September 3, 2024 • 18 mins
Welcome to One Bad Podcast.
Join Kurt and Shane as they kick off 20 years worth of stories, memories and advice for up-and-coming Canadian rock and roll bands.
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Join Kurt and Shane as they kick off 20 years worth of stories, memories and advice for up-and-coming Canadian rock and roll bands.
You can watch One Bad Podcast on YouTube, here: https://youtu.be/DIn99sZPj6U
Checkout One Bad Son online: https://www.onebadson.com/
Shane Volk: https://www.shaneconneryvolk.com/
Kurt Dahl: https://lawyerdrummer.com/
If you are a content creator, new or experienced, join our team!
If you'd like to advertise with us, head to our website.
Join the movement here: https://www.dufferinave.com/
Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/onebadson
https://www.facebook.com/onebadson/
https://x.com/OneBadSon
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It's the One Bad Podcast. Here's your host, Kadi and Shaner.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
We've been teasing this for I don't know how many
episodes now, but we ended the last episode talking about
choosing satellite hotel and it was a hit, so we
started playing arenas in this era. I have a vivid
memory of jamming one night and then on the way home,
(00:33):
you got an email saying can you be in I
think this is like a Friday, and it was like,
can you be in Penticton on Tuesday to open for
def Leppard?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
And I remember that What a great feeling too, like
that sense of excitement.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, cause we just got home from a tour.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Remember we we just got home from a headline tour
and I think we're gone for maybe like a month
or something. So got home, you know, back to our
girls or whatever, back to our quote unquote normal lives.
And then yeah, the email came like literally, I remember
he woke up and it's like the next day after
we got home, can you be and protict in your
first arena tour? And it was just like we were
just it was like pure elation, you know, and like
(01:12):
anything like any first right it's like there's only one.
And yeah, our first arena tour, I mean that was
that was amazing. You know, it was like def Leppard.
I think we always said, you and I always had
that vision of OBS is meant for arenas.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You know, I think we knew it from day one.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
It wasn't like we we started off just thinking our
music was meant for clubs, like we we wrote music
for arenas, and then we finally had that shot, you know,
and yeah, well you can you start off. But I
think it it lived up to the expectations. I mean arenas.
To me, it's like you get a little taste of
it and that's all you want to do for the
rest of your life, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, well, and you know you're right man, we did.
I think, no matter how much success we were getting.
You and I talked about this a lot about how,
yeah we're an arena rock band. That's what we loved
like growing up all our favorite bands, like yeah, you
love the club days and all of that. But you know,
we watched watching all those Sound Garden videos and PJ
videos of playing these massive festivals and arena shows, and
(02:11):
like that's that was the version of rock and roll
that was in my head. You know, my first concert
was ACDC and that ball break or tour was like
that was it for me, Like that's where we were
trying to get. Yeah, and it's funny that we've never
really talked about this, but I've always wanted to ask
you about you know. Obviously, we got there and it
was a bit of a whirlwind because it was like,
(02:32):
holy shit, we got to go, you know, try to
I think they were half hour sets, so it was
like try to figure out I think probably five or
six songs to play and and then get there and
just I remember rolling up and seeing all their tour
buses and then our van and trailer. You know, obviously
(02:54):
people in the crowd don't know what's going on backstage.
They don't know if we're rolling up in buses or
what because it all looks the same on age. But
it was always funny every night pulling up in the
van and trailer just and they're always like, oh yeah,
go around the you know, those three tour buses and
back in there and you know, drop your TVs off.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
So like, yeah, I remember the first like I remember
the I and none of us I didn't feel embarrassed about.
It was kind of like almost like a badge of honor.
It would show up with so little and then bring
such a big show. But yeah, I think they had
like several tour buses, right, And the first time, yeah,
id Penticks, we got out of our van trailer and
the deaf Leppard guys looked out. One of them, I
(03:35):
think it was maybe Joe Elliott walked out of his bus,
which is probably like the buses all for him or something,
and he walked out and sees us in this like
rinky dink operation, you know, and we're just like, hey,
we got our rip jeans and our you know, our
our plaid shirts. It's like, we're gonna do this, I think.
And later on, I mean, I I mean, I think
(03:55):
all of us did at some point. But I had
the honor of like chatting to them a bit and
he was like, oh, mate, you know, He's like, uh,
you know, it's been great.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Sorry, it's been great. It's great to watch you guys.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
You're I can tell you're at that level where we were,
where you're young and hungry, you know, and coming up,
and you know, I think he had a lot of
respect for us. You know what I mean, because we
brought it every If we were if we were RINKYDNK
in our Vana trailer and on stage, that'd be different.
But we're only in the Vana trailer. We brought it
on stage, and I think we gave like we I
remember just going going all out every night on stage,
(04:28):
you know, and one of my favorite things, how could you?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
How could you not? You know what I mean? That
energy of being on a stage like that was like
how could you? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I felt like there's never been a time we've played
shows that big where I thought like I'd get bored
of it, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, well, and I think like the I mean, for me,
the ultimate feeling was going on stage for the first
time and hitting like the kick drum and it just
sounded like a bomb going off and and just yeah,
that first cheer after that, you know, after the first
song is finished and they you know, we don't know
if it's going to be like booze or silence or
(05:03):
or worse, and it was just like that crazy scream
of like I think Penticton was maybe ten thousand people.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Or whatever it was, but it's just I remember, like
the arm hair is.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Standing up and just that feeling like we've made it,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Oh dude, you know that's exactly it like it for me,
I think like the most the moment that like it
really hit was we got a little visitor back there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, we got a third member.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
The moment they really hit for me was when because
we were backstage and they announced us and the crowd cheered.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
When we were backstage.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Like that, you know, because you kind of get into
the zone and you're getting ready for you know, we'd
never stepped out onto a stage like that, but I
remember them announcing us and the crowd went crazy and
it just felt like, you know, It's one of those
moments is so hard to describe because it was like,
holy shit, you're about.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
To walk out into that, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And then for me because the three of you would
go out and then I'd come out for like the
big hit when the vocals come out. But I'll tell
you every night that was probably my favorite moment of
the entire night. Is like because I got to stand
backstage when you and Hicks and Granny walked out and
the whole place like a roughs.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know, they're ready for a rock show.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Like a lot of them didn't know who we were,
but there was there were obs fans there, but it
was just that it was cool because I was both
like fan and like I'm about to walk out into this.
It was like such like such a cool moment for me.
You guys would walk out and I'd always see you
put the put your hand up, and like everyone goes nuts.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
And and then of course.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Just man, you know, you go on stage and it's
such a blur, you know, especially those first few nights,
it was like, uh yeah, very hard to describe and
hard to uh you know, hard to put into words
just how that feels, you know, because then the energy
is just like it's off the chain.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I mean, we were, like you said we we may
you said it perfectly. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
We might have pulled up in that vaned trailer, but
like you know, we were We always wanted to be
an arena band, and that was the moment, and we
sounded like it and and played like it, and it was, man, indescribable.
Is yeah, it's tough to keep using that word, but
that's how it felt to me. And then afterwards you
just were like, holy shit, did that just happen? You know,
(07:29):
what I mean, like you walk off stage and yeah,
it was. Some of my favorite memories were those those
shows for sure, in that era where it just felt
like after all of that work and everything that we
put into it, it finally felt like we were tasting
some of the stuff that I think we'd been imagining
since we were kids.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Well, yeah, you hit the nail on the head, like
I think these days, like so many art like artists
always ask me, and I'm sure I know they ask you.
It's like, how do you get those opening slots?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Right?
Speaker 4 (07:58):
And and these days, unfortunately, I see more and more
of this that so many hours just buy on now
to do it's a buy on situation, right, so you
don't have to necessarily earn it. I mean, you have
to be decent, I think, But you can just buy
on to a tour, right, so you don't really have
to have years of touring, radio, hits, fan base.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Just pay money and you're on. Now.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Not every big band does that in terms of the
opening slots, but a lot do. So it's like we
didn't have that option. We didn't have the money to
buy on even if we wanted to. But it's like
we it was like, what I guess a decade into
our career, we'd already just been done, toured the country
so many times and just blood, sweat, tears, all that stuff,
(08:42):
and then so we got that shot, and we could
have easily blown it, but we hit it out of
the park, I think. And it's like, but it took.
It took so many even beyond us being in a
band before that. I mean, you and I don't putting
all the hours in and stay with Hicks and Granny,
and you know, it's like, it was like, I feel
like we actually we deserve, we earned that spot, you
(09:02):
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
And you're right.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
It was like thirty minutes felt like like it literally
felt like two minutes. And I remember we had all
the click tracks because you know a lot of bands
played to the click or the drummer does at least
just to keep everyone in time. And I remember those
shows opening for for def Leopard. It's like the adrenaline
was so high it was basically impossible to stay on
(09:26):
the click because I was pushing it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
We were all pushing it, and so.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
I would just turn the click off, get a rough
idea of where it should be, and then just let
it rip. You know, and but it was just pure
adrenaline and I kind of I can't remember feeling that
much adrenaline, you know before that maybe our first ever
show or since, you know, because it's just that sort
of because now you get the adrenaline, but it's also
it's more you can You've done it for so long,
it's you can contain it, right, Whereas back then, I was.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Like, we're going an arena, let's I can go.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
And I just felt like four dudes that you know,
finally had kind of got there, got there, got there,
ut step they're able to step into the ring and
take some swings, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, dude, that's a great way to put it. And honestly,
like I wouldn't trade those days for anything because it
was super special and also, like you said, felt like
we earned our way there, right, There was a lot
of work to get there, and then I.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Felt like we were we were prepped.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Because you know, they were super strict about time obviously,
like thirty minutes is thirty minutes, and it was like,
you know, so I had the clock back there and
we you know, I felt like all the work we've
done and all the shows that we played prepped us
for it because.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
We were we were hungry.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
We were also like aware of how big of a
deal that was, Like so many bands were up for
tours like that and you know, one of them gets it.
So we weren't going to screw up and be five
minutes over time and get booted off the tour, which
we'd heard those stories.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
We know bands that have been.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Kicked off big tours like that because they were just
you know, they couldn't stay on time, and but we
killed it every thirty minutes on the nose. I remember
the crew was they give us props and stuff too,
because obviously shows that big they take a lot to
put on. There's a lot of money into that, and
like the band, you know, the headliners, why everyone's there,
(11:14):
so you know, you can't just be screwing around as
the as the openers and just you know, so we
brought the professionalism and brought an arena rock show man
and then you know, so we had those shows. Subsequently,
we opened four and I kind of I'm a little
fuzzy on the dates on some of this, but then
Judas Priest took us out for some arena shows and
(11:38):
I had I remember probably one of my highlight moments.
I'd love to hear if you have any highlight moments
of these shows.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
But I remember.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
We do Blues last and it was either last or
second last. Either way, it was the big crescendo and
then I hit the big screaming note. And we were
in Winnipeg, I think in Helford was side stage, and
I just glimpsed them. I just glimpsed them as I
was about to hit that note, and I'll never forget that.
(12:08):
I just I got a little frog in my throat
because I was like, oh shit, like Helford's about to
hear me screen this note. Luckily I nailed it and
it was It was a cool moment. But uh yeah,
those those were the times man, that just felt like
all that work was worth it, you know, and that
all the the drama of like not even drama, but
(12:30):
just the work of like writing and like all this
stuff like we've talked about up to this point of
picking singles, fighting with the label, like it just all
goes away and you're like, this is the reason we
got into it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It's the reason we do it and the reason we
love it.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Right, Yeah, man, those are highlights like the highlights of
our career. And I feel like highlights of my music
career was like those those arena shows, you know. And
I don't know much time we got, but I want
to we we always do this next too, But I
want to talk about, like how just the the optics
(13:05):
of when you're at that level touring arenas and then
doing headline tours. I think a lot of people thought
were just like rich musicians, you know, And I want
to talk about that, but for close to the time,
let's let's talk of that next one. If we're how
much time we got.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, you know what, man, that's probably a good place
to start the next episode. We got a couple of
minutes left here, but we can set that up because
you're right. I mean, I think I don't really blame
people for thinking that. Like you see a band playing
even a massive festival, you just kind of assume.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
You know, and we were, you know, we're already.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Now into the social media is kind of really taking off,
so it's like, you know, we're posting all the time,
and then we're on the road all the time, so
you just people assume that's all you're doing, and you're
just making a big bank and coming home and living
it up in your big house. But yeah, we'll definitely
into that more man in the next episode.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I think that's we got about a minute on this one.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But were there any other kind of highlights from those
arena shows or anything that happened or interactions you had
that like really stick.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
With you, well, one of them, I mean, like, you know,
being a just a rock historian and a rock hardcore
rock fans, Like ahead of opening for def Leopard, I
did some research, you know, and found out like Joe
Elliott is a big Mott the Hoople fan and Ian
Hunter and so, and I have all those records. So
(14:34):
like I knew that if I had a chance to
just like be happening to walk by him, I could
like just like hey and shoot the shit about what
Ian Hunter, you know. And I did that because after
the first few shows, realized that they're not going to
come to our dressing room and hang out with us,
right this you know, maybe they feel like they they
they couldn't or they shouldn't, or they did They're too busy, right,
But yeah, So I saw Joe Elliott walk and this
(14:56):
is like five shows in and he's walking past, like, hey, Joe,
how you doing. Man, He's kind of like, hey, hey,
he's gonna keep walking. I was like, hey, I heard
you're a fellow Ian Hunter fan. And he just like
stopped in his tracks and he was like, oh, oh
my god. And then it just right away like sort
of the the aura or like the facade just melted away,
and he were just two dudes talking, you know, music
and our idols, you know, and so we're talking about
(15:18):
like our favorite matehopel record and song and all that
sort of stuff, and and so we just we just
sat and all of a sudden, right away he saw
me as not like some fan opening band. He was like,
you know, just a buddy talking talking rock and roll,
you know. And he talked about hanging out in the
pub and with Ian Hunter because they've they're drinking buddies,
you know, back in England. So so it's just kind
(15:41):
of cool, like, you know, just to have that. And
I've had those moments with other, you know, bigger bands
that we may have open with Open four just like
talking music, you know, and that's I feel like I
could talk to anyone. I'm sure you're the same, like talk
to anyone about music pretty much in the world, and
I can always connect with someone on that, right, and
so that was cool just to be buddies with oh
for a minute. And then and then a few shows
(16:02):
later he came out.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
To me and he's like, you guys are doing really good.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
You know, like it was just like, you know, so small, combling,
but it's also pretty massive, you know. So yeah, and
then I think after that, I think you and I
both probably thought.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
We're just that was it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We're we're just gonna do arenas from now on, and
that wasn't wasn't exactly the case, but anytime, Hey, yeah, exactly.
I remember us definitely talking and this would be a good
way to wrap it. But I remember after that arena tour,
you and I talking like, hey, well let's let's write
some song more arena hits, and let's just let's make
(16:37):
us the headliner at arenas, which again, it's uh if
it was only.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
So easy, but we we definitely tried our best.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, you got mad respect for those bands that
ken Phil arenas because you realize, A, it's like one
and you know whatever, several million, and also b it's
like it takes a lot of work too. And it
takes a lot of luck and whatever. But the guys
that do and def Leabert is a great example. They
still fel arenas to this day, which is like pretty amazing.
I got mad respect going into that tour. I had
(17:06):
respect for them. Of course after that tour, I just
had nothing but like love for them because they were
just such good guys and they're still doing it. You know,
it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah, absolutely, man, and I felt the way same way
about Hellford, just to be in a pro and being
chill with us. And we're a little overtime on this one,
but I'm going to end on my Joe Elliott story.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It's a I rarely try to.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I never know if I should tell the story because
I try not to be a stereotypical singer. But you know,
we crossed paths and backstage every now and then in
I'd wave Hay and we were you know, some of
those arenas are pretty cavernous, and him and I had
like this terrible singer moments, so spinal tap where we
crossed and he was trying to find his way somewhere
(17:51):
and I was trying to find my way somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
We crossed paths.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
We're like, hey, you know, like whatever, we were at
that point where you get to at least wave high,
and yeah, five minutes later we met in the same
spot and we were both lost, and we were both
like he's like.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Fuck, oh dude.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
It was it was such a like we can't tell
anybody that the two singers are backstage, like totally spinal
tap like lost, I don't know where we're going.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Oh man, Yeah that one.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
That one lives with me for sure because I'm like, yeah,
we can't tell people, but enough time has passed.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now let's do it again on the next one.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Okay, sounds good. Thanks, Thanks for listening to One Bad Podcast.
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
It's the One Bad Podcast. Here's your host, Kadi and Shaner.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Katie.
Speaker 3 (00:12):
We've been teasing this for I don't know how many
episodes now, but we ended the last episode talking about
choosing satellite hotel and it was a hit, so we
started playing arenas in this era. I have a vivid
memory of jamming one night and then on the way home,
(00:33):
you got an email saying can you be in I
think this is like a Friday, and it was like,
can you be in Penticton on Tuesday to open for
def Leppard?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (00:43):
And I remember that What a great feeling too, like
that sense of excitement.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Yeah, cause we just got home from a tour.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
Remember we we just got home from a headline tour
and I think we're gone for maybe like a month
or something. So got home, you know, back to our
girls or whatever, back to our quote unquote normal lives.
And then yeah, the email came like literally, I remember
he woke up and it's like the next day after
we got home, can you be and protict in your
first arena tour? And it was just like we were
just it was like pure elation, you know, and like
(01:12):
anything like any first right it's like there's only one.
And yeah, our first arena tour, I mean that was
that was amazing. You know, it was like def Leppard.
I think we always said, you and I always had
that vision of OBS is meant for arenas.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
You know, I think we knew it from day one.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
It wasn't like we we started off just thinking our
music was meant for clubs, like we we wrote music
for arenas, and then we finally had that shot, you know,
and yeah, well you can you start off. But I
think it it lived up to the expectations. I mean arenas.
To me, it's like you get a little taste of
it and that's all you want to do for the
rest of your life, you know.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, well, and you know you're right man, we did.
I think, no matter how much success we were getting.
You and I talked about this a lot about how,
yeah we're an arena rock band. That's what we loved
like growing up all our favorite bands, like yeah, you
love the club days and all of that. But you know,
we watched watching all those Sound Garden videos and PJ
videos of playing these massive festivals and arena shows, and
(02:11):
like that's that was the version of rock and roll
that was in my head. You know, my first concert
was ACDC and that ball break or tour was like
that was it for me, Like that's where we were
trying to get. Yeah, and it's funny that we've never
really talked about this, but I've always wanted to ask
you about you know. Obviously, we got there and it
was a bit of a whirlwind because it was like,
(02:32):
holy shit, we got to go, you know, try to
I think they were half hour sets, so it was
like try to figure out I think probably five or
six songs to play and and then get there and
just I remember rolling up and seeing all their tour
buses and then our van and trailer. You know, obviously
(02:54):
people in the crowd don't know what's going on backstage.
They don't know if we're rolling up in buses or
what because it all looks the same on age. But
it was always funny every night pulling up in the
van and trailer just and they're always like, oh yeah,
go around the you know, those three tour buses and
back in there and you know, drop your TVs off.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
So like, yeah, I remember the first like I remember
the I and none of us I didn't feel embarrassed about.
It was kind of like almost like a badge of honor.
It would show up with so little and then bring
such a big show. But yeah, I think they had
like several tour buses, right, And the first time, yeah,
id Penticks, we got out of our van trailer and
the deaf Leppard guys looked out. One of them, I
(03:35):
think it was maybe Joe Elliott walked out of his bus,
which is probably like the buses all for him or something,
and he walked out and sees us in this like
rinky dink operation, you know, and we're just like, hey,
we got our rip jeans and our you know, our
our plaid shirts. It's like, we're gonna do this, I think.
And later on, I mean, I I mean, I think
(03:55):
all of us did at some point. But I had
the honor of like chatting to them a bit and
he was like, oh, mate, you know, He's like, uh,
you know, it's been great.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Sorry, it's been great. It's great to watch you guys.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
You're I can tell you're at that level where we were,
where you're young and hungry, you know, and coming up,
and you know, I think he had a lot of
respect for us. You know what I mean, because we
brought it every If we were if we were RINKYDNK
in our Vana trailer and on stage, that'd be different.
But we're only in the Vana trailer. We brought it
on stage, and I think we gave like we I
remember just going going all out every night on stage,
(04:28):
you know, and one of my favorite things, how could you?
Speaker 1 (04:31):
How could you not? You know what I mean? That
energy of being on a stage like that was like
how could you? I don't know.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I felt like there's never been a time we've played
shows that big where I thought like I'd get bored
of it, you know.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
Yeah, well, and I think like the I mean, for me,
the ultimate feeling was going on stage for the first
time and hitting like the kick drum and it just
sounded like a bomb going off and and just yeah,
that first cheer after that, you know, after the first
song is finished and they you know, we don't know
if it's going to be like booze or silence or
(05:03):
or worse, and it was just like that crazy scream
of like I think Penticton was maybe ten thousand people.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Or whatever it was, but it's just I remember, like
the arm hair is.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
Standing up and just that feeling like we've made it,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (05:17):
Oh dude, you know that's exactly it like it for me,
I think like the most the moment that like it
really hit was we got a little visitor back there.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, we got a third member.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
The moment they really hit for me was when because
we were backstage and they announced us and the crowd cheered.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
When we were backstage.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Like that, you know, because you kind of get into
the zone and you're getting ready for you know, we'd
never stepped out onto a stage like that, but I
remember them announcing us and the crowd went crazy and
it just felt like, you know, It's one of those
moments is so hard to describe because it was like,
holy shit, you're about.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
To walk out into that, you know.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And then for me because the three of you would
go out and then I'd come out for like the
big hit when the vocals come out. But I'll tell
you every night that was probably my favorite moment of
the entire night. Is like because I got to stand
backstage when you and Hicks and Granny walked out and
the whole place like a roughs.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
You know, they're ready for a rock show.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Like a lot of them didn't know who we were,
but there was there were obs fans there, but it
was just that it was cool because I was both
like fan and like I'm about to walk out into this.
It was like such like such a cool moment for me.
You guys would walk out and I'd always see you
put the put your hand up, and like everyone goes nuts.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
And and then of course.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Just man, you know, you go on stage and it's
such a blur, you know, especially those first few nights,
it was like, uh yeah, very hard to describe and
hard to uh you know, hard to put into words
just how that feels, you know, because then the energy
is just like it's off the chain.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
I mean, we were, like you said we we may
you said it perfectly. Man.
Speaker 3 (07:08):
We might have pulled up in that vaned trailer, but
like you know, we were We always wanted to be
an arena band, and that was the moment, and we
sounded like it and and played like it, and it was, man, indescribable.
Is yeah, it's tough to keep using that word, but
that's how it felt to me. And then afterwards you
just were like, holy shit, did that just happen? You know,
(07:29):
what I mean, like you walk off stage and yeah,
it was. Some of my favorite memories were those those
shows for sure, in that era where it just felt
like after all of that work and everything that we
put into it, it finally felt like we were tasting
some of the stuff that I think we'd been imagining
since we were kids.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
Well, yeah, you hit the nail on the head, like
I think these days, like so many art like artists
always ask me, and I'm sure I know they ask you.
It's like, how do you get those opening slots?
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Right?
Speaker 4 (07:58):
And and these days, unfortunately, I see more and more
of this that so many hours just buy on now
to do it's a buy on situation, right, so you
don't have to necessarily earn it. I mean, you have
to be decent, I think, But you can just buy
on to a tour, right, so you don't really have
to have years of touring, radio, hits, fan base.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Just pay money and you're on. Now.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Not every big band does that in terms of the
opening slots, but a lot do. So it's like we
didn't have that option. We didn't have the money to
buy on even if we wanted to. But it's like
we it was like, what I guess a decade into
our career, we'd already just been done, toured the country
so many times and just blood, sweat, tears, all that stuff,
(08:42):
and then so we got that shot, and we could
have easily blown it, but we hit it out of
the park, I think. And it's like, but it took.
It took so many even beyond us being in a
band before that. I mean, you and I don't putting
all the hours in and stay with Hicks and Granny,
and you know, it's like, it was like, I feel
like we actually we deserve, we earned that spot, you
(09:02):
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (09:05):
And you're right.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
It was like thirty minutes felt like like it literally
felt like two minutes. And I remember we had all
the click tracks because you know a lot of bands
played to the click or the drummer does at least
just to keep everyone in time. And I remember those
shows opening for for def Leopard. It's like the adrenaline
was so high it was basically impossible to stay on
(09:26):
the click because I was pushing it.
Speaker 2 (09:27):
We were all pushing it, and so.
Speaker 4 (09:29):
I would just turn the click off, get a rough
idea of where it should be, and then just let
it rip. You know, and but it was just pure
adrenaline and I kind of I can't remember feeling that
much adrenaline, you know before that maybe our first ever
show or since, you know, because it's just that sort
of because now you get the adrenaline, but it's also
it's more you can You've done it for so long,
it's you can contain it, right, Whereas back then, I was.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Like, we're going an arena, let's I can go.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
And I just felt like four dudes that you know,
finally had kind of got there, got there, got there,
ut step they're able to step into the ring and
take some swings, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, dude, that's a great way to put it. And honestly,
like I wouldn't trade those days for anything because it
was super special and also, like you said, felt like
we earned our way there, right, There was a lot
of work to get there, and then I.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Felt like we were we were prepped.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
Because you know, they were super strict about time obviously,
like thirty minutes is thirty minutes, and it was like,
you know, so I had the clock back there and
we you know, I felt like all the work we've
done and all the shows that we played prepped us
for it because.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
We were we were hungry.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
We were also like aware of how big of a
deal that was, Like so many bands were up for
tours like that and you know, one of them gets it.
So we weren't going to screw up and be five
minutes over time and get booted off the tour, which
we'd heard those stories.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
We know bands that have been.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Kicked off big tours like that because they were just
you know, they couldn't stay on time, and but we
killed it every thirty minutes on the nose. I remember
the crew was they give us props and stuff too,
because obviously shows that big they take a lot to
put on. There's a lot of money into that, and
like the band, you know, the headliners, why everyone's there,
(11:14):
so you know, you can't just be screwing around as
the as the openers and just you know, so we
brought the professionalism and brought an arena rock show man
and then you know, so we had those shows. Subsequently,
we opened four and I kind of I'm a little
fuzzy on the dates on some of this, but then
Judas Priest took us out for some arena shows and
(11:38):
I had I remember probably one of my highlight moments.
I'd love to hear if you have any highlight moments
of these shows.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
But I remember.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
We do Blues last and it was either last or
second last. Either way, it was the big crescendo and
then I hit the big screaming note. And we were
in Winnipeg, I think in Helford was side stage, and
I just glimpsed them. I just glimpsed them as I
was about to hit that note, and I'll never forget that.
(12:08):
I just I got a little frog in my throat
because I was like, oh shit, like Helford's about to
hear me screen this note. Luckily I nailed it and
it was It was a cool moment. But uh yeah,
those those were the times man, that just felt like
all that work was worth it, you know, and that
all the the drama of like not even drama, but
(12:30):
just the work of like writing and like all this
stuff like we've talked about up to this point of
picking singles, fighting with the label, like it just all
goes away and you're like, this is the reason we
got into it.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
It's the reason we do it and the reason we
love it.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Right, Yeah, man, those are highlights like the highlights of
our career. And I feel like highlights of my music
career was like those those arena shows, you know. And
I don't know much time we got, but I want
to we we always do this next too, But I
want to talk about, like how just the the optics
(13:05):
of when you're at that level touring arenas and then
doing headline tours. I think a lot of people thought
were just like rich musicians, you know, And I want
to talk about that, but for close to the time,
let's let's talk of that next one. If we're how
much time we got.
Speaker 3 (13:19):
Well, you know what, man, that's probably a good place
to start the next episode. We got a couple of
minutes left here, but we can set that up because
you're right. I mean, I think I don't really blame
people for thinking that. Like you see a band playing
even a massive festival, you just kind of assume.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
You know, and we were, you know, we're already.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Now into the social media is kind of really taking off,
so it's like, you know, we're posting all the time,
and then we're on the road all the time, so
you just people assume that's all you're doing, and you're
just making a big bank and coming home and living
it up in your big house. But yeah, we'll definitely
into that more man in the next episode.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I think that's we got about a minute on this one.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
But were there any other kind of highlights from those
arena shows or anything that happened or interactions you had
that like really stick.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
With you, well, one of them, I mean, like, you know,
being a just a rock historian and a rock hardcore
rock fans, Like ahead of opening for def Leopard, I
did some research, you know, and found out like Joe
Elliott is a big Mott the Hoople fan and Ian
Hunter and so, and I have all those records. So
(14:34):
like I knew that if I had a chance to
just like be happening to walk by him, I could
like just like hey and shoot the shit about what
Ian Hunter, you know. And I did that because after
the first few shows, realized that they're not going to
come to our dressing room and hang out with us,
right this you know, maybe they feel like they they
they couldn't or they shouldn't, or they did They're too busy, right,
But yeah, So I saw Joe Elliott walk and this
(14:56):
is like five shows in and he's walking past, like, hey, Joe,
how you doing. Man, He's kind of like, hey, hey,
he's gonna keep walking. I was like, hey, I heard
you're a fellow Ian Hunter fan. And he just like
stopped in his tracks and he was like, oh, oh
my god. And then it just right away like sort
of the the aura or like the facade just melted away,
and he were just two dudes talking, you know, music
and our idols, you know, and so we're talking about
(15:18):
like our favorite matehopel record and song and all that
sort of stuff, and and so we just we just
sat and all of a sudden, right away he saw
me as not like some fan opening band. He was like,
you know, just a buddy talking talking rock and roll,
you know. And he talked about hanging out in the
pub and with Ian Hunter because they've they're drinking buddies,
you know, back in England. So so it's just kind
(15:41):
of cool, like, you know, just to have that. And
I've had those moments with other, you know, bigger bands
that we may have open with Open four just like
talking music, you know, and that's I feel like I
could talk to anyone. I'm sure you're the same, like talk
to anyone about music pretty much in the world, and
I can always connect with someone on that, right, and
so that was cool just to be buddies with oh
for a minute. And then and then a few shows
(16:02):
later he came out.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
To me and he's like, you guys are doing really good.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
You know, like it was just like, you know, so small, combling,
but it's also pretty massive, you know. So yeah, and
then I think after that, I think you and I
both probably thought.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
We're just that was it.
Speaker 4 (16:17):
We're we're just gonna do arenas from now on, and
that wasn't wasn't exactly the case, but anytime, Hey, yeah, exactly.
I remember us definitely talking and this would be a good
way to wrap it. But I remember after that arena tour,
you and I talking like, hey, well let's let's write
some song more arena hits, and let's just let's make
(16:37):
us the headliner at arenas, which again, it's uh if
it was only.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
So easy, but we we definitely tried our best.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
Yeah, yeah, you got mad respect for those bands that
ken Phil arenas because you realize, A, it's like one
and you know whatever, several million, and also b it's
like it takes a lot of work too. And it
takes a lot of luck and whatever. But the guys
that do and def Leabert is a great example. They
still fel arenas to this day, which is like pretty amazing.
I got mad respect going into that tour. I had
(17:06):
respect for them. Of course after that tour, I just
had nothing but like love for them because they were
just such good guys and they're still doing it. You know,
it's pretty impressive.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
Yeah, absolutely, man, and I felt the way same way
about Hellford, just to be in a pro and being
chill with us. And we're a little overtime on this one,
but I'm going to end on my Joe Elliott story.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
It's a I rarely try to.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I never know if I should tell the story because
I try not to be a stereotypical singer. But you know,
we crossed paths and backstage every now and then in
I'd wave Hay and we were you know, some of
those arenas are pretty cavernous, and him and I had
like this terrible singer moments, so spinal tap where we
crossed and he was trying to find his way somewhere
(17:51):
and I was trying to find my way somewhere else.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
We crossed paths.
Speaker 3 (17:54):
We're like, hey, you know, like whatever, we were at
that point where you get to at least wave high,
and yeah, five minutes later we met in the same
spot and we were both lost, and we were both
like he's like.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
Fuck, oh dude.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
It was it was such a like we can't tell
anybody that the two singers are backstage, like totally spinal
tap like lost, I don't know where we're going.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Oh man, Yeah that one.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
That one lives with me for sure because I'm like, yeah,
we can't tell people, but enough time has passed.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Now let's do it again on the next one.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Okay, sounds good. Thanks, Thanks for listening to One Bad Podcast.
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