The Stan Bush Interview!

The long talked about, finally realized interview with our legendary theme song singer, Stan Bush! Learn about Stan's life in music, some fun anecdotes about Van Damme and more. A little about Stan Bush:

Worldwide icon of melodic rock Stan Bush is best known for his song “The Touch,” made famous by Transformers: The Movie (1986). An anthem for Transformers fans around the world, “The Touch” was remixed in 2013 by High Moon Studios for their hit video game Transformers: Fall of Cybertron. It has also been featured on ABC’s The Goldbergs, NBC’s Chuck, FOX’s American Dad, in RBN’s Guitar Hero, Deep Silver’s Saints Row IV and in the motion picture Boogie Nights.

This fantastic interview caps off with a rousing game of “A Trivia Game Just For Stan Bush.” How much Stan Bush adjacent trivia does Stan Bush know? Listen to find out!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pop-culture-field-manual--5956105/support.

Episode Transcript

(00:08):
In time. In time, there'sa got to follows to make it true.
Culture. What's going on, folks, Welcome to the Pop Culture Field
Manual podcast, sitting right at theintersection of weapons, action, the military,
and of course pop culture. Andwe are very excited today because since

(00:32):
the beginning of this podcast, therehas been a voice at the beginning that
I'm sure all of you are veryfamiliar with, and we finally have them
in the flesh here on the podcast. You guys have wanted it for some
time. So without further ado,I would like to introduce mister Stan Bush.
Hey, how's it going. It'sgoing, Stan, How are you

(00:54):
doing doing great? Yeah, thingsare really good. That's good, Stan,
If I may say so, it'sa great honor to meet you.
I remember my sister taking me andmy brother to the movie theater in Lancaster,
California to see the Transformers animated movie, and that was the first time
that I was exposed to your melodiousvoice and that amazing song the Touch,

(01:15):
which yeah, which was so perfectlyput into It is a really powerful moment
in the movie too, because it'skind of like lighthearted, you know,
but then the Septicon's attack and it'sand it's Optimist Prime. He's like,
we got to do this, andit's like you got touch and be like,
yeah, go get him Optimist,you know, and then then it's
you know, it's very it's avery pivotal battle in the movie. So

(01:37):
anyway, just wanted to her outthere for a second, you know,
and thanks so much. I appreciatethe kind words. I also want to
say, I appreciate you guys service. You know. Oh, you guys
are awesome. You're our heroes.We appreciate that. Stan. I know
you know me and you have alittle different relationship because you've been friends,
very close friends with my father forwhat twelve seven teen years, right,

(02:00):
something like that. Yeah, trytwenty five, twenty Yeah, I'm sorry,
twenty five, so basically when Iwas three. So yeah, you've
been we've been in a we've beenclose for quite quite some time. I
grew up with your children. Soit's awesome to you know, have you
here on the podcast. So Ijust feel like it's come like full circle

(02:21):
finally. That's right. I'm wantto be here and I really appreciate it.
Thanks for having from Yeah, Iknow, you know, you've done
a lot of work with the militaryin your music career, and you know,
we appreciate that. I know Ihave some stories from my service where
you saved me some ass kickings allthe time, because I remember when I
first got to the Ranger Regiment andI was a private. We were at

(02:44):
a range one day, and whenyou're a private in the Ranger Regiment,
you are treated like absolute Dodo.So we're out there and picking up brass
after you shoot. It is likea big thing you do in the military.
It just doesn't go away. Youactually have to pick up every round
that you shoot, and it's ascary process because if you don't do it
in time, the hammer comes downfrom the leadership and it's a scary thought.

(03:06):
But I remember I was picking upbrass and it was nighttime and I
started humming the touch and then oneof my team leaders was like, is
that from the Transformers movie? AndI'm like, yeah it is. He's
like yeah. I was like,Stan Bush sings and he's like and I
was like, he's actually a closefamily friend of mine, and he goes,

(03:27):
you know, Stan Bush, Andever since that moment, he kind
of left me alone. Thank youfor your service because you saved me.
Yeah, it's amazing. But youknow, I'm sure everybody would really like
to know just kind of how youstarted out, like where you've been,

(03:49):
so in let's go back to thebeginning. Where how did you kind of
find your interest to music or andgot your in the music industry. Yeah,
yeah, okay. I grew upin Florida and played music through school
and everything, and I was alwaysin bands, played a lot of nightclubs
and things in the South, andI got asked to join a Colorado based

(04:14):
recording group. So I moved toBoulder, Colorado and spent three years there
shoveling snow. Anyway, that bandgot signed to Electra Records and came out
to LA That was quite a whileback, but yeah, that was my
beginning of the recording career. Youknow. That we did one album and

(04:34):
then that that band broke up andI kind of went solo. It just
sort of happened that way. Ihad always been a band guy, you
know, And but yeah, Igot asked to join well, actually,
I got signed to CBS Records andI did one album just with my name,
and then the one after that wasthe one with the Touch, you
know, Mirage album and that wason Scotti Brothers Epic Records. So yeah,

(05:00):
it was funny because the record companythey they said, oh, we
got your song of the Touch.We had in a in an animated movie
about robots, and I'm like,what, I know that would become a
huge phenomenon, you know. Soanyway, it's kind of the restless history.
But I've been working, continuing tomake music. I got that same

(05:21):
a year, I guess a yearafter that, I got the opportunity to
sing some songs on the first coupleof Van Damn movies, Blood Sport and
Kickboxer. So that was fun Iwas basically a hard singer, you know.
At that point. I did alot of stuff, a lot of
commercials back in the day. Iwas like the beer Boys guy, you
know, like sing this, youknow toy it pays the bills, you

(05:47):
know, that's right. Yeah wedid. I did well. So but
yeah, that was you know,and after that, it was funny because
the Touch kind of started this wholething. I mean it was like,
uh, the uh uplifting whatever youcall it, like motivational rock kind of
thing, and uh, I startedsinging more songs about you know, believing
yourself, go for it, youknow you you can do it kind of

(06:09):
stuff. And it's it's really youknow, it seems a little silly,
but it's not. It really istrue. You know. You you know,
each of us makes our own youknow way in the world, and
and uh, you make your ownreality by your beliefs. And you guys
know that. I mean, you'rewhat you do is incredible and important,
you know, for the for theworld and for the country and anyway,

(06:31):
enough about that, but uh,but thank you again for having me.
And yeah, oh no, noproblem. Oh and that's uh. You
know, one thing I really likeabout you, Stan is that you've stuck
to your guns since the beginning.Nothing's changed, and you've that you're like
a man of integrity and a manof unrelentless consistency. And I really appreciate

(06:55):
that you've never you've never steered offyour your path, which is just super
awesome because and your songs really theyreally represent that. And I'm not just
saying that because you know, we'refriends and I want to keep you as
a friend. But I remember,yeah, in all the time, when
I remember when Warrior came out,which is a little bit of a you

(07:15):
know, it's not one of youreighties songs, but it came out in
what twenty fifteen, twenty twenty sixteentime, I remember that was like became
my platoons kind of get Ready songs. So you know, in like Blackhawk
Down when they're listening to Faith NoMore in the Ready room and they're like
putting the blood type on their bootsand they have Faith No More playing Warrior,

(07:38):
was our like get Ready songs.That's great. Yeah, yeah,
yeah, it's a good one.I like it. You're right, Cameron,
I totally agree with you. Andone thing about I was looking kind
of at your like what you weresaying. You've continued kind of in this
vein of the kind of aspirational,inspirational kind of rock, like you say,
and I actually really appreciate that becauseI feel like the eighties, at

(08:01):
least for me maybe for a lotof people, has this mystique, this
aura about it, where's a verypretty good time in America, pretty good
time maybe in the world. Andand so people were all about that.
You know, there's how many differenteighties movies have that inspirational song like the
Touch, you know, you gotVision Quest, you get all these other
movies and stuff. And then aswe've gone on in culture, we've we've

(08:24):
gotten a little cynical, I think, and a little kind of down,
a little negative, and and wekind of have given up the course some
of those aspirational beliefs. And soI really I actually appreciate your kind of
music sticking to that tone because becausewe don't really don't have a lot of
that anymore. You know, wehave a lot of self doubt, we
have a lot of loss of identity, loss of motivation, loss of purpose.

(08:48):
And I think if you with yourkind of stuff, as you continue
to beat that kind of that kindof drum, the right people are going
to hear that music and be inspiredby it. And so that's kind of
like your service. You know,you talk we talk about our service,
but that's your service to society andkind of the betterment of culture, I
think is it's like, let's keepgoing, keep believing yourself, keep going.

(09:09):
It's I know, it's rough,you know, and and you all
the lyrics that you talk about.It gets tough and you get beat down,
but you got to pick yourself backup. That's it sounds cliche,
but I think mostly because people intheir hearts have just kind of gotten cynical
and they don't believe it anymore.But if you can continue that kind of
drum beat and stuff, then then, like you say, people are going
to be lifted up by it.And I appreciate that you keep singing that

(09:31):
way. So keep going. Ah, thank you. Yeah, it's it's
cool. It's a it's a coolniche. I I really like, uh
being that guy, you know,and it's I'm trying I have to try
to live up to. Yeah,there's a there's an honor thing going you
know, that's really important. Andit's in the military as well. It's
a that's a big part of justlife, you know. You you want

(09:52):
to live right and you know,and uh, and go by the truth.
You know, there's there's truth outthere you and anyway, enough about
that stuff. I won't get toThis isn't a political broadcast. No,
we hear it in your hearing thelyrics. Man. No, it's good.
Yeah, no, absolutely, Sospeaking of keep going, you know

(10:13):
you're still going to this day.What is the do you know, off
the top of your head, howmany albums that you've put out? Uh,
well, the new one I'm workingon would be fifteen, I think.
Yeah, so yeah, I've beendoing it a while. It's your
dad's produced the last six of them, yeah, pretty much. Yeah,

(10:33):
and the good Old Garage. It'suh yeah, he's quite he's quite a
talented He's incredibly talented. Yeah,brilliant guy, but really my best friend.
So yeah, I don't talk aboutmy dad too much, I know,
but yeah, no, he oughthe was. I just had dinner
with him the other day and he'slike, Stan wanted me on the podcast.

(10:54):
He's like, you should come on. He's like, no, no,
no, I don't do that.After that music video for the remix
of the Touchy where he got likeeating alive in the comment section because he
like looked really funny. Basically forthe other guys, I'll tell you this
story. It was absolutely hilarious.Stan did this awesome remix of the original
touch because when Transformers three was comingout, they wanted a theme song and

(11:16):
it was between Stan and Lincoln Park, like that was those are the two
choices. Unfortunately it went to LincolnPark, but they did this amazing song
and music video together and it waslike all Transformers theme to my dad's in
it, and there's one scene wherehe's like looking at the camera doing this
slow nod and like, my dad'sa goofy guy. So he's like doing

(11:39):
this slow nod and in the commentsection people are like, who's this pedophile?
Just stirring up the care of it? And oh yeah, and after
that he's like, I never wantto be in a music video again.
Yeah, this is is brutal.It is. I mean, I'm the
first to admit that, you know, it's I'm just like, you know
what, I'm a in my lifewhere I just want to do what I

(12:01):
do and you know, riding tothe sunset and hey, you know what
I mean, I did my Igave it my all. I don't want
to have any regrets at least inthat regard. You know that, Yeah,
I didn't give it my best,you know, and that's what life
is about. Really. Yeah,yeah amen to that, man, Can
I can? I can we kindof like go through I want to get

(12:22):
some stories from each of these kindof iconic uh musical you know music that
you music's songs that you've done,and the touch like how did that come
to be? And then I guess, like you said, you kind of
made mention that like, oh we'regonna put we we got it in this
movie. And then you're like,you didn't know what it was, but
obviously now it's become this kind ofthing. And so maybe talk about your

(12:46):
relationship with the Touch, how itgot going, and then what it's become
for you specifically since the Transformers moviecame out in like nineteen eighty six.
Yeah, it was my writing partnerand I Lenny mcalous So. We wrote
the song originally with the movie Cobrain mind stallone picture and yeah, I
love that movie. We submitted it, but I guess they they didn't take

(13:11):
the song, but it ended up, like I said, in the animated
Transformers movie. But it just oneof those songs that just, you know,
just happened and it was like,wow, this is cool and and
had that you know, uplifting quality, and uh it came out, the
record came out great, and uhit's just like I say, it had
a kind of life of its own. You know, a lot of songs

(13:33):
end up doing that, you know, they you know, Touch of course
was also in Boogie Nice. Youknow, Mirk Wahlberg ended up you know
doing is almost a parody of theeighties. You know, he's he deliberately
sang it badly, you know.And anyway, I ran into him at
a Transformers convention maybe five years agoand he was walking backstage and I said,

(13:56):
you got the Touch? And heturned around and said how did I
do? He over minutes later withhis iPhone and he and I start singing
the Touch together like a couple ofdrunk guys. You know. On his
social media it was like, youknow, million hits in a matter of
minutes. It was. Anyway,that was a cool thing. He was

(14:16):
really nice and he said the originalbaby, but yeah, just it did
you know. It's one of thosethings that's been in numerous episodes of Goldberg's
and other movies and film films,hard movies, but TV shows, uh,
you know, games, video gamesand whatnot. And it's pretty cool.

(14:39):
It's you know, it's one ofthose things that's a song like that
just sort of to a lot ofpeople is iconic, you know, and
it's been a fun ride. Absolutely. Yeah. I think iconic is kind
of an understatement for something. Itlike left a legacy, you know,
like we think about now. It'sweird because thinking about the eighties like for

(15:01):
some reason, I feel like thatwas twenty years ago. Like you know,
sometimes you're stuck in a vortex.Like for me personally, I feel
like it's been twenty eleven for thepast what fifteen seventeen years, So like
thinking about the eighties, it wasdamn near forty years ago, right,
and it's you know, and thesong still has relevance today, Like it

(15:22):
still pops up, it's still beingused. So that's like not only an
iconic song, but it's kind ofleft the legacy. Yeah, it's like,
oh man, it's probably gonna behere for a while. But that's
an amazing story with Mark Wahlberg.That's kind of the needy greedy I wanted
to hear about because we actually hadthat here in our outline that you answered

(15:43):
the question ourselves. Oh okay,yeah, so is let me ask you
a question then, So, sincethe Touch has, like you know,
that's kind of spread like wildfire,you put it simply as it just happened,
which I think is just great.But is the Touch one of your
personal fit? Do you have apersonal favorite song that you've done, whether

(16:03):
you have a really uh you know, an individual individualistic connection to it that
only you would quite understand. Orhas The Touch been your favorite song that
you've done because of the success it'sbrought you. Well, that's a good
question. I think every every album, there's been you know, one or
two or three songs that I reallyconnected with, you know, the obviously

(16:29):
I can't do a concert without doingThe Touch. Yes, the people what
they want and there as well.So yeah, yeah, it's it's you
know, there there are other songsI really feel strongly about too that I've
Some of them have like more ofa you know, trying to be like
sort of a deeper uh message tolike you know, you know, look

(16:53):
within or whatever or whatever it is, you know, to try to connect
to to to your inner strength andspirituality stuff, you know that kind of.
But but overall, I think Ijust have I love music period,
and you know, it's just been, uh, it's been fun to be
able to create stuff and and actuallyhave people like it. You know.

(17:15):
That's for a while you talked aboutthe eighties. I mean, you know,
the eighties music scene kind of implodedin the early nineties and there wasn't
really what we what we think ofas the eighties. Stuff was kind of
just went away except in like Europeand Japan. So for a long time,
I probably the most of the ninetiesdecade, I just did work overseas,

(17:38):
you know, with as far asrecording and releasing stuff. And it's
like, you know, in theStates, I couldn't get arrested, you
know that kind of thing. Yeah, But anyway, things kind of come
back around full circle. You know. There's a very cool song also that
came out. I don't know ifyou have this in your upcoming question,

(18:00):
but there's a song called the Eightiesand uh, we did a cool music
video of that and uh, myson Jonathan you know who you know,
well, he played a young mein the in the video. It's it's
pretty cool. We rented a VWBus and uh, you know he's like
got the long hair. And thiswas a few years ago. But and

(18:21):
uh, you know some of therock like my rock and roll jacket and
boots and stuff. It looked great. It was like, you know,
he even had this like fake girlfriend, you know, amazing uh you know,
bombshell blonde. You know, itwas it was like a tongue in
cheek obviously, but but it's abouteighties music and how it you know,
you know, you can't sort ofstop the the feeling, the vibe.

(18:44):
You know, it's it's a it'sgoing to always give with us. I
love those eighties movies too. Youthink about like, you know, there
were so many that that had theseiconic songs, like you said, like
like Rocky Solon. You know,the first Rocky was amazing, you know,
I have a High and all that, and then yeah, you had
these other ones like Back to theFuture where you know, the music is

(19:06):
a huge part of the movie,you know, like boom boom boom song
after song, and it's like reallycool. I like that that vibe.
It's it's cool. Yeah, yeah, that can there. It can help
to create these moments that are inyour memory for obviously decades later, you
know. Yeah, and so yeahand so stuff like that, like the

(19:29):
Touch and I forgot you did Daretoo Man on Transformers. I love Dare
as well, But I didn't evenknow this. This is a lesser known
film, The Wraith from nineteen eightysix Charlie Sheen about the the supernatural car
that he goes and uses to getrevenge on the guys that kill them,
but heart and heads like, likewas that another one like that you made

(19:51):
separately and then they kind of contractedit for or did you have a little
more insight into the story of theof the movie itself. No, it
was one of those that I hadwritten for that album and it ended up
in that movie. So I thinkScotti Brothers at the time, they were
sort of known for They were theones who had originally signed Survivor, and
so they had some other artists thatwere like, you know, movie type

(20:17):
of soundtrack artists. You know.They also had weird Al Yankovic. He's
actually a nice guy and we've gottento know each other and you know,
he's a good guy. So Iremember I remember meeting Weird Al at what
are your concerts? Oh yeah,yeah, yeah, the parabout that was
quite some time ago. But yeah, he's a really nice guy. I

(20:37):
was like, well, I wasprobably in like eighth grade, seventh grade
when that happened. Yeah, thatwas awesome. That's like a core memory
of mine. Oh yeah. So, but I was gonna like, I
say, there's another new movie that'scoming out. I don't know if you've
heard of it, called The LastKumite. That's gonna be I think it's

(21:00):
gonna drop in in May and there'stwo new songs in that, so cover
that in a bit if you want. But sure, yeah, I mean
we can. We can jump intothe whole blood Sport vandamn Era right now
if you want. Yeah, I'mvery curious. That sounds like a perfect
segue. Yeah, yeah, thereyou go. Because it's funny. We

(21:22):
we watch so uh. We havea Patreon, which is subscriber based for
our podcast here, and every monthwe do like a movie night with our
patrons and we'll live stream a movieand watch it all together and do live
commentary. And you know, bloodSport was one of the movies we watch
just because not only is it anabsolute classic, but we do tend to

(21:44):
gravitate towards like the eighties action moviesjust because of their nostalgia and just pure
entertainment value. Uh. And youknow it's I think everyone knows you've done
the intro and like when your songpops up, it was it's always an
awesome moment because my dad never toldme that you did those movies. And
it was actually like within the pastthree years of me rewatching blood Sport and

(22:06):
like on my laptop while I'm watchingit and then stand Stand comes on and
I'm like, what, Yeah,I had no idea. In the credits
on these gable you know shows andstuff, they'll they'll air some movie and
it's like, I I love thatstuff. It was great music. They
it's funny the new movie I wastelling you about The Last Kumite. They

(22:30):
actually it's sort of in the samevein. They even got the same guy
to do the music score. Anyway, I'll think it was naming minute.
But yeah. So but they hadme sing two songs, write two songs
for the movie, and we dida music video with footage from the film.
It's gonna be good. I mean, it's I think it's trying to

(22:51):
capture this similar vibe. They evenhad some of the same actors and yeah,
is Van Damn gonna be in thatone too? No, no,
that it would have been great ifthey'd gotten him to do a cameo or
something, you know. Yeah,But but no, those movies were awesome.
I mean the I I ran intohim at a bar uh, it
was like, oh gosh, longtime ago. It was a few years

(23:15):
after Kickboxer and and anyway, thebouncers were giving him a hard time and
I go over and say, hey, I let this guy in. You
know. Anyway, he comes overto thank me a little after that,
and I said, oh, yeah, by the way, I'm I sang
three songs in each of your firsttwo movies. And he says, oh,
he said, tell him my bloodSport. He said that the music
was better than the movie. Anyway, he was and everything, and it's

(23:41):
funny. I took my then wifeto the screening, and uh, you
know, I think he was alittle kind of trying to flirt with her
and stuff, and and then andthen you then you see him on screen
with his shirt off, and she'slike, wow, we're leaving, We're
leaving, right, funny memories,you know, that's great. I'm surprised

(24:04):
to hear that the bouncers were givenvandam. I mean, I'm assuming he's
not that big of a guy,right, He's not like he's not he's
not that big as far as heightand everything. But he had his own
security with him. I think thatmay mean what put them off on Okay,
yeah, it was like, yeah, I thought it was like an
ego thing where it's like there's vandamn, how much you want to bet

(24:26):
I could kick his ass? Right. You guys probably get that all the
time. You know, people likethey think, oh he's a tough guy,
see what you can do. Youknow, you probably get that kind
of stuff happening, right. Sometimesluckily not because I'm like a tiny guy
anyway, so I don't. Firstof all, I don't act like I
can kick every man's ass in theworld. I know I could get the
ship kicked straight out of me ifI picked the wrong fight. So that's

(24:51):
why I usually tend to just beatup on kids. Funny, just kidding.
Just I know, I only hangout with the kind hearted people,
so nobody ever wants to beat meup. There's nobody. Nobody's looking for
a fight in my circles of influence. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know

(25:12):
what you mean. It's like,it's tough when you're a kid growing up.
You know. I got fights fromschool when I was a kid,
you know. And you know acouple of guys wanted to get me after
school in seventh grade, and Igot my big brother to walk home with
me. Oh that's awesome. Stufflike that. Some big brothers are for
Yeah, that's right, that's right, exactly right. Well, do you

(25:34):
have a well, let me askyou, So you've done all these movies
you've done, you know, amazingmusic. Do you have a favorite movie
that you that obviously you've been featuredin, like one that you just always
think of, maybe I have aposter in your house. They were like,
that was it? That was myfavorite one. Well, probably Bumblebee
because they finally put the touch inthere, you know. Oh yeah,

(25:59):
yeah, that was a great movie. I like Bumblebee. That was my
favorite live action Transformers movie. Niceand that was actually one more recently,
right within the past. Bumblebee cameout like four years ago. That was
good. Man. Yeah, Ireally appreciate that one. That was a
kind of a classic. It hadof an eighties feel to it. Was
kind of a classic. Yeah,you know, a kid in his car

(26:21):
or a kid in his friend,kind of like of a buddy kind of
thing, you know. Yeah,two outcasts kind of coming together. So
I didn't realize that that the touchmade it in there. That's pretty cool.
Well, yeah, it was inthat scene when I guess she's going
to jump off the cliff for somethinginto the ocean and anyway, you got
the touch, you got the powerman. Yeah, anyway, it just

(26:44):
goes to show you it's still apart of the it's not. It's a
part of the legacy that Transformers has, Like they recognize that that the Transformers
movie back in the eighties, theanimated one was I mean, it was
pretty intense for the time with OptimistPrime dying and that there were deaths of
autobot, deaths of robots in it, which is which is crazy. It

(27:06):
was crazy for me to watch itinitially in the theater because you're a little
kid and you're six seven years old, and you you have the television show
and you lead up to the movieand they're like, oh my god,
that character is dead. And thenwhen they come back to the show,
I think they were actually still stilldead for a time. You know.
I don't think they kept Optimist Primeaway for too long because that's he's too
iconic for you to kill off permanently. It's like Prime, I get it

(27:29):
yet, but this where's Optimist.No, But you're right, that was
very traumatic for for little kids.It was like when Babby, you know,
dies in the well. I'm notexactly like that, but yeah,
no, I get hey. Whenyou're a kid, those kinds of things
are are very very they they createthose iconic memories. And you know,
I've even heard people say that OptimistPrime was sort of a father figure,

(27:53):
you know, in some ways tothis to some of these kids, you
know, and I bet you'd beamazed to comments I get about you know
how you know, I was abig part of their childhood, you know
whatever, because of those songs.It's it's very you know, gratifying to
hear that stuff. You know,you were that's cool. Do you've any
kind of cool like stories, specificallyanybody that maybe had reached out to you

(28:18):
and so that your music could helpthem in a particular time. Cameron and
I have occasionally received kind of backend notes from people say, hey,
you guys inspired me to want tojoin the military, or I loved your
podcast. It kind of helped gotme through such and such a time.
But has ever anybody ever reached outto you say listen, man, you
know, just so you know thetouch I was listening to it or whatever.
You know, Oh yeah, totallyI get those kind of you know,

(28:42):
uh, I used to get fanletters and things. This one kid
said that he was contemplating suicide atone point, but those songs really helped
turn into his life around, youknow, and when you hear stuff like
that, it's like wow, youknow, you just it's so like humbling
to hear like, you know,I'm glad to help somebody, even though
I don't know how I really did. But you know what I mean,

(29:03):
it's it makes you feel good,you know that to be any kind of
a positive force in the world.Like you said, things are kind of
crazy lately, you know, andI want to, you know, definitely
hopefully we get everything back on tracksas it were, you know, But
you're right, the eighties was anamazing time to be, you know,

(29:25):
just alive, you know. Andeven though you guys were little kids.
I wasn't even born. It wasa good decade. I was born in
nineteen eighty. It was a gooddecade to grow up in. Let me
just tell you, you know,just Transformers and he Man and all the
pop culture and and just kind ofI think in the United States, particularly
maybe economically at the time, itwas kind of a good time. Sure,

(29:47):
So yeah, I think that's kindof yeah, it was a good
decade. Yeah, It's just it'sreally important, I think for people to
be able to pursue their dreams,you know, and you know, like
you're you know, like we talkedabout a few minutes ago, you you
kind of make your own reality inthe world, you know, and like
you guys are successful and you knowsmart, You've done service for your country
and people people follow you and admireyou. It's like it's cool stuff,

(30:11):
you know, and it's all verypositive. You know. It's like,
right, you know, somebody's followingme. I've got to lock my doors.
Yeah, you know by something exactly. No, that's called a stalkers
Dan, You ever had one ofthose? That's a good question. Yeah,

(30:33):
at least not at least not ahot one much anymore. Yeah,
well, let me ask you.You know, your songs have such an
inspiring message. Do you have anyinspirations yourself as artists? You know that
came before you that kind of likeyou know you always looked up to.
Yeah. I mean for me,it was like Joe Walsh was my hero,
you know, he was. Ihad the early albums James Gang before

(30:57):
he uh you know, and thenhe did all this stuff before he joined
the Eagles, and yeah, youguys incredible though. I mean I've always
liked him a lot and uh,you know, I've got other favorite stuff.
The Eagles were always great, youknow, Henley, and you know,
it's just for me. It's aboutthe song. It's about the songwriter
and the you know, like Iwas fortunate to grow up in like probably

(31:19):
the best era of music. Youknow, it was a lot of it's
the seventies and and and early eighties. I mean, the the songs like
back then, it seemed like theywere I don't know, just all over
the map. You had, likeyou know, they'll be there'll be some
like really great like Jimmy Hendrick song, and then the next song will be
like an R and B song,you know, like heard it through grapevine

(31:41):
or something and just boom boom boom. I mean, every song is great,
and they're all like really different.I think a lot of music these
days is more sort of generic andmore formulated, formulated. It follows a
format to it's like the recipe fora successful song. It's like writing teams.
It's allD by MIDI and it's byfocus group. I heard that they

(32:02):
actually have groups that sit down andwrite a song together and like six people
or something. Oh, and everysong has to be whoa true or or
or a rehash of some eighties song, because I feel like the eighties sound,
the sizors are back, and thekind of even if it's done in
tongue in cheek or as a parody, the kind of aspirational kind of stuff

(32:27):
that it has its place, eveneighties retro has its place now in kind
of the the broad spectrum pop culturemusic that's out there. Yeah, yeah,
that's true. Now, I gotto ask you stand because I'm a
big anime fan and I didn't realizethat this was a thing until I literally
saw it on the outline for theepisode today. But did you do something

(32:49):
with Sailor Moon? She's got thecheap Well, she won't admit it.
No, I'm kidding this. Apparentlythey called me at the last minute to
sing this, uh Sailor Moon themesong, and uh, I guess what
it was is the guy I knew, the guy who sang the the U

(33:10):
sound you know, the show,did the show and uh, but they
were doing a soundtrack and they sothey I I came came in and sang
that song like She's got the power? That was it? Yeah, but
yeah, you're right. I meanI still get people like, wow,
you sing on Sailor Moon, youknow, because it's it was you know,
I didn't really follow that series andall, but but I guess anime,

(33:34):
well, the original Transformers movie wasalso anime of course, right.
Anime is just a Japanese word foranimated. It's a it's a borro,
right, you know. Yeah,so you you were in anime before anime
was anime, you know, butthe characters had these big eyes, you
know, and they're they're like likePokemon that kind of stuff. But uh,
yeah, Sailor Moon, that's right, She's got the power. But

(33:55):
that was sort of a high gunthing, you know. I was like,
uh, okay, let's stand intoseeing this, you know. And
it came out really good. Sothat's awesome. That's awesome. Well,
yeah, you have a new albumcoming out today if that's at the time
of this podcast, right, orit's a new single or a new video
single. Okay, we'll tell usa little bit about that. Yeah,

(34:17):
yeah, okay. The song wascalled Freedom and it's yes, it comes
out today and we have you guysto think in large part for for helping
to ensure that we keep that.But no, it's it's it's a very
positive message like about I mean,I grew up, Like when I was

(34:39):
a kid, we'd go to theFourth of July parades and they'd throw out
candy and stuff, and I wasone of the little kids who was scrambled
for the candy. And but youknow, people, they had the veterans
that would come by in the paradesand things, and people marching and things.
But patriotism was always a big deal, you know. And it's uh,

(35:00):
I don't know, I really thinkthat this country is you know,
we owe a debt of gratitude tothose people who who died for our freedom.
And uh, I mean without I'mnot trying to be political at all.
I just want to say I lovethis country, and I love the
fact that somebody can grow up andwork hard and be whatever they want,

(35:20):
you know. You know, it'sjust that's the only only country in the
world. It's like that, youknow. And uh, you know,
we're uh. I know, everyeverybody you know thinks that cynical thoughts a
lot these days about you know,this and that, with the with the
politics and everything else. But Ihope that everybody can still realize that we

(35:42):
have a great country and that's that'sall the song is about. Really,
it's like, you know, freedom, let it shine. I can uh,
I don't know if you have themusic video uh there or whatever,
but it'll be up today, sookay, we'll definitely have to post something
about it. Yeah, yeah,no, because you know, you're absolutely

(36:02):
right, and we always say thisanytime we start to get political, right,
we try not to, but thisis not a political podcast. But
that being said, no, you'reyou know, you're not alone in this
room with that mindset or thought.In our experiences, you know, and
in my personal experiences, I've traveledthe world. I've been exposed to different
cultures, That've been exposed to differentyou know, governments and seen what it's

(36:25):
you know, other places. ButI am a firm believer that there's no
place like the United States. Andyou know, although we're not perfect,
although we've made mistakes, it doesnot that does not you know, take
away from the fact that people comehere for a reason, you know,
because the American dream is still athing. You know, freedom is still

(36:47):
a thing, and it's something wecontinue and should continue to place on the
highest pedestal because you're not You're notgoing to find that anywhere in the world.
As much as you argue with peoplesaying this people has this or this
country has this country is it's nothing, nobody will compare it to you that
yeah, that's right, you know, and can say I just you know,
I my hope is to you know, bring people together and not divide

(37:10):
people because set's really, ultimately,what else do we have? You know,
we you know, we have tostand with our brothers and stand with
our you know, beliefs and things, and it's just we hey, we
we live in a great country andwe should try to remember that. You
know. Yeah, that's good standards. It's good. I think you're doing
your part to advance that message becauselord knows what the internet and political stuff,

(37:36):
everybody has their own message that they'reputting out there and they're going to
do it no matter what. Right, Yeah, so you might as well
speak your beliefs and speak your mindand hopefully, like I said before,
the right people are are going tolisten. I mean we you know,
we we make the joke. Youknow, obviously this is not a political
podcast, but but we wouldn't Yeah, we wouldn't talk about the things that

(37:58):
we talk about if we didn't havea certain mindset or belief system behind it.
We obviously want to advance a certain, a certain not positive ideal about
the military, about America, aboutyou know, being certain principles about what
it means to be a soldier,and then cross that over in an entertaining,
hopefully entertaining way when it comes topop culture, you know. And

(38:20):
so so yeah, you're like,like Cameron said, you're not alone in
that sentiment, and all we cando is the best we can do and
then hopefully somebody out there listens andwe can kind of move the needle a
little bit in the in the directionof hopefully freedom. Yeah. Yeah,
I mean I was going to mentionalso when we shot the music video a
few weeks ago, we we havechildren in the video. There's there are

(38:44):
children who sort of play, play, act and so forth about you know,
some of it was shot in ruralsort of rural southern California. Sort
of it harkens back to past days, you know, days of history and
things. But one of the coolthings is there there's a cup Scout troop
who raised the American flag stuff likethat, you know, and uh,

(39:07):
it's just it's it's really heartwarming thesekids, you know, Uh, you
know, agreed to be in thevideo and things, and they, uh
it's it's neat. I mean it'suh it makes a nice sort of warm
and fuzzy and their images of courseof the Statue of Liberty and things like
that, you know, and uhso it's a real slice of Americana.
So that's good everything that. Yeah, I think it's a really good song.

(39:30):
I mean, I co wrote itwith your dad, you know,
And I know you want to don'twant to keep saying your dad do it?
Man, give them give him therespect and the love he deserves.
That's right. He's a great grandguy. Yeah. So uh but yeah,
so check that out Freedom Stan Bushand uh yeah, I like I
say, it's just just got releasedtoday. So wonderful, awesome, that's

(39:53):
great. Yeah, Chris, Iknow you've been sitting there for a little
bit. Do you have any questionsfor mister stand and Bush? No,
I've just really enjoyed. It's niceto just sit and listen. When did
you stop beating your wife? Youknow? Yeah? Yeah, when did
you start? And why did youdo it? Yes? Where do you

(40:15):
stash the cocaine? Yeah, here'sthe best place. No, I think
that's this is all very fascinating tome. I love the little the little
stories about Van dam not getting intoa club and Wahlberg dueting with you.
I guess my question be, sinceyou made iconic music in the eighties,

(40:38):
you were probably and still are,a household name. Is that weird?
Is it weird to be so wellknown to be out in people? It's
a general question, I guess aboutfame. Having people know you and you
don't know them. Is that justit's it's a little strange, it is.

(41:01):
I'm I you know it. Iknow that it's sort of an alluring
thing to but it's not great.It's not that good of a thing in
itself. It doesn't mean anything.And you have to remember that you know
the important stuff. You know,your family and your friends, and that's
the real stuff in life. Youknow, the other stuff is not real.
It's just it's all fake. Andyou know. It's a great question

(41:24):
though, And fortunately for me,I haven't been famous enough to screw me
up. So where's that where's thatline? Yeah? Yeah, I think
I've found that perfect line. Youknow. It's like, yeah, you
know, I go to a Transformersconvention. Everybody knows me and anywhere else.
Like I said, I can't getarrested, So that's good that you

(41:47):
can kind of dabble in it.What is it like to go to a
Star a Star Wars Transformers convention?Like what was your what was your first
experience? Like? Oh wow,the first one was like in ninety seven
in Rochester, New York. Anduh, myself and Vince Dacola, who
did the score for Transformers. Vincealso did Rocky five. He's an incredible

(42:08):
keyboard player, uh, composer anduh anyway, uh he and I did
some music music set together and playedsome stuff and uh he's just amazingly talented,
good guy too. But uh thenit was just, uh it was
magical. I mean the people.You could drop a pin in that place.
I mean I just had brought myacoustic and I was playing some songs

(42:30):
and things and we did you know, the touch and there and uh he
did some of his scoring stuff.You know that. It was like uh
but yeah, I mean, I'mjust saying it. And it kind of
grew from there. The Transformers conventions. I've been to a ton of them
now and uh, you know someof them like Cameron came to and uh
like here the ones in La anduh, you know, we performed at

(42:52):
a few of them, and uh, but it's it's it's a very cool
thing. It's fun because the people, like I say, they get to
meet the people who who help makeTransformers to pep, the artists and the
uh writers and this and that,you know, and in my case,
the singers, you know. Butuh, it's just neat. I mean,

(43:12):
it's uh, it's a fun thingbecause they can kind of live their
experiences. You know. The peoplesometimes they dress up like robots and things.
Then they'll or they'll wear a costume, you know, o their costumes
and that kind of thing. Asyou know, you know, comic Con
is like that. You know thaton steroids. But it's a but the
neat thing about Transformers, it's justa very uh. I gotta say,

(43:35):
the people I've met at these areincredible. They're like so it's very humbling,
you know, to have, likeI say, well, for me,
it's like I consider it undeserved admirationthese but it's just to be a
part of somebody's h childhood memories andthings that they because of some songs that
I sang and I don't know,it's it's it's a nice feeling and uh,

(43:59):
but you've got to sort of makeit for what it is, you
know, and just be humble,and that's that's what it's about. I
like how you under sell them.They the Transformers conventions. Out of the
two that I went to, they'renot small, but any no I was
expecting, like, you know,going into a small conventional. No,

(44:19):
they like sell out, like theentire what we had one in was there
one at the Pasadena Convention Center?Yeah, yea, yeah, and the
entire thing was full. And thennot to mention the after parties or are
huge there one was at the ParamountLot completely rented out the Paramount Lot,
and then the other completely rented outUniversal Studios and yeah, there was only

(44:45):
like what three hundred people in theentire park. Oh yeah at the Universal
Studios one. I remember this.They came up to me just like like
twenty minutes before we were supposed togo on stage for the for the show
for the concert, and they said, oh, we just want you to
come and introduced somebody in and sothey brought me over to this like sort
of TV studio thing and they said, okay, sit here near the stage.

(45:07):
And anyway, the guys talking andthey said, yeah, there's stuff
about the Transformers and one of themost important aspects is the music. And
I was think, oh crap.So they brought me up on the stage.
I was awarded or inducted rather intothe Transformers Hall of Fame, and
it was like a moment, youknow. So that was cool. Yeah,

(45:29):
so something like that happened. Alsoin ninety six, I had written
a song co written a song thatwas on a soap opera, an American
soap opera called The Guiding Light,and we got nominated for an Emmy Award,
and then we went to the ceremonythe following year and we got called
up on stage, myself and myco writer and they we won. We

(45:52):
won the Emmy for Best Original Songfor the Year. Wow. Yeah,
it was. It was awesome.I mean that that's the kind of feeling
that that it's like one of thosemoments that you know, even though it
doesn't mean anything monetarily, it's it'sstill one of those lifetime achievement things that
you know, Yeah, it canrecognition I'm sure is just overwhelming, you

(46:13):
know. Yeah, Yeah, forpeople to believe in you as much as
you believed in yourself while you werecreating it, or you're with your mindset.
I'm sure that's the ultimate feeling.Millions of dollars must have been,
you know, could have been nice. The feeling, Yeah, I'm sure
that just adds to it. Youknow, having a successful song, it's

(46:34):
really well, but just the feelingthat people appreciate it just as much as
you do. I think, youknow, that's that's probably the best feeling
of all time. And I'm sureit, you know, fuels the fire
that makes you continue to do whatyou do. Yeah, that's amazing.
You know, the big guy hasbeen good to me, and you know,

(46:55):
got to remember that. Stan.Let me ask you this is a
kind to the last question that Ihave. It's been on my mind.
I've come from a performed well,I don't really I was gonna say I
come from a performance background, butso do you. Cameron. You're more
of a performer than I am.But you are no spring chicken. All
right, let's just let's just layit out on the table. You know,
in your thirties anymore, and yetyou're still pumping out albums, which

(47:16):
is really impressive. Kind of asyou get older, how do you take
care of yourself, Like do youhave a fitness regimen, a diet,
you know, like do you doyour vocal warm ups all the time,
like before you get ready or youjust kind of like you know it and
you kind of jump right in,you know. Yeah, I do.
Actually I've been last eight months orso, ten months, I've been running

(47:37):
two miles a day, so thatreally helps, and I feel really good.
And like you said, I'm nota spring chicken, but and vocal
warm ups all that stuff. Andone of the things a lot of the
eighties people who have been in bigbands, popular bands and things, they
don't have the high notes anymore.And because they, you know, you
go on tour for two years ora year and a half or something,

(47:59):
you come back to bite you youknow and stuff. But yeah, it's
like we've seen Motley Crue live.We know. Yeah, it's a hard
life, you know. And uhFortunately for me, I hadn't been you
know, successful on that level towhere I needed to tour and things to
uh to uh I don't know,to make a living and all that.
So so like I say, thenon uh mega fame has been a blessing

(48:24):
in that respect too. I thinki've you know, as far as I
feel great, I feel like i'myou know, younger than I am.
And that's a good thing, righton. Man, that's good. That's
a good answer. Yeah. Thanks, you know, I don't have any
more questions, Izzie, Do youhave any questions for Stan? No?
Stand any last little words of encouragement? He listen. I want to give

(48:45):
you the floor for just a coupleof minutes because you've got to. I
feel like you've been holding back onmaybe some personal belief stuff. But listen,
man, this is a pot thisis our podcast. We can say
whatever we want on it. Anduh, and so I just want if
you have any words of encouragement anythingout there for people. You're really good
at bringing the positivity and the encouragementwith your music. If you have anything
you want to say, man,for anybody who might be listening now or

(49:05):
in the future. Uh, it'syour time, man, whatever you want
to say. Thanks a lot.Yeah, thanks again for having me.
Just just you know, just wantto tell people that you know, you're
you're always your own worst enemy andif you believe in yourself and uh,
you'll be fine. You know.It's just you know, don't lose sight

(49:27):
of what you have and what yourgifts are and be uh, every day
is a blessing and I know it'sjust really important to yah to believe in
yourself and believe in the big guyand stuff, you know. But I'm
uh anyway, very grateful for thesupport and very grateful to you guys and
others like you for for for yourservice and uh anyway, thanks so much

(49:52):
again, and uh take care.Also, one last thing is Stanbush dot
com. I should throw that outso you can check out what's going on
with me. We'll stand. We'renot done yet. We still have to
play our game, my friend.I know you're tired of hanging out with
us, but you can say formaybe a little while longer, we can

(50:14):
end this with a fun game.And is he why don't you explain this
game this? Stand? Yes,don't mind if I do. We always
play a game at the end ofeach podcast episode. Stand. So this
game is for you, and wewould like to call it a trivia game
just for stan Bush. So creative, so creative. These questions are tailor
made just for you. They aremultiple choice, so you don't need to

(50:36):
start sweating just yet. Okay,so I will start you off with the
first one. You have multiple choicehere. The first question is your first
solo album in nineteen eighty three wasself titled? That would be Stan Bush
stan Bush For the uninitiated, whichone of these eighties bands or singers did
not release a self titled album?Was it a Journey b bon Jovi see

(50:59):
You two? Or d Peter Sata? Which one of those bands out of
Journey bon Jovi YouTube and Peter Satadid not release a self titled album.
I'd have to say Peter Satira,but it could be wrong. You are
in fact wrong, stand Uh.The the answer is you two have now

(51:22):
released a self titled album where it'sjust the name YouTube. Peter Sata I
think actually did release a self titledalbum. And let me just say this,
Chris writes all of our games,and he doesn't just make these answers
up. He facts checks them aswell, because sometimes we've gotten in heated
arguments about the correct answer, sohe's, uh, he's fact checked these,
so don't worry. And for thatone, I had it an incredibly

(51:45):
difficult time finding bands that did nothave self titled albums. Apparently that is
just the thing that bands do.So it took me a very long time
to find. I originally put MotleyCrue, but I had a self titled
album. That's funny. All right, Well I will do the second question,
and we got five of them,so don't freak out about stats.

(52:07):
But do consider we have one listenerwho keeps a record of our performance of
every single episode we've ever done,and we've had over one hundred and thirty
episodes. Shout out Johnny, sothis I hope this doesn't throw off your
your Excel spreadsheet, my guy.But so here we go. Number two.
How many Transformers movies have there been? So? Is it A six,

(52:34):
B eight, C ten or Dtwelve? Wow? I just have
to say, be eight. Youwere one hundred percent right. You know,
if you are getting one question right, it better be better be Transformers
questions. So, yeah, youare one hundred percent right. There have

(52:58):
been eight movies on you're on aroll of one. Your song this question
is your song? Capture the Dreamwas the official song of the nineteen ninety
six US Olympic swim team. Howmany gold medals did they win? Did

(53:19):
they win five, nine, thirteenor nineteen? My goodness, oh I
knew they did. NBC released amontage of footage when the swimmers won all
those gold medals and it was anamazing year, and they featured Capture the
Dream in that montage. But Idon't I don't recall the number. I'm

(53:43):
gonna guess fourteen. You mean thirteen? Thirteen? I mean yeah, sorry,
that is correct, That is correctanswer, that's right. Yeah,
But they just have a personal connectionto that team or something I don't know,
through like a song that was featuredfor them. Yeah. I flew
to uh Atlanta for the Olympics andperformed in the Olympic village that year.

(54:05):
But thank you. Yeah, thatwas cool that you acknowledged that Capture the
Dream was a cool song. Amazing. All right, Well we got two
more here. Let's move right along. Number four. What is the name
of the underground match they fight inblood Sport? This should be an easy
one. Is it A the kumiteb, the kombucha nice Chris, the

(54:29):
c the Kungban Poo or d theCougar? I have no idea? You
do? You do? You guessthough? Right? Yeah, let's go
with see No, no, Dan, you did it. You're you're you're
having music in the upcoming movie TheLast So okay, all right, I

(54:52):
got no. Yeah, hasn't seenBlood Sport. Probably almost all of your
your follower know that kumite refers towhen you train with an opponent in martial
arts. So I didn't know that. I didn't know that. See,
Okay, I guess we're in part. We're playing the game now. Now

(55:13):
it's us getting Mambus turned it aroundon us. Yeah, I mean,
I guess I'm two and two here. So there you go. Now we'll
give it to you. We gotyou. But is he When do you
take the last question? And thenwe'll wrap this up? All right,
okay, but this last question,Stan is it's not multiple choice, it's
just a question that with one answer. In twenty fourteen, you were inducted

(55:34):
into the Transformers Hall of Fame.As you said before, what was the
name of your album that you releasedthat year in twenty fourteen? Oh,
that would be the Ultimate? Thatis correct, It is the Ultimate.
That's the album you released that year. Congrats, Stan, that's awesome.
Give me a slow ball. Thereyou are the special guests. You are

(55:59):
a very spect we guests, andif honestly, if we murdered you on
the first four We had to giveyou one. Me and Izzy have played
games where we went oh for theentire game. They're quite the disappointment to
end on a podcast. But youactually did quite well. You only missed
too so great job. And nowwe would love for you to just shout

(56:22):
out what you know next, thingsthat are coming. I know you mentioned
establish dot com. If there's anyother places that the listeners can find you
or and your new song Freedom that'scoming out today, and to keep a
lookout for the music video. Whereelse can the listeners find you? Yeah,
I mean, just like I say, the upcoming stuff. The last
Kumte movie should be out in May, I think. And I did a

(56:45):
music video that's going to be inthe Blu ray as a bonus feature,
and that came out great. It'sgot footage from the movie as well as
me performing the song. But yeah, the new album hopefully by the end
of the year. I'm looking I'mshooting for Fall for our new Standbush album.
But guys, Freedom is the leadoffsingle, the first single from the

(57:07):
new album. And you know,hopefully twenty twenty four will be a big
year. It's so far it's doinggreat, awesome, awesome, Well,
thank you so much Stan for beinghere. We really appreciated your insight.
I'm sure the listeners did as well. And that's going to wrap it up
for this episode of the Pop CultureField Manual. Folks, We hope you

(57:29):
enjoyed it. New episodes come inevery week, so just keep a look
out for them. Check out ourPatreon, check out our merch check out
our YouTube shorts form content. Wehave the first formation with Izzy. We
also have the debreath with myself andIzzy. You got anything, no,
Stan, thank you so much forjoining us. My friend, nice,

(57:50):
my pleasure. Thanks Amelian for havingme. Nice to meet you guys.
All right, yeah, and I'llsee you soon. Stand with that is
he cut music st