We Are The Road Crew Podcast

Today (Nov 19th) marks the 7th Anniversary of the horrific bus crash which claimed the lives of two people and changed the lives of The Ghost Inside and their crew forever. In this exclusive episode, Stephen talks to Tim Irons, a crew member who was onboard the bus that fateful day. Tim talks about his love for music and following band's such as Bleeding Through & Let Live that frequented the local California music scene growing up. As his friendship groups and connections expanded, Tim's enthusiasm and passion led him to embrace the opportunity to work with The Ghost Inside over several touring cycles, until his career came to a stop the morning of November 19th 2015 when the band's tour bus collided head on with a tractor trailer on U.S. Highway 180, just outside El Paso, Texas. Tragically both drivers died at the scene, but the ten people on the bus that day survived albeit with life changing mental and physical injuries. Tim recollects that day in great detail and tells Stephen about how his own life has changed since.This episode is dedicated to Greg Hoke (RIP), Steven Cunningham (RIP), Jonathan Vigil, Andrew Tkaczyk, Zach Johnson, Jim Riley, Chris Davis, Danny Lupio, Charles Anthony Billings, Nathan Wilden, Armando Cardona and (last but not least) Tim Irons Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @roadcrewpod and leave us a little review wherever you listen to the podcast! Your support is hugely appreciated. x #RoadCrewPod 'We Are The Road Crew' Podcast is a Factory Originals productionwww.factoryoriginals.uk.com

In this episode, Stephen talks to George Davison, a Tour Manager with over 25 years experience in the industry. George shares his early beginnings working with Nottingham metal legends Earthtone 9, before going on to work with a host of Welsh bands including Funeral For A Friend, Bullet For My Valentine, and most notably Lostprophets, overseeing their meteoric rise from a small town in Wales to global stardom. It's no secret how the Lostprophets train imploded in a way nobody in or around the band including George would ever envisage but George's career continued going from strength to strength with him looking after Swedish rock band Ghost in arena's throughout the world, as well as successful stints with Mastodon and Of Mice & Men.Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @roadcrewpod and leave us a little review wherever you listen to the podcast! Your support is hugely appreciated. x #RoadCrewPod'We Are The Road Crew' Podcast is a Factory Originals productionwww.factoryoriginals.uk.com

In this latest episode, Stephen talks to Simon JP Thomas, an Award-winning Front of House Sound Engineer with over 30 years experience in the industry. Detailing his career journey to date, Simon recalls his early experiences working with the likes of BB King, Gary Numan, Echo and the Bunnymen and Moby. By 2017 Simon had earnt his place as Front of House Engineer on US pop superstar Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman World Tour. After a string of dates across North America the tour arrived at the Manchester Arena, UK on May 22nd and was enjoyed by over 14,000 avid pop fans, many of them families and children. At the very end of the show when the audience were making their way out, a bomb exploded just outside of the arena killing 22 people and injuring over 1000. Simon talks to Stephen about some of his memories of that appalling attack whilst also detailing his superb work in bringing together artists for the One Love Concert which occurred just two weeks later and highlighted the strength and resilience of the people of Manchester.Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @roadcrewpod and leave us a little review wherever you listen to the podcast! Your support is hugely appreciated. x #RoadCrewPod'We Are The Road Crew' Podcast is a Factory Originals productionwww.factoryoriginals.uk.com

Surprise! We're back! After what has been a horrendous year for Live Music and the super talented Crews and Technicians who look after your favorite bands, artists, and musicians, it's a pleasure to bring you this very special episode of the podcast featuring the legendary John McMurtrie, a hugely talented British Music Photographer who has carved out a professional career photographing the biggest bands and musicians in the world for Metal Hammer and Kerrang magazines whilst contributing to Rolling Stone in the US and Q Magazine in the UK. As well as discussing his career to date working with bands like Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, Ghost and BabyMetal, John gives us an insight into his work as Official Photographer for Iron Maiden and his experiences touring the world aboard Ed Force One, the bands own Boeing 757. You can follow John on his Instagram @johnmcmurtrie666 and purchase Limited Edition Fine Art Prints at https://johnmcmurtrie.bigcartel.com/Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, leave us a little review. We will be back in the new year with Season 3 so stick with us. Your support is hugely appreciated. x #RoadCrewPod"We Are The Road Crew Podcast" is a Factory Originals productionwww.factoryoriginals.uk.com

We promised you an amazing end to this season of the podcast and we have delivered it, by bringing you a unique, open, and intimate conversation with Chad Zaemisch, who, for over 16 years has been the Guitar Tech for James Hetfield of Metallica. Undoubtedly one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Chad is responsible for James's signature guitar tone and everything you hear from his amps when Metallica grace the biggest and best stages in the world. Chad also goes back in his career and talks to us about how he started in the industry with alt-rock band The Breeders, and then his time looking after the guitars of Courtney Love and Hole. We are delighted to have had the support this season of our good friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. If you'd like to try any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thank You for all your support this season. Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, leave us a little review, and be the first to hear about the launch of SEASON THREE! Coming Soon! #RoadCrewPod

This week we are going down under to speak with Dan Hawcroft, who for over 8 years was the Road Manager and Personal Assistant to Ian Fraser 'Lemmy' Kilmister. We were honored to hear Dan's story of growing up in the north of England, attending local, punk, and hardcore shows, promoting gigs and working with bands such as Capdown, Kasabian, and Nick Oliveri's Mondo Generator before getting hired for what was surely a 'once in a lifetime' job of becoming Lemmy's Personal Assistant. Dan shares his engaging, funny, and at times emotive stories of his time on the road with Motörhead, and his experience of looking after arguably one of the most iconic figures in music ever...We are delighted to have the support this season of our good friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include their fan-favorite All-Night IPA… fittingly called Roadie, which, much like this podcast, is dedicated to road crews around the world! If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

This week Stephen is joined by New York's finest live sound engineer, Steve Lagudi. Steve is probably best known for his work with bay area giants Machine Head but has worked with bands such as Exodus, Ill Nino, Napalm Death, Vision Of Disorder, God Forbid, Possessed, 5FDP and many many more. He is a guy who takes no punches and candidly opened up to Stephen, telling the journey through his career, from being a Metallica superfan at a young age, all the way through to staying at Dimebag Darrell's house whilst mixing the 5th year anniversary of the Ride For Dime Concert.Steve passionately talks about his fantastic work with Machine Head and his part in helping make the 25th Anniversary Burn My Eyes shows happen... And yes... We do get Steve's first-hand account of THAT night at Brixton Academy when Steve saved the show from every sound engineer's worse nightmare.We are proud to be partnering this season with our friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Nightliner coffee porter, which shares its name with sleeper busses used by touring bands across the world. There's the equivalent of a shot of espresso in every can – definitely a beer to keep you going throughout the podcast! To get your hands on this & any of their beers head over to signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

This week our guest is Live Concert Engineer and co-founder of Soundgirls.org, Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato. We go on a journey of her career to date beginning with early 90's American rock giants Spin Doctors and their rapid journey from small clubs to huge arena shows, and Michelle's equally successful progression to working with Styx, Mr. Big, Gwen Stefani, Melissa Etheridge, Goo Goo Dolls and many more. Most recently Michelle was working with the legend that is Elvis Costello when COVID 19 cut short her run with him after a triumphant London show at the Apollo Hammersmith.We are proud to be partnering this season with the team over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Backstage IPA which is named in tribute to all the backstage antics that go on and, it turns out, a band-favorite for tour riders. If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Having won two Knight Of Illumination Awards for his work with Nick Mulvey and Anna Calvi, it is an honor to have on this week's show Lighting and Production Designer Tom Campbell. Tom sat down with Stephen to talk through his fascinating career, which currently spans more than 15 years and begins on a journey of inspiration seeing Muse live at a young age and then learning his craft doing Theatre shows at the Bristol Hippodrome. This led quickly to the world of music and production touring, beginning with bands such as Devil Sold His Soul and Rolo Tomassi, which allowed Tom to perfect his craft and bring his visual genius to huge stages for the likes of Frank Carter and The Rattlesnakes, Crossfaith, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine, and 30 Seconds To Mars. Tom has proved he can work across multiple genres of music and has also worked with the likes of Zane Lowe, Sports Team, Katy B, John Grant, Yungblud and The Black Queen.We are proud to be partnering this season with the team over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Studio Lager, which is a staple in bars and venues around the country and has been known to have been found in iconic recording studios such as Metropolis and Strongroom in East London. If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

On this week's show, we had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Armando Aguirre, Guitar Tech and Stage Manager for over 15 years. Taking a chance opportunity back in 2004, Amando's epic career begins with finding himself hanging out in an Amsterdam coffee shop with the original drummer of Guns N Roses, Steven Adler, and then being hired as his Drum Tech for the next few years. What follows is a journey of great experiences with bands such as RATT, Pop Will Eat Itself, Death Angel, and many more. In more recent years, Armando had the unique honor of being Devin Townsend's Guitar Tech for nearly 7 years, learning and perfecting his craft before beginning his current role back in 2013 by joining one of the 'Big Four' of American Thrash Metal, the mighty Anthrax. Standing stage left, night after night on the shoulder of the one and only Scott Ian.We are delighted to have the support this season of our good friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include their fan-favorite All-Night IPA… fittingly called Roadie, which, much like this podcast, is dedicated to road crews around the world! If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

This week Stephen is joined by Frank Fanelli, who has not only been a professional Tour Manager and Merchandiser for over 14 years but is the co-founder of For The Nomads, a fundraiser focused on helping the touring music industry crews who are laid off of work as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as giving us a unique insight into how he started the fundraiser, Frank talks us through his early years in music, his career as a musician, and how he came to land his very first Tour Manager role with Bam Margera. Since then he's gone on to work with the likes of Emmure, Black Veil Brides, Andy Black, Pennywise, Hatebreed, and more recently a diversion in the genre to artists such as J.I.D, Earthgang, and Yelawolf. Also Frank gives us a fascinating insight into his five experiences of working Vans Warped Tour and all the highs and lows which came with working on such an iconic touring festival.We are proud to be partnering this season with our friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Nightliner coffee porter, which shares its name with sleeper busses used by touring bands across the world. There's the equivalent of a shot of espresso in every can – definitely a beer to keep you going throughout the podcast! To get your hands on this & any of their beers head over to signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Welcome to another must-listen episode of We Are The Road Crew where this week Stephen talks to Jon Burton, a Sound Engineer with many years of experience working at the very highest level. Included in his long list of prestigious clients, Jon has spent over 15 years working as chief Sound Engineer to electronic dance giants The Prodigy. We talk about his career with them, including focusing on some of the band's most iconic performances, as well his feelings on the tragic death of vocalist Keith Flint. Jon also gives us a potted history of his career to date, beginning in his hometown of Oxford and the music scene there, growing up and working with the likes of The Candyskins, Radiohead, Pulp, Suede, Gene, Katrina And The Waves and many many more iconic Britpop era bands. Now spending most of his time teaching, Jon has a degree in Music Technology and lectures at The University Of Derby.Alongside listening to this week's episode, grab yourself a Signature Brew and put your feet up! We are proud to be partnering this season with the team over in East London who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Studio Lager, which is a staple in bars and venues around the country and has been known to have been found in iconic recording studios such as Metropolis and Strongroom in East London, which happens to be where Signature Brew was conceived! If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

In this episode, Stephen is joined by Rishi-Louis Gowry, who talks passionately about his rise in the live music industry to become one of the top Promoter Rep and Stage Managers in the business. From humble beginnings crewing at MTV in London, to running festival stages and arena shows around the world, Rishi recalls working with British rapper Slowthai and American rock supergroup A Perfect Circle. The sometimes comedic pressures of running a podcast tour featuring Kevin 'Silent Bob' Smith. The joy and excitement he gets in festival season, managing stages at festivals such as All Points East and Creamfields. And finally trying to curb the fanboy in him whilst working with the musical genius that is Ronnie Wood. For added refreshment whilst listening to the show, we are proud to be partnering this season with our good friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include the Backstage IPA, which is named in tribute to all the backstage antics that (allegedly) go on! If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Welcome back to the start of SEASON 2 of the We Are The Road Crew Podcast! It's been a long time coming, mainly due to the current world health situation we all find ourselves in, but we are battling on and are delighted to bring you this season's first guest, Stevie Firth who has been Guitar Tech for over 15 years with the likes of Cradle Of Filth, Napalm Death, The Wildhearts and Therapy? This is an episode not to be missed, as Stevie candidly discusses with Stephen growing up in and around the music scene in the north of England, his journey from a Doncaster nightclub seeing an early incarnation of The Wildhearts, to years later becoming their long-term Guitar Tech. And presently his role with Therapy? as not only their Guitar Tech but as a live performer in the band. In further exciting news for the podcast we are delighted to have the support this season of our good friends over at Signature Brew who have been brewing music-inspired beers and supporting live music since 2011. Their award-winning core beers include their fan-favorite All-Night IPA… fittingly called Roadie, which, much like this podcast, is dedicated to road crews around the world! If you'd like to try this or any of their superb beers, head over to www.signaturebrew.co.uk and put in the code 'RoadCrew' at the checkout which will earn you an exclusive listener 10% Discount on any order.Thanks for listening, give us a review if you like what you hear and please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

We are BACK! Thanks to all the great feedback we are back, to bring you a unique behind the scenes insight into the world of the backstage crew and individuals who are responsible for bringing you the best live shows, from some of your favourite bands and artists. Please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Closing this first season of the Podcast is legendary Lighting & Stage Set Designer Paul Dexter, who joins Stephen remotely from Los Angeles to discuss his fascinating career to date, including his very first tour with Billy Preston, working with Elton John in the late Eighties and stories of the excess of being on the road with Motley Crue on the Theatre Of Pain & Girls,Girls,Girls tours. We get a first hand account of THAT bat story whilst working with Ozzy on the Diary Of A Madman Tour, before going on to explore the emotional ups and downs of deciding to move to the UK, and then having to move back to the US to work as crew chief for pop icon Michael Jackson. Paul then goes on to open up about his unique and fascinating working relationship with the much missed legendary rock star Ronnie James Dio, his role in Hollywood films and much much more...This is an episode not to be missed.We will be back for Season Two before you know it, but in the meantime please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Joining Stephen this week in the studio is FOH/Monitor Sound Engineer & RF Tech, Hannah Brodrick who chats about her fascinating career so far working with the likes of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, Raging Speedhorn, Carly Rae Jepson, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, PG.Lost and many more. She also discusses her pride in founding a European organisation and online community focusing on the growing number of women within the live music industry, called Women In Live Music. And we find out Hannah's best and worse day on the job, which may/or may not involve a certain pop punk festival here in the UK..With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Our guest this week is highly talented live Sound Engineer Steven Carr who has worked with some of the biggest names in music over the past few decades, artists from the likes of Chris Rea, Katherine Jenkins, Goldfrapp, Birdy, Nick Mason, Agnes Obel and many more. Steve sat down with host Stephen Hill (Metal Hammer, Riot Act Podcast) and passionately talked through his diverse musical career highlights, including his first show as a fan seeing British rock band Bush at Brixton Academy in 1995, through to partying on tour with The Shaolin Monks, his journey from warehouse to front of house, being known as the “go to” engineer for mixing world class female vocalists, earning the honour of being Front Of House Project Manager of the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury, and the story of a random encounter with Blues legend BB King…With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

We celebrate Halloween this week with our very special guest, punk legend Andy Corrigan. Alongside being Managing Director of entertainment Visa specialists Viva La Visa, Andy was lead singer of British punk band The Mekons, and then spent the next 20 years working as a Tour Manager for the likes of Bow Wow Wow, New Order, ABC, Kim Wilde, Human League, Public Image Ltd and many more.. Andy shares his thoughts with Stephen on the Punk scene in Britain & beyond throughout the 1980's, touring the world with new wave band Bow Wow Wow, hilarious Tour stories of struggling with a trio of Flight Cases around America, and what he REALLY thinks about working with a certain member of The Sex Pistols..With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

Episode 3 see's host Stephen Hill (Metal Hammer, Riot Act Podcast) chatting over Skype with Graham Wright, roadie with the greatest heavy metal band ever, Black Sabbath. Graham talks about seeing The Beatles live in concert, working with Sabbath throughout the 1970’s, meeting his future wife whilst touring America with UFO, designing the iconic Wall stage sets for Roger Waters and how fate played a part in him avoiding the tragic Eagles Of Death Metal show at The Bataclan on the 13th November 2015….With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

This week, host Stephen Hill (Metal Hammer, Riot Act Podcast) chats with George Baker, Director of Visual FX company Encore SFX. George is a master of special effects including Pyrotechnics, Flames, Smoke, Lasers and co2, and is responsible for creating breathtaking moments within live events for some of the worlds biggest artists including Stormzy, Robbie Williams, Chain Smokers, Fall Out Boy and many more. George talks about how he first started out in his career, going to see Take That on the Circus Tour with his Mum, the pressures of live TV whilst working on The X Factor, owning his own Company at the age of 23, all the way through to triggering 100ft flames for Stormzy at his Glastonbury headline performance. Without a doubt, one of the biggest festival shows of 2019.With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod

A fascinating and unique chat with Peter Hince, Head of the Road Crew with British rock band Queen between 1973 & 1986. In the first of this brilliant series, Peter sat down in the studio with host Stephen Hill (Metal Hammer, Riot Act Podcast) to discuss everything from his early years looking after Mick Ronson, meeting his future employers Queen for the very first time whilst working for British glam rockers Mott The Hoople, then all that comes with being 25 years of age and working for the biggest band in the world. All this, plus a first-hand insight into that iconic Live Aid performance on July 13th 1985, and what he really thinks about Bohemian Rhapsody The Film...With more captivating guests lined up every week, please Subscribe & Follow the 'We Are The Road Crew Podcast' over on Facebook & Twitter using the Handle/Tag @RoadCrewPod #RoadCrewPod