"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S. Thompson...
I’m from. Northern California and in the early eighties I was in L A playing music. I got noticed by some celebrity kids and invited in to their thing. It didn’t take me long to realize that entire thing down there was bizarre and dangerous. I dipped out of that town with zero regrets.
Rough "casting couch" story, but it's great that your 21yr old self listened to your gut feelings. When we're short of cash any price might seem worth paying if the alternative is the street. Takes strength of character to realize the price may not be simply regret or guilt but our very soul.
The reason I despise the music industry (in particular) is that even on the fringes of it, there are many talentless bullies and liars whose sole purpose is to seek out those with talent, and to exploit them to the full.
@@badbrad Wow, you said it, Museonfilm said it! Also, “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” ― Hunter S. Thompson
You have great instincts! Something similiar happened to me back in the mid 80's. A woman approached me at Cal Expo in Sacramento and asked if I was interested in modeling. She said her husband shot magazine covers. Long story short ... the husband shows up at my house in a beat up old station wagon with two young kids in tow. That just struck me as very odd. All I knew was I wasn't getting in that car to save my life. I was newly married at the time and I told my husband to get rid of him. The guy was pissed and said, "Fine! I'll go hustle someone else." Creepy as hell 👽
Great story told man. I'm not sure I ever met you but I'm sure you know my cousing Dave from Richmond who was also room mates with Keith and Lance. Both of those guys and Dave (Hunter) have played on various cuts done at my studio CAZADOR. I got chased around a bit myself on the streets of Hollywood myself in my little red toyota that I drove out to town in '75 to play drums for Ray Manzarek of the Doors.
I lived in the exact same area a few years than your time there. I came to learn the biz always requires a pay-for-play deal to break through. Talent is a cheap commodity. To turn them down is a career killer. No one escapes the offer. I too walked away.
Another eye opener story. When you actually look at the whole entertainment industry, especially the girls, it is not hard to imagine how they got those A list spots & especially how they maintain them. I guess some people don’t mind being a sweet shop for all to taste.
This creeped me out. I worked at West LA Music around 89-90 and met plenty of players and label people. I was in Pro Audio so we worked with a lot of Artists with Home studios, semi pro and we were the first Apple dealer for audio, we got the Digidesign Prototypes we showed studio and label execs in private meetings. I was one of a handful, like Six people that got Apple Systems Engineer certifications in Culver City at Apple for music recording software specifically in LA. I know good stories but I knew bad stories that I didn't hear until several years later. We were located on Santa Monica just a couple of blocks down from the 405. I could feel this story. I used to find CD promo copies of A&M and other labels at a Thrift Store a block away. I've heard much worse, which is not a good thing.
Yup, yer an old hand. Several dark stories, I went to multi camera video, built fox sports, then to single camera film. Loads of stuff I shouldn’t ( can’t) mention. Sorry, just trying to co sign for your story ☮️
Just found your channel yesterday. Very familiar with Nashville and lower boadway, though I'm not a musician. Keep up the great videos and stories, you have a lot of wisdom to impart.
Love your vids.. I started playing full time ( surviving $ )at age 14.... I NEVER EVER worked a job every dime I made in my life was playing gigs.. I was very lucky...I'm 66 now still playing gigs... live in a extended van .. I love it...
Your dark side stories are great! Keep on! I am glad I got out when I did, a lot of those record label people always looked like predators, and killers. I never got close enough to get propositioned, but I heard stories which was creepy.
@@badbrad First of all Thank you for sharing your experience BadBrad. My experience on the other hand was so much Darker, much , much Darker. I actually met up the the record label guy and nearly lost my life that night. If people could hear my experience, it would haunt them and leave some speechless but I lived it. People would never want nothing to do with these Evil Record Label people. They are predators but more evil than that. I saw and heard things that were unbelievable. I haven't told many people about it and there is a reason. Nothing is worth selling your soul over.
I met a girl that worked at Geffen Records and got to take a tour of it in 89. Was told that Mr. Geffen was gone on a cruise with the singer from Fine Young Cannibals... Show biz is a meat market and very few survive without paying some sort of price.
Hey Brad. Sounds like you and I are the same age. Without going into too much detail I was fronting a band in San Francisco from ‘89-‘93. We moved there from NYC for a bunch of reasons. After slogging it out in the Bay area for about two years we finally caught a break and had come on the radar of a then high powered entertainment attorney. And as im sure you know those guys have relationships with everyone in the business. They can get your demo into the right hands, set up showcases, etc. He wanted to meet the whole band plus our manager for a meeting. So we went to have dinner with him at some restaurant up in Sausalito. We’re all sitting there having a good time. Im sitting right next to this guy. Next thing I know I feel his hand running up my leg towards my crotch! Being from NY this wasn’t the first time this sort of thing happened to me. But it really bummed me out. Cause right then I knew it was over. This guy wasnt gonna do a damned thing for us. Because there was no way in Hell I was going do anything with this dude. Besides being straight I also had my pride and morality. Id rather go nowhere then play that game. When I told the guys in the band what happened they were actually cracking up. And I get why. From that day on they would jokingly say “You should have taken one for the team!”😂 Surprisingly enough he did follow through and we did a showcase at the Whiskey for a few A&R guys. But nothing ever came of it. We were supposed to do another demo and a couple of more showcases after that but he just dropped off the radar.
@@badbrad Thanks man. You as well. Interestingly enough I saw an interview on UA-cam with Rich Black . The singer from Shark Island. He was recounting a story from his days on the strip where the same thing happened to him. Some record label guy wanted him to go and meet him at a West Hollywood bar after his show. Wonder if it was your guy?? Haha.
Damn, that’s a tough one. Growing up in Philadelphia, I was warned about people like this by my parents. I am glad your creep warning went off. It’s all about power. When he pulled up the first time, and if you said you were working, he would have left.
New sub here ... I just happened across your channel a few days ago and I'm backtracking/binge watching your videos. This one creeped me out. I can just imagine what this guy was after. I'm pretty sure he was grooming a "country bumpkin" if you know what I mean. I'm glad you didn't take him up on his offer. I thought about chasing the dream when I was young but ended up living the mundane life in small town Arkansas working as a machinist and fabricator. I've played off and on as a hobby for over 50 years now. I've been on stage a few times with some real pros and I've had my own band playing bars and festivals etc .. After doing it for a while I think I'm glad I never went for it. It's a lot of work and very little reward in the end. Being on stage and making people dance was awesome but loading in and out, the rehearsals and moving equipment took a lot of time just to make 100 dollars IF you were lucky just wasn't worth it when you had the time to sit and think about it. After doing the math we weren't even making minimum wage considering all the time that went into doing a few hours on stage. I still love music but I'm back to treating it as a hobby again. I'm really digging your channel and have a lot of catching up to do but I'll see you in the comments on some of your other videos.
I'm really glad you found this channel. You're right it is ridiculous when you break down the expenses and time it takes to do it all...and then the pay doesn't match. I was from the South and he may have thought I was a bumpkin, but I've always been pretty street smart and don't fall for any b.s..
Whoa! I lived on Lanewood next to Hollywood high school in 90-91! Just found your channel and digging it! Thanks and will post my adventures soon! Cheers!
Another great story my friend!! These are very interesting man!! I’m glad nothing crazy happened with that weirdo!! Have a great day man and God bless!! 🎸🤘💯
Dude, I have been binge watching your videos for a couple days. You have inspired me to do another "Gig Stories" on my own channel. I had a similar encounter with a malignant nacissist when I was 21. He was a rump roamer of the worst kind. Little did I know that I would encounter him 10 years later. I gotta do this one now. I have to! Thank you for your stories and inspiration. I am a couple years older than you.
If one younger person reads this and learns something then it was worth you telling the story. Seems like the entertainment industry and politics are the fields where this kinda thing happens alot. Not often a young guy goes to a construction site looking for entry level grunt work and is misdirected into something creepy but in the entertainment and political world many younger will do anything just to get noticed or be included at the start, sometimes for free even. Many older established creeps out to take advantage of that.
Another Temecula mention. I have come to see you mention it quite a bit. Love that and all of your content as a humble Temecula resident. It is a beautiful place, but much different from those days. Although still a very peaceful, clean and safe town. Would love to hear you play one of the wineries some day. Best wishes to you and your family.
Man that would be awesome to play one. Got some pictures playing the balloon fest decades ago. Would be sad to be there and my old friend is not there tho.
Excellent Video! The music business, well actually, the whole entertainment business, is littered with creepy people in powerful positions. It really does come down to whether you"re willing to sell your soul and possibly other parts of your body to gain fame and success.
Brad, I try to keep up with your videos. You are prolific, and that's a good thing. Amazing that your former roommate once was Lance Morrison, now of the Dirty Knobs.
Brad! You're not going to believe this, but I actually alluded to this in a comment reply on the last video I watched! WEIRD... Got a whole treasure grove of actual events that transpired like this. Stuff that still lingers and won't go away. Thank you for your bravery to share this story.
Wow this story hits close to home - literally. I used to live in Temecula and know exactly where that is. That’s exactly why I live away from Los Angeles. I can get there (to LA) when I need to but I’m far enough where it still feels like normal city compared to the big city
I wonder how much it has changed. IT was a super small town with one nightclub and one theatre back in the day. My girlfriend managed the movie theatre.
@@badbrad it has grown quite a bit since then but still does have a lot of the same feel. That theater is still there now, it always gets rebranded to a newer styled theater but for those of use who were there quite a while ago that’s the theme of the whole city. I lived there around 2005-2007 then later around 2015-2019 and in both of those time periods it grew drastically. Sadly the one thing that changed for the worse is the traffic. Getting from Temecula to murrieta used to be a 10 minute drive, now it takes half hour to 45 (or longer if there’s an accident), just to go 5-10 miles. The population has really grown too. Back then in the 80s it was probably really small since the city was just starting to be incorporated at that time, so now it’s on par with any major city (outside LA). I’d say now it feels like a little more of a north San Diego feeling. But as busy and built up as it is now, definitely still not as bad as LA traffic. A lot more commercial buildings and new business as well. It really grew in that regard. I bet in the 80s when you went it was really open and sparse, but a lot of that area has been filled in with tract homes. Wine country is still nice though and really allows for that small town winery vibe, just a 10 minute drive outside the main city
@@badbrad yeah you would definitely be surprised at how much they’re grown/built since then. It’s still a nice town luckily. It’s a slightly more affordable way to live not too far from San Diego and the beaches
Funny... I had a very similar situation in LA 1984 having newly arrived. Creepy is an understatement. I can totally relate. We could write a book most assuredly.
Thanks Brad; riveting story! I watch a channel called "Wings of Pegasus" hosted by a guitarist named Fil. He's proved the Eagles and Taylor Swift lip sync to recorded vocal tracks at concerts pretending they're live vocals. Any insight on this?
It’s heartening to hear how professional your then roommates reacted to this incident. No childish snide comments. And with that in mind and from the comfort of decades and miles of separation let me just say this. I feel certain the A&M rep was trying to entice you to attempt some let’s call it “woodwind arranging”. 😄 Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
@@badbrad, wasn’t sure how that would fly Brad. Good on you brother! Fascinating stuff, love that you’re documenting this. Not this experience in particular, just all the aspects of your trade. God speed!
In 91, I was hired by a female in a mountain resort area as a staff artis t.I found out through the grapevine that she hired me to be her boy toy. I didnt cooperate and didnt last .long
Once read someone discribing the music biz saying its a world of the selfish, brutality, misleading false claims, empty promises, dark paths with no light at the end, where innocent childhood dreams go to die, where the young and weak are walked on by a large man in golf cleats as famine and disease take their toll mentally and physically. There is also a dark side to the industry.
Been watching this guy for a few weeks now. The world-weary garbled vocal tone and unkempt toupee drew me right in. I'm the same age and that's me in 1988 in the pic, so there's that too. I'm a new fan. This guy can wax it.
Alright Brad, I've watched enough videos to know that you and I probably walked by each other at some freaking point in the early 90s. You lived on Orange while you went to GIT. I lived one street over on Sycamore while going to GIT. You lived on Lanewood as well. I lived on Lanewood about 2 apartments down from yours on the corner of Orange, across from Hollywood High. Freaking wild man 😆 🤣 😂
Moving to Florida Bradenton Sarasota Tampa are As a teen from a small upstate ny town. I had to smarten up quick. The world was different after that to me. Situations happened that made me really know I have angels watching over me. Moved back to NY at 19. A totaly different person street wises that is. Havn't been back yet but want to. That was 1990
First time down there I was 10 and in the country. Went back at 16 dad was living in Bradenton. Then my brother passed away I quit school went off the rails lol. Commercial fished with my dad 600 a week at that age 1987 was a lot of money and never even had a car on the road and still went thru it like water. Lotta lsd and then mushrooms. Then quit the lsd. No real friends no support of his passing. Parties all over all the time. Lots of bands always jamming and partying in the storage unit Reas sometimes it'd take 3 days to find my way home. Woke up in messed up places. What a ride that era was.. Hahahahaha.
Left ny jot knowing what crack or. Cocaine was. I stayed away from that stuff. 3 years later back to NY and the shit was in my tiny town of 2000. Back then ny was culturally 3 years behind Florida at least. Didn't have internet and cell phones back then. I actualy miss those days. The lack of constant connection to this thing, smart phones, the information age yet the least common sense ever.
Band like Savatage and crimson glory the music scene down there never got the attention it deserved in the 80's. I should have been playing music instead of partying lol. Late bloomer I guess. Life. Got wonky I have people waiting on me Now. But had to service my amps also. Did one yesterday it's never sounded better now onto the fender. And about 3 guitars To finish building a few that need fret work still. Everything is always as it should be brother.. Keep pushing. REO
Kind of makes you wonder how some of the people got their "gigs" in Nashville. You could see that they were only "moderately" talented, but somehow got gigs at clubs that we were trying tooth and nail to land at. Brad, maybe you have some insight on this. Do you remember in the early 90's at all how some of the bands or artist landing gigs and deals and you NEVER saw them around town or even around the area at all? It is like they just popped up out of thin air. That is another reason why I left the biz, I was either not in the cool club, not willing to participate in the extra curricular "activities" and not willing to sell my soul as well. I KNOW you have seen this as well, bands that are freaking amazing talent in surplus, but just cannot catch a break. Like EVERYONE going to see the Wooten's at 3rd and Lindsley, stealing YOUR chops, but the status quo keeps marching on right?
I’m not sure what went on I just know it was incredibly hard to catch a break. Plenty of peeps got pushed to the front of the line. It was never about talent.
@@badbrad That may be a good idea for a video! I remember seeing bands at showcases and I never heard of them. It may have been their first and only real gig. I rarely saw guys paying their dues. I do see old faces that are getting some sort of success these days and I am happy for them.
That was a great decision. I know you needed the money/job terribly bad. That guy put you in a very uncomfortable situation, he had motives all along. I guess he thought you being from Virginia (the south) made you stupid or something. You were a very strong young man to walk away from that at the time. 👍
in 1967 I was 10 years old. played every Thursday - Sunday 4 days weekly from 9 to 3am in a strip club my my uncle who played trumpet. I did that gig for just over 3 years. 10 years old playing in a strip club in montreal.. I could write many books on the MUSAC BIZZ... LOVE YOUR VIDS
He probably wanted you to run coke or meth man. Either way you probably did the right thing. People don't understand everyone commits on average 3 felonies a day whether they realize they are or not, thats 3 chances a day to lose all your rights for life. I lost mine at 19 for trying to help someone out that ended up putting me in the wrong place at the right time, but never having been in trouble with the law and being beaten and threatened by the cops I would have said anything they wanted. Sounds like you dodged a bullet bro.
Temecula's definitely not the "small town" it was in the 80's. I will say as far Ca goes, born in '58, I lived there till just under a year ago. Relatively speaking they've grown Temecula much more thoughtfully than so much of the formerly most desirable state to live in the continental states, anyway.
I remember when I was about 15 years old I guess listening to a Kansas album and a small voice in my head said you're better than most of them but I don't want you to step one foot into that pool because it's all satanic... I remember feeling such a like a gut punch like well what in the world is the gift for then if I can't use it.... I'm always going to choose what God wants to do and I'm still crazy as hell I won't even sing offensive lyrics my mind instantly changes it... Just like television is programming the music industry is programming as well as I'm sure you figured out by now and only the anti establishment musicians that believe in Jesus I believe we've been saved for the end times to have songs of Hope to counteract all the crap that's been stuffed into people's souls and their minds... Now that everybody's so suicidal angry frustrated ...there could be lyrics to help them not to do such a thing... that can be lyrics that can show them the right way to be a man and the right way to be a woman , the right way to be a patriot and the right way to be a follower of Jesus Christ which isn't some hokey religious crap...
Yesterday was my 8-hour day of singing I had to take breaks though cuz it was kind of hot but I did the full 8 hours I had people lined up outside my place I always do cuz I live next to a McDonald's McDonald's parking lot starts filling up people listening and s*** it's amazing but yeah I could do 4 hours today I am that ready
I have a quarter acre at halfway between Daytona and DeLand but since my wife got sick I haven't been able to go over there in like 8 years and I got a feeling it's probably nothing but homeless people that have taken over I'm not sure but I'm seriously thinking about coming back there I've got regular monthly income and I would be the best roommate you ever had... I be a reliable 7 to,800 rent a month cuz that's what I'm looking for right now I'm looking to go back to Daytona but I don't want to live with somebody that I'm probably not going to get along with
I think he wanted you to run a “MALE” room not a mail room🤬. Very sleazy people in the music biz thats for sure…maybe it was a drug mule job…glad you escaped unscathed.
Brad, I've been teaching guitar for 35 years. My most important lesson (to students) is that it is key to avoid the business of music. Also, If they choose to be a 'pro musician' be prepared to jump into a tank of sharks...because there is no difference. Great stories, bro! Keep 'em coming.
@@badbrad At the time you were in LA, my buddies made the same trip from Chicago. Within months, two started working in the porn industry. The other two picked up life long coke habits. They came home with their tails firmly tucked. Damaged goods with shitty stories of no glory. I commend you for being a true Rock and Roll survivor. Kudos.
Bubba said desire is the root of all suffering. You saved yourself the grief. Perhaps you should have applied at the female room instead? Either way integrity is supreme.
I love that this channel is pickup up. Comments likes and views. Brad's a good dude honest and straight. Doejanneed to ask for like and subs. It'll handle itself if it's meant to be..
Had you gone to dinner and he told you what the $50 an hour was for, you might have vomited all over the dinner table and really lost your marbles... Better to keep your soul and let the devil claim some other poor fool dumb enough to trade it for worthless trinkets...
The music business Is a crappy business, it is a narrow but deep money trench with thieves and cutthroats on both sides, and that’s the good part of it!
In 1984 I was in my first All original music, band called PUSH I was fairly decent looking and in pretty good shape also as were you Bad Brad but you sir had way better thick curly hair mine was baby fine and it looked like a drowned rat after sweating profusely on stage I had tight curly frizzy pube lookin’ hair on the sides of my head but wavy on top it was naturally crummy. Is what my doctor referred to it as SO IF I ever went bald, I could be a Bozo body double or impersonator though lol My former manager in ‘84 was Not that much older than my fellow band members and myself, I was 23 & David Helfant with FANDEL Mgmt- I thought he kind of suggested or jested it might benefit PUSH to buddy up to the vice president of A & R at Atlantic records or act a little more friendly than I was willing to comfortably I’m thinking in my head there’s no way WHAT? And the guys did the same thing rolled their eyes like oh Dougie so I ASSumed - that is what he meant, that I should or could take one for the team ? (band) and of course I was like NOPE - NO WAY José!! I mean David DID NOT didn’t outright or blatantly tell me to go take it in the**** but It felt real awkward and uneasy Uncomfortable even a feeling come over me, NO PUN Intended!! and he could probably read on my face or my burning red ears when I approached him and introduced myself to him Not an Afternoon but an evening industry showcase with other labels invited-- it was upstairs in Gina Barsamian’s booking office after we kicked ass so we thought upstairs at Doug Weston’s World, Famous nightclub,(where Elton John played stateside in the 70s) TROUBADOUR on Santa Monica Blvd. Ding ding Which I was familiar with what went down on Sunset Blvd.with the working (girls) after hours or maybe even during the day ? I didn’t know cause I never paid nor would I pay to have a female companion, even if it was only a minute or two haha not trying to brag or anything! Maybe I was a tad homophobic? I thought I wasn’t!! butt it felt like it was a ploy or he was insinuating I Pour on my charming demeanor, or offering a limp wrist, which David never did say that and I didn’t wanna tease the VP - making him think that I was something that I wasn’t !! even though I wore eyeliner, and could do a pretty good gay impression ?? i was ultra limber I could do the splits and flexible, but not to that point of flexibility to be something I’m not we might’ve been considered a little glam. More pop metal like the band CANDY more so than wasp Similar to RATTS attire we weren’t fully dressed in drag like The New York Dolls or like the Troub’s Lighting Director, who was wearing a pink leather mini skirt and the leopard print pink & black Capezio’s dance shoes. named Gus who later changed his stage name to Taime Downe True story I even gave him a ride up to FIG’s after party as far as I know, he definitely wasn’t swinging both ways, but a lot of people aren’t out of the closet because of AIDS AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CANDY AYDS My look was more gymnast meets the court jester/clown with torn red fishnet stockings over black and white polkadot opposite front left & rt legged spandex With legwarmers and I sang upside down in gravity boots ala Richard Gere in American gigolo I did wear super tight form fitting almost like ballet spandex come to think of it oh crap with All black Capezio shoes that since rumors had been tossed he might like the male species look more that maybe he kinda had the hots for me or now that I read this, I kind of was dressing the part geez pretty flamboyant, but not like Ruby Slippers ? Our band PUSH did a the showcase at the TROUBADOUR & got offered $150,000 record deal same amount as RATT - I had the audio tape cassette from my phone answering machine for the longest time with that message on there “how does it feel to be an Atlantic recording artist?”and apparently I wasn’t friendly enough, and he supposedly fell down a flight of stairs, hit his head and got amnesia and forgot ever offering PUSH And for some reason, I was understanding because I had had amnesia as a child for two months didn’t even remember my own hamster or what it even was so I took up a bouquet of flowers, cause I was working at Conroy’s florist up to Cedar Sinai, where he was Recovering from the concussive fall So I doubt he remembers that gesture either so the $150,000 deal was taken off the table and was a big rude awakening of how the industry operated cold wake up call I was a member of the Grammys when I first moved out there in ‘83 both my momager and I joined at the same time and we had our manager David joined because he just graduated from law school entertainment, lol and she said it would be good for networking. - Now he’s on the board of directors of the Grammys. he’s also on the board of guitar center and is tied into the industry quite well. I wasn’t willing to sell my soul either. I guess coming from a Midwestern town and being in a Christian rock band starting out in 1980. I had a moral compass and it’s not that I was anti-gay because I had two gay uncles I thought maybe I could hook them up With him and maybe one of them too would take one for our band sake since I invited them both to the show, they lived in Sun Valley and Sunland, butt they were both the Pitcher not the catcher Or the QB, not the wide receiver- so no deal, but I have a clear conscience. Unlike some other people that might’ve swung that way anyway, and didn’t mind doing flesh favors for deals. Flesh for fantasy the fantasy of being a rockstar. To the state people still asked me how come you didn’t get signed you had the songs the look you were so close. How do you explain to the normal Layman in Gina Barsamian’s booking office upstairs at Doug Weston’s World, Famous nightclub,(where Elton John played stateside in the 70s) TROUBADOUR on Santa Monica Blvd. Ding ding Which I was familiar with what went down on Sunset Blvd.with theworking (girls) after hours or maybe even during the day ? I didn’t know cause I never paid nor would I to have a female companion, even if it was a minute or two lol Maybe I was a tad homophobic? I thought I wasn’t!! butt it felt like it was a ploy or he was insinuating I Pour on my charming demeanor, lol and I didn’t wanna tease the VP making him think that I was something that I wasn’t !! even though we wore eyeliner, we weren’t full on dressed in drag like New York Dolls or like the Troub’s Lighting Director, who is wearing a pink leather mini skirt and the leopard print pink & black Capezio’s named Gus who later changed his stage name to Taime Downe My look was more gymnastic jester/clown who is torn red fishnet stockings over black and white polkadot spandex I did wear super tight form fitting almost like spandex with Capezio shoes that since he heard he might like the male species look more that maybe he kinda had the hots for me or something. Don’t know it freaks me out too. Our band PUSH did a showcase at the TROUBADOUR & got offered $150,000 record deal same amount as RATT - I had the audio tape cassette from my phone answering machine for the longest time with that message on there “how does it feel to be an Atlantic recording artist ?and apparently I wasn’t friendly enough, and he supposedly fell down a flight of stairs, hit his head and got amnesia and forgot ever offering the deal so it was taken off the table and was a big rude awakening of how the industry operated wake up call I was a member of the Grammys when I first moved out there and ‘83 both my mom and I joined at the same time and we had every manager join because he just graduated from law school entertainment, lol and my mother said it would be good for networking. - Now he’s on the board of directors of the Grammys. he’s also on the board at Guitar Center and represents EDDIE the owner of the TROUBADOUR now and is tied into the industry quite well. I wasn’t willing to sell my soul either. I guess coming from a Midwestern town and being in a Christian rock band starting out in 1980. I had a moral compass and it’s not that I was anti-gay because I had two gay uncles I thought maybe I could hook them up With him and maybe one of them too would take one for our band sake since I invited them both to the show, they lived in Sun Valley and Sunland, but they were both the Pitcher not the catcher Or the QB, not the wide receiver-
All that story, all that drama and that’s all that happened? Really that’s it !? lol. Ok sounds terrible, not sure how u survived 😅. Ya it’s a creepy phone call with a highly suggestive proposition but not really physiological damaging. By the way how did he know u were from Virginia? Outta state plates? Also who just approaches a stranger at the gate of his apartment and starts a conversation? Weird man , really weird.
@@badbrad HI Brad! Happy 4th 🎉. Enjoying your channel, glad "the algorithm" aka "our new robot corporate overlords who have accomplished one of the largest wealth transfers in history" got me here. See, they _really are_ benevolent (not!). Cheers, I'll be back.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S. Thompson...
I know that quote personally.
I’m from. Northern California and in the early eighties I was in L A playing music. I got noticed by some celebrity kids and invited in to their thing. It didn’t take me long to realize that entire thing down there was bizarre and dangerous. I dipped out of that town with zero regrets.
Man I hear you.
Rough "casting couch" story, but it's great that your 21yr old self listened to your gut feelings. When we're short of cash any price might seem worth paying if the alternative is the street. Takes strength of character to realize the price may not be simply regret or guilt but our very soul.
I always found a way to stay off the streets. Never had to compromise my integrity.
@@badbradthat is awesome to hear brother. Now you are here sharing the wisdom with the next generation.
The reason I despise the music industry (in particular) is that even on the fringes of it, there are many talentless bullies and liars whose sole purpose is to seek out those with talent, and to exploit them to the full.
Whew you said it.
@@badbrad Wow, you said it, Museonfilm said it! Also, “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
― Hunter S. Thompson
Thanks for sharing. I think it’s grossly underestimated how much this happens to men.
Absolutely!
ABSOLUTELY!!
You have great instincts! Something similiar happened to me back in the mid 80's. A woman approached me at Cal Expo in Sacramento and asked if I was interested in modeling. She said her husband shot magazine covers. Long story short ... the husband shows up at my house in a beat up old station wagon with two young kids in tow. That just struck me as very odd. All I knew was I wasn't getting in that car to save my life. I was newly married at the time and I told my husband to get rid of him. The guy was pissed and said, "Fine! I'll go hustle someone else." Creepy as hell 👽
Wow! Wise move.
Probably the same creep that killed that model and foot ball cheer leader chick in the early 90's I forget their names.
Great story told man. I'm not sure I ever met you but I'm sure you know my cousing Dave from Richmond who was also room mates with Keith and Lance. Both of those guys and Dave (Hunter) have played on various cuts done at my studio CAZADOR. I got chased around a bit myself on the streets of Hollywood myself in my little red toyota that I drove out to town in '75 to play drums for Ray Manzarek of the Doors.
Wow Jimmy...nice to meet you!
I lived in the exact same area a few years than your time there. I came to learn the biz always requires a pay-for-play deal to break through. Talent is a cheap commodity. To turn them down is a career killer. No one escapes the offer. I too walked away.
It's better to walk away.....
A fairly close friend of mine who has (legit) very close ties to a lot of major musicians has said this is *rampant* in Nashville.
Quite possible never had that experience in Nashville but I was older and wiser once I moved here.
Another eye opener story. When you actually look at the whole entertainment industry, especially the girls, it is not hard to imagine how they got those A list spots & especially how they maintain them. I guess some people don’t mind being a sweet shop for all to taste.
perhaps so
This creeped me out. I worked at West LA Music around 89-90 and met plenty of players and label people. I was in Pro Audio so we worked with a lot of Artists with Home studios, semi pro and we were the first Apple dealer for audio, we got the Digidesign Prototypes we showed studio and label execs in private meetings. I was one of a handful, like Six people that got Apple Systems Engineer certifications in Culver City at Apple for music recording software specifically in LA. I know good stories but I knew bad stories that I didn't hear until several years later. We were located on Santa Monica just a couple of blocks down from the 405. I could feel this story. I used to find CD promo copies of A&M and other labels at a Thrift Store a block away. I've heard much worse, which is not a good thing.
Wow. I'm glad I never found out what exactly was going on.
Yup, yer an old hand.
Several dark stories, I went to multi camera video, built fox sports, then to single camera film.
Loads of stuff I shouldn’t ( can’t) mention. Sorry, just trying to co sign for your story ☮️
Just found your channel yesterday. Very familiar with Nashville and lower boadway, though I'm not a musician. Keep up the great videos and stories, you have a lot of wisdom to impart.
Thanks, will do!
Love your vids.. I started playing full time ( surviving $ )at age 14.... I NEVER EVER worked a job every dime I made in my life was playing gigs.. I was very lucky...I'm 66 now still playing gigs... live in a extended van .. I love it...
I salue you!!!!
Man I love your stories about the dark side of the music industry keep them coming
Will do
Your dark side stories are great! Keep on! I am glad I got out when I did, a lot of those record label people always looked like predators, and killers. I never got close enough to get propositioned, but I heard stories which was creepy.
Man don't you know it.....
@@badbrad First of all Thank you for sharing your experience BadBrad. My experience on the other hand was so much Darker, much , much Darker. I actually met up the the record label guy and nearly lost my life that night. If people could hear my experience, it would haunt them and leave some speechless but I lived it. People would never want nothing to do with these Evil Record Label people. They are predators but more evil than that. I saw and heard things that were unbelievable. I haven't told many people about it and there is a reason. Nothing is worth selling your soul over.
I met a girl that worked at Geffen Records and got to take a tour of it in 89. Was told that Mr. Geffen was gone on a cruise with the singer from Fine Young Cannibals... Show biz is a meat market and very few survive without paying some sort of price.
David Geffin had a thing about young pretty blonde male band members , he's probably one of the worst known offenders !
Just look at the videos of Jamie Deluxe "M1 "and "M2" and also " Don Henley the end of innocence " and " who raped Jani Lane ? " It's mindblowing ...
Hey Brad. Sounds like you and I are the same age. Without going into too much detail I was fronting a band in San Francisco from ‘89-‘93. We moved there from NYC for a bunch of reasons. After slogging it out in the Bay area for about two years we finally caught a break and had come on the radar of a then high powered entertainment attorney. And as im sure you know those guys have relationships with everyone in the business. They can get your demo into the right hands, set up showcases, etc. He wanted to meet the whole band plus our manager for a meeting. So we went to have dinner with him at some restaurant up in Sausalito. We’re all sitting there having a good time. Im sitting right next to this guy. Next thing I know I feel his hand running up my leg towards my crotch! Being from NY this wasn’t the first time this sort of thing happened to me. But it really bummed me out. Cause right then I knew it was over. This guy wasnt gonna do a damned thing for us. Because there was no way in Hell I was going do anything with this dude. Besides being straight I also had my pride and morality. Id rather go nowhere then play that game. When I told the guys in the band what happened they were actually cracking up. And I get why. From that day on they would jokingly say “You should have taken one for the team!”😂 Surprisingly enough he did follow through and we did a showcase at the Whiskey for a few A&R guys. But nothing ever came of it. We were supposed to do another demo and a couple of more showcases after that but he just dropped off the radar.
Man sad to hear that you went through that.
@@badbrad Thanks man. You as well. Interestingly enough I saw an interview on UA-cam with Rich Black . The singer from Shark Island. He was recounting a story from his days on the strip where the same thing happened to him. Some record label guy wanted him to go and meet him at a West Hollywood bar after his show. Wonder if it was your guy?? Haha.
Oh wow man. Did not know that.
Damn, that’s a tough one. Growing up in Philadelphia, I was warned about people like this by my parents. I am glad your creep warning went off. It’s all about power. When he pulled up the first time, and if you said you were working, he would have left.
He seemed like just a normal dude. But thankful my intuition tipped me off.
New sub here ... I just happened across your channel a few days ago and I'm backtracking/binge watching your videos. This one creeped me out. I can just imagine what this guy was after. I'm pretty sure he was grooming a "country bumpkin" if you know what I mean. I'm glad you didn't take him up on his offer. I thought about chasing the dream when I was young but ended up living the mundane life in small town Arkansas working as a machinist and fabricator. I've played off and on as a hobby for over 50 years now. I've been on stage a few times with some real pros and I've had my own band playing bars and festivals etc .. After doing it for a while I think I'm glad I never went for it. It's a lot of work and very little reward in the end. Being on stage and making people dance was awesome but loading in and out, the rehearsals and moving equipment took a lot of time just to make 100 dollars IF you were lucky just wasn't worth it when you had the time to sit and think about it. After doing the math we weren't even making minimum wage considering all the time that went into doing a few hours on stage. I still love music but I'm back to treating it as a hobby again. I'm really digging your channel and have a lot of catching up to do but I'll see you in the comments on some of your other videos.
I'm really glad you found this channel. You're right it is ridiculous when you break down the expenses and time it takes to do it all...and then the pay doesn't match. I was from the South and he may have thought I was a bumpkin, but I've always been pretty street smart and don't fall for any b.s..
Whoa! I lived on Lanewood next to Hollywood high school in 90-91! Just found your channel and digging it! Thanks and will post my adventures soon! Cheers!
Wow very cool. Thanks for finding me.
I enjoyed this video, but am still wasbing the smut out of my ears. Glad you had the courage and the wisdom to say no to the back door entry.
Ha ha yes always.
Another great story my friend!! These are very interesting man!! I’m glad nothing crazy happened with that weirdo!! Have a great day man and God bless!! 🎸🤘💯
Thank you!🙏
Thanks Brad! I feel like I need to drive to Temecula after hearing that story…😂. Loving your channel brother! 🙏🏻
Thank you! Yeah I needed a shower after telling that one.
@@badbrad 😂
Dude, I have been binge watching your videos for a couple days. You have inspired me to do another "Gig Stories" on my own channel.
I had a similar encounter with a malignant nacissist when I was 21. He was a rump roamer of the worst kind. Little did I know that I would encounter him 10 years later. I gotta do this one now. I have to! Thank you for your stories and inspiration. I am a couple years older than you.
Glad I could help. Best to you on your channel and in life.
Gig stories are the best...we all have bunches of them.
Yes!
If one younger person reads this and learns something then it was worth you telling the story.
Seems like the entertainment industry and politics are the fields where this kinda thing happens alot. Not often a young guy goes to a construction site looking for entry level grunt work and is misdirected into something creepy but in the entertainment and political world many younger will do anything just to get noticed or be included at the start, sometimes for free even. Many older established creeps out to take advantage of that.
Hopefully it helps someone. Biz is filled with creeps.
Thanks!
🙏 best to you! It is much appreciated.
I recently discovered your channel an enjoying the conversation you are doing
Thank you!
Another Temecula mention. I have come to see you mention it quite a bit. Love that and all of your content as a humble Temecula resident. It is a beautiful place, but much different from those days. Although still a very peaceful, clean and safe town. Would love to hear you play one of the wineries some day. Best wishes to you and your family.
Man that would be awesome to play one. Got some pictures playing the balloon fest decades ago. Would be sad to be there and my old friend is not there tho.
Excellent Video! The music business, well actually, the whole entertainment business, is littered with creepy people in powerful positions. It really does come down to whether you"re willing to sell your soul and possibly other parts of your body to gain fame and success.
Absolutely
@crucifiddle well actually, our society, based on material and physical excess.
Brad, I try to keep up with your videos. You are prolific, and that's a good thing. Amazing that your former roommate once was Lance Morrison, now of the Dirty Knobs.
Yeah he’s a good guy. Gonna do an interview with him real soon.
I've never experienced anything like that but I'm not easy on the eyes either lol
I hear ya.
Good grief...I got creeped out just listening to it man. Respect to you!
Thanks
Brad! You're not going to believe this, but I actually alluded to this in a comment reply on the last video I watched! WEIRD...
Got a whole treasure grove of actual events that transpired like this. Stuff that still lingers and won't go away.
Thank you for your bravery to share this story.
Wow man. It’s a crazy world out there.
Dude sounds like you dodged a bullet with that one.. Wow 😳
Absolutely.
Wow this story hits close to home - literally. I used to live in Temecula and know exactly where that is. That’s exactly why I live away from Los Angeles. I can get there (to LA) when I need to but I’m far enough where it still feels like normal city compared to the big city
I wonder how much it has changed. IT was a super small town with one nightclub and one theatre back in the day. My girlfriend managed the movie theatre.
@@badbrad it has grown quite a bit since then but still does have a lot of the same feel. That theater is still there now, it always gets rebranded to a newer styled theater but for those of use who were there quite a while ago that’s the theme of the whole city. I lived there around 2005-2007 then later around 2015-2019 and in both of those time periods it grew drastically. Sadly the one thing that changed for the worse is the traffic. Getting from Temecula to murrieta used to be a 10 minute drive, now it takes half hour to 45 (or longer if there’s an accident), just to go 5-10 miles. The population has really grown too. Back then in the 80s it was probably really small since the city was just starting to be incorporated at that time, so now it’s on par with any major city (outside LA). I’d say now it feels like a little more of a north San Diego feeling. But as busy and built up as it is now, definitely still not as bad as LA traffic. A lot more commercial buildings and new business as well. It really grew in that regard. I bet in the 80s when you went it was really open and sparse, but a lot of that area has been filled in with tract homes. Wine country is still nice though and really allows for that small town winery vibe, just a 10 minute drive outside the main city
Wow I'm sure I wouldn't recognize it now.
@@badbrad yeah you would definitely be surprised at how much they’re grown/built since then. It’s still a nice town luckily. It’s a slightly more affordable way to live not too far from San Diego and the beaches
That was very interesting and some fantastic advice!
Glad you enjoyed it!
So validating! I have been DIY for more than 30 years now. This is why.
I hear ya!
That’s quite a drive to Temecula from Hollywood. 91 East to the 15 South.. drive another 20 minutes. Rolling hills.. nice town, Man.
It is indeed....
Funny... I had a very similar situation in LA 1984 having newly arrived. Creepy is an understatement. I can totally relate. We could write a book most assuredly.
Yes indeed. Had to take a shower after telling this story.
@@badbrad Hahahahahahahahahahah! Yep ... Had to take one after a good listen to this video. I'll stay tuned.
@@Rel6956 Thank you!
Thanks Brad; riveting story! I watch a channel called "Wings of Pegasus" hosted by a guitarist named Fil. He's proved the Eagles and Taylor Swift lip sync to recorded vocal tracks at concerts pretending they're live vocals. Any insight on this?
I watch his channel. I’ve done some stuff on the eagles and my opinion is it is not cool.
Love Fil , Wings of Pegasus is a great channel 👍
great story...God bless you brother ✌❤😎
Thank you. God Bless!
You would have been practicing your licks on more than just stamps in the mailroom! Cheers Brad!!
Ha ha no thanks!
It’s heartening to hear how professional your then roommates reacted to this incident. No childish snide comments. And with that in mind and from the comfort of decades and miles of separation let me just say this. I feel certain the A&M rep was trying to entice you to attempt some let’s call it “woodwind arranging”. 😄 Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
lol
@@badbrad, wasn’t sure how that would fly Brad. Good on you brother! Fascinating stuff, love that you’re documenting this. Not this experience in particular, just all the aspects of your trade. God speed!
@@papagrande8374 Thank you sir!
In 91, I was hired by a female in a mountain resort area as a staff artis t.I found out through the grapevine that she hired me to be her boy toy. I didnt cooperate and didnt last .long
WOW!
Sounds like it was a common thing to happen back then (probably even today too) I mean Steven Adler openly admits in his book
Yep!
The amount of gay predators in the music industry is scary ! And most of them are top of the ladder promoters managers producers and label owners 😮
Once read someone discribing the music biz saying its a world of the selfish, brutality, misleading false claims, empty promises, dark paths with no light at the end, where innocent childhood dreams go to die, where the young and weak are walked on by a large man in golf cleats as famine and disease take their toll mentally and physically. There is also a dark side to the industry.
Yeah sounds like Hunter Thompson.
The music business is a narrow, plastic trench lined with pimps and thieves. Then, there’s the downside.
-Dr. Hunter S. Thompson
@@KameaMedia Where good men die in the streets.....there's also a downside.
@@badbrad Where innocence and truth are stripped away faster than a seniors social security check at a casino, there is also a downside.
I think it was Quincy Jones that said all of that.
Great story.
Thanks for listening
Been watching this guy for a few weeks now. The world-weary garbled vocal tone and unkempt toupee drew me right in. I'm the same age and that's me in 1988 in the pic, so there's that too. I'm a new fan. This guy can wax it.
You nailed it all but the toupee… it’s the unkempt old man hair.
Dude that truck looked awesome. Wish I had that now
I know me to. Mine was pretty beaten up from the dirt roads back home.
Steven Adler spoke about the predators in the music industry & even drugging young musicians & taking advantage of them…
Very sad.
Good Brad passed on the backstage pass!!!!!
Yeah no can do.
Overcast here today in London too.
wow
Alright Brad, I've watched enough videos to know that you and I probably walked by each other at some freaking point in the early 90s. You lived on Orange while you went to GIT. I lived one street over on Sycamore while going to GIT. You lived on Lanewood as well. I lived on Lanewood about 2 apartments down from yours on the corner of Orange, across from Hollywood High. Freaking wild man 😆 🤣 😂
wow ...yes we probably walked right past each other carrying our guitars.
that guy had a serious crush on you , path of glory is not always gold paved !!!
Man you are so right.
Moving to Florida Bradenton Sarasota Tampa are As a teen from a small upstate ny town. I had to smarten up quick.
The world was different after that to me.
Situations happened that made me really know I have angels watching over me.
Moved back to NY at 19. A totaly different person street wises that is.
Havn't been back yet but want to. That was 1990
Yeah I would
Imagine that would be a cultural shock.
First time down there I was 10 and in the country.
Went back at 16 dad was living in Bradenton. Then my brother passed away I quit school went off the rails lol.
Commercial fished with my dad 600 a week at that age 1987 was a lot of money and never even had a car on the road and still went thru it like water.
Lotta lsd and then mushrooms. Then quit the lsd.
No real friends no support of his passing.
Parties all over all the time. Lots of bands always jamming and partying in the storage unit Reas sometimes it'd take 3 days to find my way home. Woke up in messed up places. What a ride that era was..
Hahahahaha.
Left ny jot knowing what crack or. Cocaine was. I stayed away from that stuff.
3 years later back to NY and the shit was in my tiny town of 2000.
Back then ny was culturally 3 years behind Florida at least.
Didn't have internet and cell phones back then.
I actualy miss those days. The lack of constant connection to this thing, smart phones, the information age yet the least common sense ever.
Band like Savatage and crimson glory the music scene down there never got the attention it deserved in the 80's.
I should have been playing music instead of partying lol.
Late bloomer I guess.
Life. Got wonky I have people waiting on me Now.
But had to service my amps also. Did one yesterday it's never sounded better now onto the fender. And about 3 guitars To finish building a few that need fret work still.
Everything is always as it should be brother..
Keep pushing. REO
Thank you!
I stayed in the valley playing half ass covers in clubs, parties, corporate events etc. It was worth every cent I`d made to get dogged on constantly.
I hear ya.
Kind of makes you wonder how some of the people got their "gigs" in Nashville. You could see that they were only "moderately" talented, but somehow got gigs at clubs that we were trying tooth and nail to land at.
Brad, maybe you have some insight on this. Do you remember in the early 90's at all how some of the bands or artist landing gigs and deals and you NEVER saw them around town or even around the area at all? It is like they just popped up out of thin air.
That is another reason why I left the biz, I was either not in the cool club, not willing to participate in the extra curricular "activities" and not willing to sell my soul as well. I KNOW you have seen this as well, bands that are freaking amazing talent in surplus, but just cannot catch a break. Like EVERYONE going to see the Wooten's at 3rd and Lindsley, stealing YOUR chops, but the status quo keeps marching on right?
I’m not sure what went on I just know it was incredibly hard to catch a break. Plenty of peeps got pushed to the front of the line. It was never about talent.
@@badbrad That may be a good idea for a video! I remember seeing bands at showcases and I never heard of them. It may have been their first and only real gig. I rarely saw guys paying their dues. I do see old faces that are getting some sort of success these days and I am happy for them.
Yeah play one showcase and get a record deal...use to happen alot.
@@badbrad That would be a great episode. I bet you have some great stories.
indeed
🙈 jesus dude , lived to tell the tale 👍🏻
yes with soul intact
yes soul intact.
Nothing like the sound of amplifiers with actual vacuum tubes...🎉🎉
Absolutely!
That was a great decision. I know you needed the money/job terribly bad. That guy put you in a very uncomfortable situation, he had motives all along. I guess he thought you being from Virginia (the south) made you stupid or something. You were a very strong young man to walk away from that at the time. 👍
There is no amount of money worth the cost of your soul.
@@badbrad Amen!
@@rodneyhutchins2816 🙏
do you have any videos of this "casting couch" episode ? [ oh its not for me ..its for a friend ]
Video from a Job interview 40 years ago?
EWW! some sick creepy people in our business.
Yes indeed!
Brad, was it P. Daddy??? lol
No lol
in 1967 I was 10 years old. played every Thursday - Sunday 4 days weekly from 9 to 3am in a strip club my my uncle who played trumpet. I did that gig for just over 3 years. 10 years old playing in a strip club in montreal.. I could write many books on the MUSAC BIZZ... LOVE YOUR VIDS
OMG....that is incredible!
Homey don't play that game!!!👋⚡💯
You know it.
Did you get the mail room job?
nooooo
@@badbrad 😂
Sounds like you made a correct decision.
Absolutely
He probably wanted you to run coke or meth man.
Either way you probably did the right thing.
People don't understand everyone commits on average 3 felonies a day whether they realize they are or not, thats 3 chances a day to lose all your rights for life.
I lost mine at 19 for trying to help someone out that ended up putting me in the wrong place at the right time, but never having been in trouble with the law and being beaten and threatened by the cops I would have said anything they wanted.
Sounds like you dodged a bullet bro.
That could have been it. I’ll never fully know and didn’t want to know.
@@badbrad heard that brother lol you gotta trust your gut instinct
@@BillyBlaze7 for sure.
Temecula's definitely not the "small town" it was in the 80's. I will say as far Ca goes, born in '58, I lived there till just under a year ago. Relatively speaking they've grown Temecula much more thoughtfully than so much of the formerly most desirable state to live in the continental states, anyway.
That is a really interesting take.
Flea played on you outta know morrisette didnt he? In all my years playing in bands in Australia ive never heard a bass player do that bass correctly!
Yeah flea played on that song Lance is on the rest of the record.
From what I understand Flea rushed that part so hard the producer had to do some trickery to get it in time to the track.
Well you had my son silenced on our ride home. 😂 Cheers from Fairfax VA!
He was listening?
@@badbrad He's just shy of 18.
@@brubakersflatcakes9755 oh
Fun story
I wouldn’t exactly call it fun?
I'm just throwing it out there today is payday so I can actually make it happen immediately
Thank you. 🙏
Long story short! Models, music industry, it s always the same song!!!!!!!
Pretty much
I remember when I was about 15 years old I guess listening to a Kansas album and a small voice in my head said you're better than most of them but I don't want you to step one foot into that pool because it's all satanic... I remember feeling such a like a gut punch like well what in the world is the gift for then if I can't use it.... I'm always going to choose what God wants to do and I'm still crazy as hell I won't even sing offensive lyrics my mind instantly changes it... Just like television is programming the music industry is programming as well as I'm sure you figured out by now and only the anti establishment musicians that believe in Jesus I believe we've been saved for the end times to have songs of Hope to counteract all the crap that's been stuffed into people's souls and their minds... Now that everybody's so suicidal angry frustrated ...there could be lyrics to help them not to do such a thing... that can be lyrics that can show them the right way to be a man and the right way to be a woman , the right way to be a patriot and the right way to be a follower of Jesus Christ which isn't some hokey religious crap...
Yes! Great post.
Yup the word is the teacher one passage can bring you a whole album worth of lyrics
@@jeffmeredith2100 ok....
🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Yesterday was my 8-hour day of singing I had to take breaks though cuz it was kind of hot but I did the full 8 hours I had people lined up outside my place I always do cuz I live next to a McDonald's McDonald's parking lot starts filling up people listening and s*** it's amazing but yeah I could do 4 hours today I am that ready
Awesome!
I have a quarter acre at halfway between Daytona and DeLand but since my wife got sick I haven't been able to go over there in like 8 years and I got a feeling it's probably nothing but homeless people that have taken over I'm not sure but I'm seriously thinking about coming back there I've got regular monthly income and I would be the best roommate you ever had... I be a reliable 7 to,800 rent a month cuz that's what I'm looking for right now I'm looking to go back to Daytona but I don't want to live with somebody that I'm probably not going to get along with
I’m living with my family. Appreciate the offer.
BABYLON!!!!!
Perhaps so.
I thought Brad moved to Florida?
I have but I filmed a bunch of episodes so I would have time to get into my new house. Got a stockpile to keep the channel going.
I think he wanted you to run a “MALE” room not a mail room🤬. Very sleazy people in the music biz thats for sure…maybe it was a drug mule job…glad you escaped unscathed.
Me to!
Lost Angels ...the devil's pit.
Yes!
Brad, I've been teaching guitar for 35 years. My most important lesson (to students) is that it is key to avoid the business of music. Also, If they choose to be a 'pro musician' be prepared to jump into a tank of sharks...because there is no difference. Great stories, bro! Keep 'em coming.
@@badbrad At the time you were in LA, my buddies made the same trip from Chicago. Within months, two started working in the porn industry. The other two picked up life long coke habits. They came home with their tails firmly tucked. Damaged goods with shitty stories of no glory. I commend you for being a true Rock and Roll survivor. Kudos.
Wow man....crazy. I'm luck to be alive for sure. It is a shark tank.
🎯🎯🎯
Thank you!
Are you ever too old to rock?
I don't think so.
No ya just gotta do it earlier in the day
@@jeffmeredith2100 Lol
50 bucks is 50 bucks ........
Nah
@@badbrad 🤣
@@cooterbascher lmao
Bubba said desire is the root of all suffering. You saved yourself the grief. Perhaps you should have applied at the female room instead? Either way integrity is supreme.
Yes it is!
There's no future in the past.
Yes indeed. Thanks so much for your subscription.
That's how Corey Haim got his start. And I don't think it was Donny Fields at all
You may be right.
I love that this channel is pickup up. Comments likes and views.
Brad's a good dude honest and straight.
Doejanneed to ask for like and subs.
It'll handle itself if it's meant to be..
Thank you!🙏
Had you gone to dinner and he told you what the $50 an hour was for, you might have vomited all over the dinner table and really lost your marbles... Better to keep your soul and let the devil claim some other poor fool dumb enough to trade it for worthless trinkets...
You're right. It never is worth it.
The music business Is a crappy business, it is a narrow but deep money trench with thieves and cutthroats on both sides, and that’s the good part of it!
Hello Hunter!
Try auditioning for Dead Kennedys
Not sure I get what your saying
@@badbrad Sorry to be cryptic there, your story reminded me of a friend who tried out to be in that band, lets just say he had a similar proposal.
@@Saywhatiwantto wow that's crazy....
Snakes, demons and neo-bolsheviks around every corner
You ain’t lying
In 1984 I was in my first All original music, band called PUSH
I was fairly decent looking and in pretty good shape also as were you Bad Brad but you sir had way better thick curly hair
mine was baby fine and it looked like a drowned rat after sweating profusely on stage I had tight curly frizzy pube lookin’ hair on the sides of my head but wavy on top
it was naturally crummy. Is what my doctor referred to it as SO IF I ever went bald, I could be a Bozo body double or impersonator though lol
My former manager in ‘84 was Not that much older than my fellow band members and myself, I was 23 & David Helfant with FANDEL Mgmt- I thought he kind of suggested or jested it might benefit PUSH to buddy up to the vice president of
A & R at Atlantic records or act a little more friendly than I was willing to comfortably I’m thinking in my head there’s no way WHAT? And the guys did the same thing rolled their eyes like oh Dougie
so I ASSumed - that is what
he meant, that I should or could take one for the team ? (band) and of course I was like
NOPE - NO WAY José!!
I mean
David DID NOT didn’t outright or blatantly tell me to go take it in the****
but It felt real awkward and uneasy Uncomfortable even a feeling come over me, NO PUN Intended!! and he could probably read on my face or my burning red ears when I approached him and introduced myself to him
Not an
Afternoon but an evening industry showcase with other labels invited-- it was upstairs in Gina Barsamian’s booking office after we kicked ass so we thought
upstairs at Doug Weston’s World, Famous nightclub,(where Elton John played stateside in the 70s) TROUBADOUR on Santa Monica Blvd. Ding ding Which I was familiar with what went down on Sunset Blvd.with the working (girls) after hours or maybe even during the day ? I didn’t know cause I never paid nor would I pay to have
a female companion, even if it was only a minute or two haha not trying to brag or anything!
Maybe I was a tad homophobic?
I thought I wasn’t!!
butt it felt like it was a ploy or he was insinuating I Pour on my charming demeanor, or offering a limp wrist, which David never did say that and I didn’t wanna tease the VP - making him think that I was something that I wasn’t !! even though I wore eyeliner, and could do a pretty good gay impression ??
i was ultra limber I could do the splits and flexible, but not to that point of flexibility to be something I’m not we might’ve been considered a little glam. More pop metal like the band CANDY more so than wasp Similar to RATTS attire
we weren’t fully dressed in drag like The New York Dolls or like the Troub’s Lighting Director, who was wearing a pink leather mini skirt and the leopard print pink & black Capezio’s dance shoes. named Gus who later changed his stage name to Taime Downe
True story I even gave him a ride up to FIG’s after party as far as I know, he definitely wasn’t swinging both ways, but a lot of people aren’t out of the closet because of AIDS AND I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CANDY AYDS
My look was more gymnast meets the court jester/clown with torn red fishnet stockings over black and white polkadot opposite front left & rt
legged spandex With legwarmers and I sang upside down in gravity boots ala Richard Gere in American gigolo
I did wear super tight form fitting almost like ballet spandex come to think of it oh crap with All black Capezio shoes that since rumors had been tossed he might like the male species look more that maybe he kinda had the hots for me or
now that I read this, I kind of was dressing the part geez pretty flamboyant, but not like Ruby Slippers ?
Our band
PUSH did a the showcase at the TROUBADOUR & got offered $150,000 record deal same amount as RATT - I had the audio tape cassette from my phone answering machine for the longest time with that message on there “how does it feel to be an Atlantic recording artist?”and apparently
I wasn’t friendly enough, and he supposedly fell down a flight of stairs, hit his head and got amnesia and forgot ever offering PUSH And for some reason, I was understanding because I had had amnesia as a child for two months didn’t even remember my own hamster or what it even was so I took up a bouquet of flowers, cause I was working at Conroy’s florist up to Cedar Sinai, where he was Recovering from the concussive fall
So I doubt he remembers that gesture either so the
$150,000 deal was taken off the table and was a big rude awakening of how the industry operated cold wake up call
I was a member of the Grammys when I first moved out there in ‘83 both my momager and I joined at the same time and we had our manager David joined because he just graduated from law school entertainment, lol and she said it would be good for networking. - Now he’s on the board of directors of the Grammys. he’s also on the board of guitar center and is tied into the industry quite well. I wasn’t willing to sell my soul either. I guess coming from a Midwestern town and being in a Christian rock band starting out in 1980. I had a moral compass and it’s not that I was anti-gay because I had two gay uncles I thought maybe I could hook them up With him and maybe one of them too would take one for our band sake since I invited them both to the show, they lived in Sun Valley and Sunland, butt they were both the Pitcher not the catcher Or the QB, not the wide receiver- so no deal, but I have a clear conscience. Unlike some other people that might’ve swung that way anyway, and didn’t mind doing flesh favors for deals. Flesh for fantasy the fantasy of being a rockstar. To the state people still asked me how come you didn’t get signed you had the songs the look you were so close. How do you explain to the normal Layman
in Gina Barsamian’s booking office upstairs at Doug Weston’s World, Famous nightclub,(where Elton John played stateside in the 70s) TROUBADOUR on Santa Monica Blvd. Ding ding Which I was familiar with what went down on Sunset Blvd.with theworking (girls) after hours or maybe even during the day ? I didn’t know cause I never paid nor would I to have a female companion, even if it was a minute or two lol Maybe I was a tad homophobic?
I thought I wasn’t!!
butt it felt like it was a ploy or he was insinuating I Pour on my charming demeanor, lol and I didn’t wanna tease the VP making him think that I was something that I wasn’t !! even though we wore eyeliner, we weren’t full on dressed in drag like New York Dolls or like the Troub’s Lighting Director, who is wearing a pink leather mini skirt and the leopard print pink & black Capezio’s named Gus who later changed his stage name to Taime Downe My look was more gymnastic jester/clown who is torn red fishnet stockings over black and white polkadot spandex I did wear super tight form fitting almost like spandex with Capezio shoes that since he heard he might like the male species look more that maybe he kinda had the hots for me or something. Don’t know it freaks me out too.
Our band
PUSH did a showcase at the TROUBADOUR & got offered $150,000 record deal same amount as RATT - I had the audio tape cassette from my phone answering machine for the longest time with that message on there “how does it feel to be an Atlantic recording artist ?and apparently
I wasn’t friendly enough, and he supposedly fell down a flight of stairs, hit his head and got amnesia and forgot ever offering the deal so it was taken off the table and was a big rude awakening of how the industry operated wake up call
I was a member of the Grammys when I first moved out there and ‘83 both my mom and I joined at the same time and we had every manager join because he just graduated from law school entertainment, lol and my mother said it would be good for networking. - Now he’s on the board of directors of the Grammys. he’s also on the board at Guitar Center and represents EDDIE the owner of the TROUBADOUR now and is tied into the industry quite well. I wasn’t willing to sell my soul either. I guess coming from a Midwestern town and being in a Christian rock band starting out in 1980. I had a moral compass and it’s not that I was anti-gay because I had two gay uncles I thought maybe I could hook them up With him and maybe one of them too would take one for our band sake since I invited them both to the show, they lived in Sun Valley and Sunland, but they were both the Pitcher not the catcher Or the QB, not the wide receiver-
That is a wild story. Sounds like you made the right call.
You have good instincts.
Thank you!
You being a newbie in town. There is no telling what would of happened to you. May have been the end of you. Scarry.
Very well could have been.
P Diddy. Enough said.
Yes! Sickens me.
All that story, all that drama and that’s all that happened? Really that’s it !? lol. Ok sounds terrible, not sure how u survived 😅. Ya it’s a creepy phone call with a highly suggestive proposition but not really physiological damaging. By the way how did he know u were from Virginia? Outta state plates? Also who just approaches a stranger at the gate of his apartment and starts a conversation? Weird man , really weird.
Yeah it was weird and nothing essentially happened but it’s an interesting story.
Two words: Harvey Weinstein.
Indeed
@@badbrad HI Brad! Happy 4th 🎉. Enjoying your channel, glad "the algorithm" aka "our new robot corporate overlords who have accomplished one of the largest wealth transfers in history" got me here. See, they _really are_ benevolent (not!). Cheers, I'll be back.
@@joelhague5515 Happy 4th to you as well. Thank you!
You sold your soul the second you picked up your first guitar. 😂
Not sure that is accurate but ok.