne Shepard and how Bill helped Kenny get signed with Irving Azoff and Eagles manager and owner of a record label.  Another look behind the scenes of how these bands made it to the top and what happens along the way. Bill met the infamous George Martin of Beatles fame as well and many other iconic legends.   Recommended Music: Ambrosia: "Holding on to Yesterday" Ambrosia: "How much I Feel" Ambrosia: "Biggest Part of Me" Ambrosia: "Nice, Nice Very Nice" TOOL: "Sober" Metallica: "Nothing Else Matters" Cure: "Friday I'm in Love" Kenny Wayne Shepard: "Blue on Black"

If you can clean this up great otherwise create your own version of ALIVE Enterprise with the fingers peace sign and put in Shep Gordon. Probably one of LA LLoyd's & my favorite episode to date because you might not know his name but he positively affected your life because he was the manager for people like Alice Cooper, Blondie, Groucho Marx, George Clinton, Luther Vandross, Anne Murray, Kenny Loggins, Rick James, Gary Wright, Teddy Pendergrass and many, many more. Mike Myers directed Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon, a documentary on Shep's life, featuring Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Alice Cooper, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson and Sammy Hagar in 2013.  Shep has had more careers in this lifetime than most anyone on this planet from films like The Duellists, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and many many more to Culinary world where he single handedly created the celebrity chef's like Emeril Lagasse, Roger Verge, Wolfgang Puck and a dozen more.   Recommended Music: Elvis Presley: Jailhouse Rock John Lennon: Give Peace a Chance Alice Cooper: Eighteen Alice Cooper: Killer

Alice Cooper continues to reinvent himself and continues to produce fantastic music and in this interview we talk about Bread Crumbs the EP and Detroit Stories the Album with amazing players like Wayne Kramer of MC5, Johnny "Bee" Badanjek of Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels & Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad fame.  Alice talks about having dinner Elton John & Bernie Taupin and they reminisced about playing in Detroit back in the day for $3.  We ask Alice Cooper about his car collection and it's a great part of the interview you have to hear because it's so so so good.  Alice talks about his famous manager Shep Gordon and what a great manager and human being Shep is and to this day they still don't have a contract !!!! Alice Cooper is back on the road and you need to see him and Ace Frehley of KISS is opening the show !!!    Recommended Music: ALL Alice Cooper catalog  and "Detroit City 2020" off the Detroit Stories Album 

This has become one of my new favorite episodes with Jack Forsythe who went from radio to Record World (Industry trade magazine) to VP of Chrysalis Records.  Jack is a fabulous storyteller so we kept bouncing from one band to another but you will hear stories about Pat Benatar who was called the kamikaze of love to Huey Lewis & the News, Billy Idol, and his shenanigans, and of course Blondie.  Jack's stories were so good we will have him back to tell us many more. But only in the podcast, you will hear a story about how Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for a Heavy Metal Grammy award. Promotion Man Radio show is available to listen live on www.KLBJFM.com at 6 pm CST every Sunday Night. Request the show at your local classic rock radio station.   Recommended Music: Huey Lewis & News: "Heart of Rock n Roll" Pat Benatar: "Love is a Battlefield" Pat Benatar: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" Blondie: "One Way or Another" Blondie: "Rapture" Billy Idol: "Eyes Without a Face" Huey Lewis & News: "Heart & Soul"

This week's episode is about Robert Duncan who worked at Creem Magazine. Robert's adventures start with a skinny Bruce Springsteen asking Robert to meet him in Cleveland and they tour the city of Cleveland in a beat-up car of Robert's friend with Bruce sitting between them in the backseat leaning over to talk.  Robert has fascinating stories of David Bowie & Iggy Pop, Taking a private jet with Keith Richards & Rod Wood for the New Barbarians Tour where he spills Woody's blow on the hotels white carpet and more. Also a story about the Clash, about Lester Bangs and his depiction in "Almost Famous" and more................   Recommended Music: Beatles: "Daytripper"  David Bowie: "Moonage Daydream" Rolling Stones: "It's Only Rock n Roll"  Clash: "Rock the Casbah"  Bruce Springsteen: "Born To Run" 

Thomas Weschler is a rock n roll photographer in Detroit and has taken over 38,000 pictures. In this episode Thomas tells us how he started by taking a picture of the Beatles off of his parent's black & white TV and selling them at school. From Jimmy Page to Diana Ross when Thomas took a picture with Gene Simmons of KISS without makeup to Aretha Franklin, The Who where he tells a great story of selling his guitar to Pete Townshend to running into Robert Plant at a cigarette machine and he gives him a quarter. These are fascinating stories and the best is about Bob Seger when Thomas was his road manager and Thomas taking the photo for the J Geils album Freeze Frame.    Recommended Music: The Beatles: "I want to hold your hand" The Who: "Magic Bus" Led Zeppelin: "How Many More Times" Jeff Beck: "Ain't Superstitious" Led Zeppelin: "I can't quit you baby" J Geils: "Freeze Frame" Bob Seger: "Hollywood Nights"

Danny Zelisko is a concert promoter for the Phoenix & Las Vegas marketplace. Having started his career in the mid 70's Danny has been with the biggest rock stars and sports figures and even the best comics of our generation. In Danny Zelisko's book ALL EXCESS he shares intimate stories that will make you laugh and grab your chin with a "holy cow" expression. To try to list everyone in his book would take an hour so the highlights are, Pink Floyd, Guns & Roses, John Melloncamp, Alice Cooper, James Brown, Check Berry, Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor and many many more..........ALL EXCESS is a highly entertaining book.   Recommended Music: Cult: "Fire Woman" Ozark Mountain Daredevils: "Jackie Blue"  Pink Floyd: "Momentary Lapse of Reason" Perry Farrell: "Been Caught Stealing" Guns & Roses: "Welcome to the Jungle" 

Paul Fishkin tells us how he met Stevie Nicks at the Warner Bros Records meetings in Alcapulco in 77 and Stevie had the Rumors album advance on cassette and asked George Harrison & Paul Fishkin if they wanted to come up to her hotel room and give it a listen !! Paul formed Modern Records with a partner and Stevie signed as a partner and recording artist for her solo work.  We also learn how "Stop Dragging my Heart" made her debut album with Tom Petty as the writer and with her on the duet.  So many great stories in this episode that you will love to hear.   Recommended Music:  Stevie Nicks: “Stand Back” Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty: "Stop Dragging my Heart" Stevie Nicks: "Edge of Seventeen"  Stevie Nicks & Don Henley: "Leather & Lace" Stevie Nicks & Kenny Loggins: "Whenever I call you Friend"

Tommy Nast gives us an awesome interview after he went from radio in the Northeast to Los Angeles as a partner in a trade magazine called Album Network. Album Network had enabled Tommy to befriend label executives and rock stars alike and here he tells us so many fascinating stories. Hold on to the sides!! Tommy tells us stories about Offspring, Ozzy Osborne, Van Halen, and their manager Ed Leffler, a new up-and-coming band we love Dirty Honey, Micheal Jackson, Motley Crue, Traveling Wilbury's and seeing a reunited Led Zeppelin at Jason Bonham's wedding in England. Tommy was loved and is still loved by all industry label executives and bands alike. Tommy tells great stories and I'm certain you will laugh out loud at a few of these here on the podcast. Enjoy.    Recommended Music: OffSpring: "Pretty Fly for a white guy" Ozzy: "Crazy Train" Van Halen "Can't Stop Loving You" Dirty Honey: "California Dreaming" Eddie Van Halen solo 48 seconds in "Beat It" Motley Crue: "Kick Start my Heart"  Led Zeppelin: "Living Loving Maid"

Murray Nagel was with Warner Bros Records for most of his adult life starting in his mid 20's before WEA distribution was formed. Murray's career spanned decades and he worked with the biggest bands during his music career like Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Doobie Bros, Prince, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, James Taylor, Madonna, Rod Stewart, U2, Roxy Music and many many more.  Murray tells us that he was there when progressive rock radio was created on the FM dial and funny stories along the way. This is a must-listen for those of you that love the early days of rock n roll.    Recommended Music: Steely Dan: "FM" Iron Butterfly: "In-a-Gadda-Da- Vida" Vanilla Fudge: "You Keep Me Hanging on" Deep Purple: "Space Truckin" Grateful Dead: "Casey Jones" Alice Cooper: “Eighteen"  ELP: "Lucky Man"

Harold Childs is a well-respected record label executive who took the time to talk with us about his time with RCA Records, A&M Records, Warner Bros Records through him being President of Quest Records Quincy Jones label. We talk about Nazareth, Police, Bryan Adams, Peter Frampton, Joe Jackson, Supertramp and more.   Recommended Music: Nazareth: "Love Hurts" Peter Frampton: "Baby I Love Your Ways" Police: "Roxanne" Joe Jackson: "Is she really going out with him?  Supertramp: "Logical Song" 

Paul Fishkin worked at the famed Bearsville Records label when the roster had Todd Rundgren and Foghat among many others. This episode goes back to those days at the beginning of both bands careers and we find out the the song "We Got to Get You a Woman" was written for Paul because he and Todd where roommates!!!  This is episode 1 of 2 because Paul went on to start the record label Modern Records where he had bands like Poe and a woman named Stevie Nicks as a solo artist!    Recommended Music: Todd Rundgren: "Hello its Me" Todd Rundgren: "We Got to Get you a Woman" Todd Rundgren: "I saw the Light" Foghat: "Slow Ride" Foghat: "Fool for the City" Foghat: "I just want to make love to you" Todd Rundgren: "A Dream goes on Forever" 

U2, when they first came to America, their very first radio airplay, their very first radio interview and one of their first club dates was in Austin and in Houston, TX. U2 ended up being one of the most popular lithic rock 'n' roll bands ever selling! Close to 200 million albums worldwide, that should pretty much do it! Recommended Music: U2: ”Vertigo”U2: “Desire”U2: “I Will Follow”

LA Lloyd and I were thrilled to interview Jon Anderson the leader of YES on this week's episode.  Jon has a new album out called 1,000 Hands and it's a beautiful piece of work with guests on the Album like Billy Cobham, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Jean-Luc Ponty, Steve Howe, Alan White, Chris Squire, Steve Morse, Chick Corea, and Zap Mama. We talk about the making of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" which went to #1, "Starship Trooper" and "I've Seen All Good People" which were fantastic stories.A radio show is scheduled for Nov 15th 6pm CST on www.KLBJFM.com  Recommended Music:YES: "It Can Happen"YES: "Long Distance Runaround"YES: "Starship Trooper"YES: "Owner of a Lonely Heart"Jon Anderson: "Makes me Happy" off 1,000 Hands Album

We had a wonderful interview with JW Williams who started his career with Lone Wolf Productions who were ZZ Top's management company and was with them for 30 years. The stories he tells and the reminiscing is fantastic.  What was JW's reaction when he first heard "Pearl Necklace" and other crazy stories?If you love ZZ Top you will love this episode! Recommended Music:ZZ Top: “Brown Sugar”ZZ Top: “La Grange”ZZ Top: “I’m Bad I'm Nationwide”ZZ Top: "Pearl Necklace"Lenny Kravitz: “Are You Going To Go My Way"

Fred and LA Lloyd welcome Alex Valentine. Alex went from major market radio to Promotion Man and has some incredible stories. Just a few days on the job, he accidentally opens a bathroom door too quickly only to find Kenny Chesney on the other side on the floor. Alex talks about the incredible work ethic of an unknown talent named Taylor Swift. Sir George Martin, Beatles producer, gets the last laugh on Alex at a Paul McCartney concert. What would life be like if you could spend it for six months with Robert Plant?  Alex will tell you because he was there. Recommended Music:Led Zeppelin: “Traveling Riverside Blues”Beatles: “Get Back”Taylor Swift: “Bad Blood”Kenny Chesney: “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”

LA Lloyd and Fred finally convince longtime record promotion extraordinaire Patti Martin to an interview and she tells funny stories about Tom Petty, actually the Heartbreakers and a shopping spree in a record store when she first started her job.  Then a hilarious story about a mountain of a man radio programmer and two small rockers from Australia named Malcom and Angus of a band called AC/DC. Do rock stars really spend exorbitant amounts of money on food & drink? Let’s ask Patti how much Sting spent.  Recommended Music:Tom Petty: "American Girl"Tom Petty: "I need to know"Men Without Hats: "Safety Dance"AC/DC: "Girls Got Rhythm"Sting: "If You Love Somebody"

As the boys are recording for the Promotion Man Radio Show which debuts Sunday Sept 6th at 6-7pm on KLBJ-FM (and you can stream it KLBJFM.com) they realize they are short 8 minutes on episode #2 Van Halen. So we catch them finishing that and moving into radio show episode #4 which is about Fred tripping on shrooms with a "special" friend.Which now brings up the podcast "Learning to Fly" where Jeff Carrol takes Pink Floyd up on a hot air balloon.  Fred realizes that he needs "one" more Pink Floyd story to finish the episode and calls his friend in Detroit who was in rock radio in Detroit and worked for Columbia Records Ken Calvert. Ken tells us a David Gilmore story, a Bruce Springsteen - Bob Seger story, a Patti Smith - Ted Nugent knock down fight on WABX and more.... Recommended Music:Pink Floyd: "Dogs of War" Pink Floyd: "Learning to Fly"Pink Floyd: "What do you want from Me"Pink Floyd: "Young Lust"Pink Floyd: "Have a Cigar"

LA and Fred had so much fun with Ted Cohen the first time around and they knew they just scratched the surface with Ted. And the listeners loved Teddy too!! It is the most downloaded episode after the Alice Cooper interview!So Part 2 Ted tells us about Alice Cooper, Robert Palmer, ZZ Top, Pretenders, David Lee Roth, Prince."Ted.. Who was the craziest band you were with? Van Halen? Fleetwood Mac?" Recommended Music:Alice Cooper: "I want to be elected"Robert Palmer: "Your Gonna Get What's Coming"Pretenders: "Tattooed Love Boys"

Fred knew Sig when he was in Detroit for Warner Bros and she worked for Lone Wolf Productions which was a management and music publishing company. Lone Wolf had clients like ZZ Top, Eric Johnson, Van Wilks, Point Blank on MCA Records.Sig tells us hilarious stories from a mean rooster on the management compound, a toilet seat stuck around a band member's head and Billy Gibbons always referring to Sig as "Sig the Punk." Recommended Music:ZZ Top: "Cheap Sunglasses"ZZ Top: "Im Bad I'm Nationwide"ZZ Top: "Pearl Necklace"ZZ Top: "Tube Snake Boogie"

This is Season 2 of Promotion Man Podcast and we have an exclusive interview with my friend and drummer of the "Talking Heads" and "Tom Tom Club," Chris Frantz. Chris tells us stories about writing Psycho Killer the very first song Chris, Tina and David Byrne wrote. Chris shares insight to how the band started, touring Europe with The Ramones and Dire Straits. How they formed Tom Tom Club and much more! Recommended Music: Intro: “Psycho Killer”Middle: “Take Me To The River” Middle: “Life During Wartime”End: “Burning Down The House”

Fred shares with Rex  in the morning the very launch of Promotion Man podcast. KNCN is a legendary rock radio station along the Texas coastline. Fred tells the U2 story where KNCN was one of 3 radio stations in America to be the first to play U2 music with the add of “I Will Follow”. Rex recalls Fred as the Pope in the RV for Lenny Kravitz Promotion. Fred tells a story about Quarterflash and Sammy Hager being in Corpus Christi the same day. Recommended Music:U2 “I will follow”

Ever wondered what it would have been like being on AC/DC's first American tour? Rod Tanner, our guest on Promotion Man Podcast, was there and has some great stories about Bon Scott and Angus Young. Rod spent several years as the Atlantic Records Promotion Man. He shares more stories about the rise of Foreigner and how they convinced Junior Walker to do the sax solo on their song Urgent. Rod also worked with Phil Collins who got so popular that he was even sick of himself. There's stories of the Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers form the side project The Firm, The Blues Brothers surprises everyone with a hit movie and accompanying soundtrack. Finally we close with Rod discussing his Amazon Best-Seller "Surge," a fictional account on a major hurricane...and then Rod explains how to become t-shirt entrepreneurs overnight...just don't get caught. Recommended Music:Intro: AC/DC  "For Those About to Rock"Middle: Blues Brothers "Sweet Home Chicago" Middle: Blues Brothers "Rubber Biscuit"End: Rolling Stones "Miss You"

This Promotion Man Podcast takes you through an entire year of tours and the albums on the chart for 1981. The year started off with a number one album from John Lennon, which came only a few weeks after he was murdered in New York. Through the year, an entity named MTV came along in August that completely shook up the music industry as we know it. This dynamic created different career paths for bands like ZZ Top who completely reinvented themselves into video sensations. Olivia Newton John returned to get Physical and recreated herself. But the most notable thing from the year and moving forward was how many one-hit wonders came as a result of MTV airplay. Quarterflash...remember them...just one example. Fred has a funny story about how Quarterflash led to Sammy Hagar getting pissed at him that lasted after Sammy's solo career into joining Van Halen. We close out the show with the Centerfold kings J. Geils Band who invades the hotel where Fred is getting married.  Recommended Music:Intro: AC/DC “For Those About To Rock”Middle: Stones “Waiting on a Friend”Middle: Quarterflash “Harden My Heart”End: Steve Winwood “If You See a Chance Take it”

Mike Easterlin Elektra Records Fred Meyers has worked with some incredible people as a Promotion Man. Mike Easterlin who now co-heads Elektra Records joins LA Lloyd and Fred as our guest. Mike worked with Fred early in his career. He explains how he transitioned from radio to records, bringing Elektra back after it had pretty much folded as a label, how bands and artists receive a gold or platinum status for their singles and albums in the modern streaming era. In addition, Mike answers LA Lloyd's question regarding the necessity to release full albums instead of just singles. Then Fred puts Mike on the spot to talk about the controversial 360 deals with artists and record labels. Finally, Mike gives us some up and coming artists to look for that he is very passionate about. Recommended Music:Intro: Tones and I "Dance Monkey"Middle: Twenty One Pilots  "Stressed Out"Middle: Smashing Pumpkins "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"End: Lenny Kravitz "American Women"

Fred gets a ton of backlash for supporting this year's big Grammy winner Billie Eilish. So Lloyd and Fred discuss her big night, the biggest for a new artist since Christopher Cross in 1981. Lloyd is excited about Gary Clark Jr getting Rock back into the spotlight for the Grammys. The guys transition into a couple of Fred's tour stories from the early 80s with The Who. Somehow Fred managed to piss off Roger Daltrey because he liked one of their songs...Roger retaliates by hitting on Fred's wife. Just another day in the life of Fred Meyers and LA Lloyd on Promotion Man. Recommended Music:Intro: Billie Eilish "Bad Guy"Middle: The Who "Eminence Front"End: Who "It's Hard"

If you listened to radio in Houston, one name stands out; Dayna Steele. She has had quite a ride entertaining listeners for a couple decades and had the opportunity to interview and become close friends with some of Rock and Pop's biggest icons. Dayna takes Fred Meyers and LA Lloyd on a trip discussing helicopter rides with Ambrosia to having a water park party with Billy Idol and a few other friends exclusively. In addition, Dayna talks about helping David Crosby after a little time he spent in the Big House. Dayna has written eleven books and you have the opportunity to get a copy. Listen for the keyword from LA Lloyd and email us for a chance to win! Recommended Music: Intro: Ambrosia "Biggest Part of Me"Middle: Police "Do Do Do the Da Da da"Middle: Robert Palmer  "Your Going to Get What's Coming"End: Billy Idol "Rebel Yell"

Fred Meyers and LA Lloyd open the show debating holes. And speaking of holes, what kind of a**hole snubs Pat Benatar, Wayne Kramer, Judas Priest and more deserving ROCKERS from The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame! Fred and LA Lloyd discuss getting screwed by the Good Ole Boy Club. A quick segue into one of the Biggest Rabbit Hole conversations on record. How do you begin with "What's your favorite Live album and somehow morph into how the legends of Jazz were the direct link to Captain and Tennille's song "Muskrat Love." And finally the boys talk about good and bad tribute bands. Wait, are there really any GOOD tribute bands? Recommended Music (Live Versions):Peter Frampton: "Show me the way"J.Geils: "Whammer Jammer"Allman Bros: "Whipping Post"Rolling Stones: "Midnight Rambler" - Close "Little Queenie"

The Black Crowes and Chris Payne Chris Payne is a Promotion Man that was with The Black Crowes on and off the road from the very beginning of their record deal and the release of Shake Your Money Maker. Not everyone was on board with The Crowes' sound including the head of the label Rick Rubin. There's a story of Rick Rubin actually burying the Black Crowes gold plaque he received. Down the rabbit hole...Somehow Fred and Chris Payne were at a big record party many years ago with an inflatable ass for Sir Mix-Lot. Other highlights in this podcast include H.O.R.D.E. Festival from the 90s, The Black Crowes and Lenny Kravitz co-headlining tour, Stinky rock star leather pants, The infamous Robinson Brothers fights, Albums performed in its entirety and lead singers hitting on your daughters. Recommended Music:The Black Crowes "Jealous Again"Lenny Kravitz "Are You Gonna Go My Way"The Black Crowes "She Talks To Angels"Blues Traveler "Run Around"