Douglas Bales on Rock ’n’ Roll Truth, Glory, and the Grind

What keeps an artist going when fame never quite shows up? For songwriter, drummer, and now novelist Douglas Bales, the answer is simple: the people who actually listen.

In this episode, Douglas joins Mysterious Goings On to talk about his 40-year journey through the garage shows, the smoky clubs, the late-night drives, and the long odds that define a life in music.

We get into what it really feels like to be onstage in front of an audience that finally gets you, why validation matters more than fame, and how the highs of performance stay with you long after the amps cool down.

Douglas also unveils his new novel, Rock ’N’ Rolla Coaster, a gritty, funny, and painfully accurate look at band life from the inside. If you’ve ever plugged in, turned up, or dreamed of chasing the roar of the crowd, this one’s for you.

In this episode:

• The rush of live performance and the emotional hangover that The rush of live performance and the emotional hangover that follows

• Why fame is the exception, not the rule
• How musicians measure success (hint: it’s not album sales)
• The truth behind the “rock star dream”
• What inspired ⁠Rock ’N’ Rolla Coaster⁠
• How a lifetime of gigs shaped his fiction
• Alex mistakes Rutherford B. Hayes for James Garfield

If you love the music but also the story behind the music, Douglas Bales delivers both. Tune in, turn up, and ride the coaster.

Buy the book here.

Listen to Doug's first appearance on the show here.

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