Another Level

I have always felt lucky that the majority of the musicians I have either met or worked with have been respectful, kind and have extended themselves even if they weren't having their best day.  I guess it is to be expected though, right?  Marketing yourself to your fans, to radio, to retail (I know, what retail?!), the press, through social media and even to those who are promoting or working on your behalf should be part of building a career.  - not much different than what any business professional needs to do to continue to learn, grow and get to the next level.  But the process (and in some cases the constant spotlight) has to be tiring.  There have got to be days where any musician just wants to hide and blow it all off.  But there are definitely exceptions - musicians that seem to always be "on."  They have a personality that thrives on other people - on their energy and their presence.  What is even more remarkable though is to encounter a musician that makes everyone around them feel like they are a part of their success.  Leadership books will tell you that strong leaders have strong teams around them. Behind the scenes some musicians may be more demanding than others, some a bit more calculating or protective, but each situation is going to be different and the reasons for each musician will vary.  But at the end of the day, besides talent, the qualities I have seen that keep musicians relevant over time include a mind for marketing, respect in how they treat the people around them, listening skills, common sense and an insatiable appetite for their day (or night) job.

I decided to write about this after someone recently asked me who I most enjoyed working with in the entertainment industry.  I have had a blast working with a lot of good people but the criteria above came to mind because it said more about who they were as a person - not just as a musician and public figure to a (sometimes) massive fan base.  Keith Urban, Andrew McMahon (Jack's Mannequin), Semisonic and Blink 182 come to mind as being near the top of that list, but one person always seems to jump front-of-mind for me.  Sammy Hagar.

The Red Rocker.  Montrose, Van Halen, Chickenfoot, "Where Eagles Fly," "I Can't Drive 55," "Heavy Metal," "Dreams," "Right Now."  The list goes on.  Sammy Hagar - (as I would soon experience) the guy who holds up banners on stage or puts on customized t-shirts that fans bring to the show all while belting out hit after hit.  For the night - it is the biggest rock party in town - and he has invited everyone to come and join in.  If you have ever been to a Sammy Hagar show, you know what I am talking about.  But outside of Van Halen, I had not yet seen Sammy solo.

The week before I joined MCA Records back in August of 1997, my (new) boss asked if I would go to see Sammy Hagar at The Rosemont Theater here outside Chicago.  He was out on the "Marching to Mars" Tour.  And boy did they tour.  As Sammy writes in his book My Uncensored Life in Rock, "I played three thousand-seat theaters and did every city in the country, 142 shows that year and 138 the next year.  We went door-to-door.  Everywhere we went, I was saying, 'I am back.  I am back.'"  I stood around in the hallway back stage before the show.  Having not yet started for MCA, not knowing anyone involved in this production and watching the MCA rep I was replacing pass me by carrying autographed posters and merch, I felt a bit out of place.  After a good 20 minutes, I hooked up the tour manager and he immediately brought me in to meet Sammy.  Even though he was scheduled to be on stage on 20 minutes, he told me to come in, sit down and grab a drink.

Sammy was full of energy and seemed to be moving non-stop.  He dove right in.  Sammy started peppering me with question…about me.  But not like an inquisition, but like he wanted to get a crash course on the new guy.  Where I was from, if I brought anyone to the show and when I was officially starting with MCA Records.  He wanted my opinion on what single I thought should be released next to radio, if I liked the album and which sunglasses he should wear on stage.  He then called in Vic (his lead guitarist) and Mona (his bass player) and introduced me to them.  Vic suggested I watch from side stage and went to find the tour manager to make sure I had a pass.  I was sold.  I had not even worked a day yet for MCA but it made me want get on the phone that evening and call anyone who would listen and tell them that they needed to play "Marching to Mars" more - just…just because.

Early in 1999, MCA was getting ready to release Red Voodoo - the follow-up to Marching to Mars.  The lead single was a track called "Mas Tequila."  Sammy was also getting ready to launch his new brand of tequila, Cabo Wabo, and rock radio was playing "Mas Tequila" all the way to #1 on the rock charts.  MCA scheduled a 14 city promotional tour for the album - which also served as a jumping point for the introduction of Cabo Wabo.  Hard Rock was the partner venue nationally and Chicago was on the schedule.  I set up radio interviews with The Loop (WLUP radio) here in Chicago (they even did a billboard campaign around it) and on the day of the show, Sammy was (as usual) in a great mood.  While he sat in the hotel room doing phone interviews to other stations around the country, I set up bottles of tequila for him to autograph, guitars to sign and CDs to personalize.  After signing all of the items, he asked if there was anyone else I needed him to call.  Believe me, I thought about having him call my mom - because I know he would have - but he already knew she and my dad were coming to the show and I felt like I still needed to keep a line between personal and professional.  Some may argue that is a very blurred line with Sammy - especially after a few shots of Cabo Wabo - but I think that is also what has added to his success.

I went to every Sammy Hagar show I could when he toured through my territory.  I always felt welcome, the band and tour management did everything they could to help me out with last minute requests, and frankly - Sammy made my job easy.  Everyone loved Sammy.  What I didn't realize, was that was still another level with Sammy.  In a business of egos, thin skin and a general feeling of self-entitlement, there are moments that can leave a person dumbfounded and humbled.

On September 9, 1999 Sammy had a show in Indianapolis at the Murat Theater.  Why list the show date?  Because it was my daughter's first birthday.  After discussing it with my wife, I decided to head down to the show.  We decided that my daughter wouldn't remember that I wasn't there and since we were having a big family party in a few days - that she wouldn’t hold it against me.  I also had Q95 presenting the show, the Music Director, Ace Cosby, introducing Sammy and Marie McCallister from WTTS driving in from Bloomington - and she loved Sammy!  Before the show, Marie and I were talking about my daughter's birthday when Sammy came in to do his meet n' greet.  I introduced them and took off to make sure that all the radio winners were set.  30 minutes later, Ace took the stage, Sammy played a killer show and Marie got to watch from the front row - courtesy of Sammy who swapped out her tickets. 

At the end of the night, the band was sitting in a back room when I popped my head in to thank them and tell them I was heading out.  Sammy whispered something to his tour manager and gave me a high five as he headed out the door.  I grabbed some snacks and a water from what was left from the food rider, put on my coat, said goodbye to the band and was walking out when the tour manager stopped me. 

"Sammy wanted to thank you for all of your hard work and for covering this show.  Family is important and he wants you to know this didn't go unnoticed."

He shook my hand and in the same motion slipped something into my hand - three crisply folded $100 bills. 

"No, no, no.  This is totally unnecessary" I told him as I tried to give it back to him.

"That's from Sammy.  Go home and buy your daughter something for her birthday.  We will see you in a few weeks."

Another level.

Never a Dull Moment

Motley Crue.  Global.  Rock Stars.  They were the definition of the word "Party" in the dictionary of rock.  Dr. Feelgood was HUGE when I first got into radio fresh out of Michigan State University.  Every DJ's dream was a song that had a 47 second intro before you had to hit the post.  Tommy Lee and Pam…the video…the stories...and the reputation.  So what was it like to wake up every day as Tommy Lee?  I guess I always felt like he would wake up every day knowing he had more to do than the average person for people to recognize that he was a good guy or at least that he wasn't a complete prick.  Or maybe he was just clueless and he just didn't care.  Well I was about to get my answer.

In 2002 Tommy was kicking off a solo tour to support his solo release, "Never a Dull Moment"  and was scheduled to come through Chicago over the 4th of July weekend.  After a day in the Chicago market visiting radio, Tommy was getting ready for a show at Northern Illinois University on July 3rd before playing in Chicago later in the week.  He seemed like a good guy to me - polite, on time, funny and completely on top of how his record was doing, where he was getting airplay and (believe me) where he wasn't getting airplay.  The morning of the NIU show I got a call from the tour manager.  The production truck got out to the venue for load-in only to find that the equipment and backline wouldn't fit on the stage.  Whoever advanced the show (he blamed the venue / promoter) completely screwed it up.  There would be no show and they had to cancel. 

The Chicago stations wouldn't care because there was still a Chicago show to come.  But for other stations in the area (mainly WXRX in Rockford - just 45 minutes North of NIU), I knew this was going to be a problem.  They had put a lot into promoting the show, had given away tickets, had put together several promotions to give away backstage / Meet N Greet passes and were playing the single, "Hold Me Down."  If they go on the air and announce the show is canceled because the gear wouldn't fit in the venue - I could only imagine how this could snowball.  WXRX was my client and I was representing Tommy.  I felt it was important to make sure Tommy wasn't to blame but to also make sure that this didn't come back to bite WXRX in the ass.  Tommy was obviously on the same page.

"Can he call the station?" I asked the tour manager.

I heard mumbling in the background followed by the receiver dropping on the floor.

"Hey Paul - it's Tommy.  Is the station pissed?  Are they getting calls from fans that had tickets?"

"No one is going to be happy about it but if we set up a call to the station and arrange to get their winners something autographed, that will be a good start" I said.

"Can we go to the station and be on the air live?  I don't want anyone thinking this was a blow-off.  How far is the station?

"I can set up whatever you want Tommy.  It is a 90 minute drive from downtown and traffic coming back will suck with people coming into Chicago for the Fireworks tonight," I explained. 

"Whatever…arrange for a car, call the program director and the three of us will have to make the best of it."

Tommy might not be the brightest guy in the music business or maybe just that he is a bit too much of a child - and maybe that is deserved with his track record - but I give him credit for seeing that actions speak louder than words.  People may forget what you say or do - but they won't forget how you made them feel.  Who knew that Tommy Lee that morning would be channeling Maya Angelo.

I called Jim stone (the program director) at WXRX and told him that I needed him to announce on the air that the show was cancelled.  He wasn't very happy and I am not sure he believed the reason for the cancellation, but there wasn't anything he or I could do about it.  He asked if Tommy would at least call the station.  "It is the least he can do.  It isn't like he has anything else to do today."

I told Jim to make sure he had time for an interview at 2 p.m. 

"Also, Jim? Call every one of the backstage winners and have them come to the studio at 2:30 - Tommy wants to apologize in person." 

"In person?  What?  Tommy is coming here?!  That is a class move." 

Tommy Lee, his tour manager and I drove out to the station and Tommy spent over an hour on the air.  He took calls, talked about the album, Motley Crue and told some road stories…at least those that wouldn't call for an FCC fine.  Each of the winners made it to the station and Tommy spent time talking with each of them in the conference room, took pictures and took care of all of their autograph requests.  Tommy had a blast and not one complaint the while day.  And when he wanted to grab something to eat on the way home and all that was close to the station was an Arby's - that is what we ate…and he bought.  (The look on the guys face at the register was priceless.  I wonder if he still tells that story.)

Tommy Lee made some friends that day and made a fan out of me as well.  Not all bands or musicians recognize an opportunity when it is presented.  Rockford wasn't a Top 20 market, it wasn't Indianapolis, Milwaukee or Minneapolis - it was Rockford - market #158 - population 293,000.  But that didn't matter to him.  I truly believe it was because he didn't like to or want to let anyone down. 

The drive back was brutal - over 2 1/2 hours, but we talked about our kids, the recording of his solo record and the difference between being behind the drum set and being the front man on stage.  I still look back on that day and laugh.  But maybe that's because we stopped to pick up Mayte on the way back to the hotel.  

So Emotional

Saturday was a sad day.  Any time someone dies suddenly - or least earlier than we might expect - it is tragic.  Whitney Houston was a spectacular talent.  She had a voice like no other - it was huge - it was bigger than any room that ever tried to hold her.  At least that is what it seemed to me having never seen her in concert.  I was never a big fan - but only because my music tastes were elsewhere.  I didn't want to hear how the "Children were the people" and how it was the "greatest love of all."  I was listening to Dire Straits, Glenn Frey, Phil Collins and other hits of the mid-80's.  (I never said I was cutting edge - just…different.)

I never personally knew Whitney Houston and wouldn't pretend that I did.  But I was fortunate to be invited to a record industry dinner in 1990 celebrating her release of "I'm Your Baby Tonight."  I went with a few people from the office and joined a room full of programmers and retail executives from Urban radio and local Chicago media.  Whitney went around to each table, took time to have a personal conversation and took pictures with everyone that attended.  I still laugh thinking about her reaction when she walked up to our table.  I was sitting at a table with Susan Stanley (now Susan Filer) as well with urban radio programmers from Indianapolis and Milwaukee.  Whitney very politely leaned in and asked how long Susan and I had been married.  The table erupted in laughter catching Whitney by surprise.  When she realized that Susan and I just worked together she was totally embarrassed and apologized several times.  It became a joke and we were then referred to "the married couple"  the rest of the evening.

I guess I am guilty of this too just by writing this story - but after listening to the news, media, "experts" and anyone else who has anything to say about her death over the past 36 hours, I have quickly come to realize that we all want to be associated with an icon like Whitney - we want to feel like we are a part of the story in some way.  How her music affected us, what Whitney song was played at prom, how her limo almost ran us over after her show or how Whitney thought I was married to my co-worker.  Whitney had a brilliant gift with her voice but she also was just like the rest of us.  She was human.  She had her demons.  Where there is talent,  there is expectation.  Where there is talent, people expect more from you,  revere you, even expect that you are different or better than everyone else.

Everyone has an opinion.  Some speak their opinion while others use present it as fact.  Speculation runs rampant.  And when there are no more facts available to us, people start speculating how she felt and what must have happened that caused her death.  Admittedly - this does not look good.  She had issues and was obviously working on taking steps to better herself.  But unless any of us has dealt with addiction or even the pressures those in the public spotlight experience on a daily basis - we should just keep our mouths shut.  If you have met Whitney, try to speak of the good things you remember.  If you just loved her music - talk about the feelings and experiences you had with Whitney as your soundtrack.  If you didn't like her music then maybe it is just a sad, unfortunate day for everyone that was influenced in some way by Whitney Houston. 

I pulled out Whitney's Greatest Hits while writing this and must say that as much as these songs drive me nuts (rock guy at heart here), her voice is just stunning and I have a great respect for her talent.  I am fortunate to have had had the chance to meet her and to have a small story to tell.  But at the end of the day, I won't pretend to make it more than it was or that she had some profound effect on my life.  I do however feel tremendously sad over her death.  It was sudden, unexpected and is still, on many levels, difficult to process.  We will wait to hear the cause of death in the next 2 - 8 weeks, but I don't think even time will change how we feel about her voice, her talent and her affect on music over the last 30 years. 

RIP Whitney - you will be missed…

Begin the Begin

I think the time has come to begin exploring the things I have learned and experienced during my first 20+ years in the music industry.  My hope is that the few classes journalism I took at Michigan State University (Go Green!!) along with the various copy, messaging and presentations I have written over the years will help guide me through each of these posts.  What topics will I explore?  Lessons learned in the music industry, anecdotes from being on the road (some band names may be changed in order to protect the "Not-So" innocent), my undying passion for my Michigan State Spartans and my love / hate relationship with the beloved Chicago Cubs.  I am sure a few stories will pop up centered around daily life with my 13 and 10 year old daughters - but why drag them into this so early into the process.  By the way…why 5 Degrees?  Well - 5 is my favorite number (thanks Speed Racer) and the fact that music, entertainment and marketing contain a series of steps or stages on the way to reaching your goal. 

So here we go…

Music has been at the center of my life for as long as I can remember.  It was all about WLS for me at the time.  I vividly remember being in my room waiting to hear if "Silly Love Songs" was going to beat out "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" for the #1 slot on the Big 89 Countdown for 1976.  Not only did Captain and Tennille grab #1 from McCartney and Wings…they had 4 songs in the Top 20.  And the fact that "Disco Duck" (#3) beat out  "Bohemian Rhapsody" (#6) reminds me that, even then, not everything made sense.

http://www.wlshistory.com/big89/1976.htm

Radio was (and still is in some cases) "Theater of the Mind."  There was a time when I recall thinking that every time a song played on the radio that the band itself was in the studio playing it live.  Could Boston, Yes or The Steve Miller Band really be at the station right now waiting to play their song again?! 

I soon added The Loop (WLUP) as well as WMET to my repatoire of listening choices.  I couldn't wait to listen to Captain Whammo, his claims of ESP and what would pop up on the Whammo Line.  Here is a quick taste -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mfI1MhYsGQ 

Bottom line - the music (the majority of it anyway) kicked ass and radio was always local and topical. 

My passion for music took over the majority of my free time...new music from REO, Genesis, The Who, J Geils, Chicago, Scorpions, Billy Joel, Bob Seger and others  in the early 80's had me heading to the record store to grab their album AND pick up the weekly WLS survey.  http://www.wlshistory.com/WLS70/surveywho.htm.  (Remember these?)  These bands gave me the chance to fight with my sister about why John Cougar kicked Air Supply's ass or why a John Denver concert (though I did see him a few times) couldn't compare to Genesis, Journey or Men At Work.  "Sailing" by Christopher Cross?  Sucked.  "Maniac" by Michael Sembello? You have got to be kidding. 

My first job out of college was radio sales at WGOR - Ape 92.1 - in Lansing, MI.  We were the Gorilla of Rock (but we played all top 40 music.  Branding issue anyone?)  My daughters still like to remind me that I actually wore gorilla costume at station when we crashed the Undy 500 promotion being run by the market-leading Top 40 station, WVIC and at station remotes.  I would have done anything for sales commission. 

Since then, Independent promotion out of Chicago for Jeff McClusky and Associates, Regional Promotion for MCA / Geffen and designing and executing touring partnerships (Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Taylor swift, Linkin Park, Green Day, Shakira and others) for Verizon have quickly taken me through the first 20+ years.   There were a few other quick stops in between but music was always the common thread.

Music (and my experiences in and around it) is where some of my musings may come from - as well as what is going on currently in the industry.  Hope you enjoy it and feel free to let me know if you have comments or suggestions.  If you find it interesting (or even helpful) please feel free to pass it on to your network. 

What's next?  Maybe a heart-warming story about me and Tommy Lee.