I look at bands like Dokken where George hated don and vice versa but they just put up with it because they knew they were lucky enough to fit all the other puzzle pieces together . Which is a miracle.
In that era, as a black musician, the type casting was a very real and demoralizing thing if you wanted anything outside of the soul,funk and jazz genres.
Man you are so right. There were some brothers on the strip and I had a few friends that were from Compton and would come to our shows. If we could have found an incredible soul/rock vocalist that would have been the perfect front man for our band, but nobody came to audition. In some ways rock and funk intermingled via the rock guitar solos in funk music but largely it didn't intermingle as much as it needed to on the Strip.
dwaynejones1146...I agree with you 100%. That was one of the reasons why I started my own hard rock/heavy metal bands and found musicians that weren't caught up in that pre-judge mental B.S.
@@BrianManning-wh6rl That dude had serious pipes. Yeah if we could have found a dude like that. The Bullet Boys had already hit and were pretty much done at this time. We needed fresh blood.
You were a Heavy Metal /Hard Rock player but because you were black they stereotype you has a R&B player!!!! I heard that from the guys in the band, Sound Barrier!!! The record executives kept telling them ," Your Black!!! Why are you playing Rock N Roll?" "Why aren t you guys playing R&B?" So glad they didn't listen but they struggled to get a record deal let alone to get marketed properly. 😮😮 Its stupid!!!! Black people were pioneers of Rock N Roll!!!!
@@michaelbujanda8785 THIS!!! But also it was tough to get black audiences to support black rock acts. They try to keep us all in our own boxes and music is a melting pot.
So many of us have been there and done that. Getting the right people in the band... talent, dedication, willing to put in the extreme hours if you actually want to create something great. My last long term gig was a cover band that did really well, but I had given up on the 'original band' thing around 1986. Going forward, I got into my own little studio thing with midi, sampling... anything to not rely on others to create - that was the day time, and my cover band worked about four nights a week... so I could make some money while trying to make it on my own terms. Exited music biz 100% Dec 1996... played my last gig and got a good paying corporate job at age 36. I gave it enough time before I went to plan B. No regrets, and a lot of fun had along the way.
Auditions can be a very humbling experience, or worse, humiliating. I showed up a total green horn, wanna be frontman in the 80's, and the band told me beforehand they had a PA for me to use. It was actually a Shure 57 mic and a Fender Twin guitar amp. Everyone was turned up to 10 and I blew my voice out half way through the first song. Of course the band Dogged me out. One heck of a emotional beating for me! Live and learn brother! Love your channel Sir!
I enjoyed hearing about the strip. Brad you are an awesome story teller! Even though I am a 60 year old rocker on a cover band level you took me back in time! You have a great gift as a communcator! I could probably talk rock with you for hours! 👍🎸🎤🥁
Every-single-band I've ever been involved with had that one guy. I knew it wasn't the norm but i'd learned to accept it. I basically wasted 35 years of my life trying as hard as I possibly could and I finally gave up. People lied to me, stole from me and even started rumors to make me look like the bad guy. Probably just bad luck. It's even close to impossible for me to trust people in general after all that. I really, really loved playing the music though. I loved long rehearsals, nowhere gigs, didn't matter because after you play the song enough times it gets sharp as a razor and i just loved that control. I guess it was worth it. I really didn't have anything better to do. Love your channel!
I am an older 70 and a true lover of it. I get you completely! I wrote, I played bands and solos. Bass and guitar. The booze finally got me and I had to tetreat and recover! I am a creator and love the jams and search for that feel. I get you, man, you made it!
1984: I was 14 years old when we formed shock in San Diego CA 1984. Jerry (Jamie) was always one of the best singers in town. This whole thing started when they were in High School (1981) and the two rival bands went head to head in the Madison High School talent show. Iron Pirate VS Roxauf. I think IP played Michael Schenker's group "Armed and Ready". Jamie's Roxauf played Wasted by Def Lep. After the talent show they combined both bands and called Underground. Underground was a solid band and played out everywhere. Fast forward to 1984 they breakup and start a new band, call it Shock and recruit me to play drums at the age of 14. You cant make this shit up, i seem to recall that the black cloud of unfortunate things would rain on Jamie every other weekend. I was there when he got punched in the mouth at Alberetos taco shop and lost his front teeth. The guys were at least 5 years older then me and the alcoholism was getting in the way of the dream. Time to move on..... 1987: Started a band with Vince Votel (Spiders and Snakes) called Street Angel. Later that year we both audition for Ruby Slippers in Los Angels and get the gig. My introduction to Hollywood was different then most. My 1st gig was to a Sold Out Country Club and it just continued for the whole 1st year selling out Troubadour Whiskey and the Roxy. All good thing come to a end and it did with the arrival of Guns N Roses.. Next: I try out for Bang Tango this is before they get singed and didn't get the gig. 1988: Then I bumped into some San Diego musicians at Leeds rehearsal studio where i worked and we went on to start Asphalt Ballet and signed to Virgin in 1990 after 134 shows in 2 years at the age of 20 years old. We played every venue in LA SD AZ SF and all places between. We just set the terms to play as many shows as possible and hoped eventually someone would see us. We played the Strip but we also played Club With No Name, Bordello, Cathouse, Club Lingerie, Xposure 54, Red Light District. We played a Sushi bar in Fontana next to the salad bar, so I'm not joking we would play anywhere. We were a Hollywood Rock band but we a had a singer that was from the deep south and he didn't sound like all them Hollywood hair band front men. It would be this that would get us the deal later. This also built us a following and just like we thought a battle of the bands for KNAC at FM Station led us to a chance encounter with Myron Grombacher who was a judge for the event. After are show he came and found us said he loved the band. He invited Arron Jacovis at Virgin down to see us and we got a deal. Back then you lived it, breathed it every minute of everyday. I'm very thankful to to all the people that helped along the way. I could have never done it without the help of some beautiful people that gave there time and effort to help me succeed. There is way more to the story but as a contribution to your channel it has the same ear marks of things your speaking of and thought you might enjoy another angle traveled thru the same streets. Love your channel and the stories you share. Wish you the best in growing this channel. You got something brewing here and your crushing it.
Gary was from right up the road. I was the PD at KROK in 91-92 and used to spin the hell out of you guys before soul survive even broke. We hung out once at y’all’s show at the backstage in Houston. Shotgun Messiah, Asphalt and T-Ride. Somewhere there’s an RnR magazine with a pic of us that could probably still have us all in jail! Y’all were supposed to be HUGE! Cheryl Valentine told me so! Lol
Happy Saturday Sounds like you had one hell of a ride, my friend. I tell my kids....you only get out of life, what you put into it. Sounds as though you put the time in. CHEERS to ALL
Happy Tuesday, Im not sure what I would do if someone started brewing tea.........probably start laughing😂😂😂 thinking its a joke. You bring back so many memories with your stories. We had a drummer that left practice to go to his little sisters pretend kool-aid party, HUH?? We also had a drummer that would always be late for practice at his own house, so we would audition other drummers on his kit at his house. THANKS for the memory jolt. CHEERS to ALL
Hey Brad! Great story, thank you. Man, you were so close! I'm sorry to hear about your band's vocalist issues. Especially on showcase night. Cheers from Jacksonville, FL.
Loved your stories Brother Brad! Always quality when you do a video. I'm thinking that when you finally write your book it will be an epic tome, looking forward to that day! Thanks for all you do and share with us. Thanks, John
I remember sleeping on the floor of a rented warehouse in an industrial park when the choice had to be made between a place to rehearse and/or a place to lay my head at night while forming a band back in the late seventies. Those days certainly weren’t easy however I would not trade the memories for anything in the world today. 😎
Hi Brad I saw your videos after my 1st trip to nashville/Broadway in 2023 and then you gave me a totally new perspective about the current business in Nashville I know a guy who brags about playing at the Whiskey in LA He and his band pay the Whiskey a fee to play there..go figure
amen on your last comment. To have all bad ass musicians that are committed ... Good luck. Not only those two things but also with similar musical taste and ideas. Good blending personalities too on top of that. Sheeeit.
Why didn't the dude drink his tea on the way to the audition ? What a tea diva ! Imagine what he would be like with a hint of success if he is already acting like that ? HAHAHA !!!!
Enjoyable stories here. Brewing tea at an audition sounds priceless to me. And then to basically be underwhelming after that..."Get the fu*k out" - understandable. Finding band members is always a total nightmare no matter what era, genre, country or level. Like throwing a penny and hitting the moon
Kid I went to high school with went to la la land. Apparently had a shot at the warrant drummer spot . He was the long haired best friend in Don’t tell mom the babysitter dead.
I started putting bands together when I was 15. Covered Crue, T.S., Hendrix, Priest, Zepplin etc... Our originals were really bad at first, just fragments of crap you'd never want to listen to. We'd practiced 5 to 6 days a week for 4 to 5 hours at a time covering copies and spending time trying to write (improvise). When I was 19 I joined up with 4 dudes from my high school. Same pattern...practice, write etc .. Somewhere in that band we turned a corner, started blowing up back yard parties, bars, lots of hot looking chicks coming to our shows. At that point we decided to play the Whiskey a go go. We packed it out with our fans who drove all the way from San Bernardino to get there. The guy who signed Van Halen there to be the resident house band approached me on Sunset blvd asking us to come back and play for them the following Saturday waving the pay to play fee. They really liked us and our originals which says alot about this country. You can do anything you want if you're willing to put in the hard work. We played the Whiskey in January 1989.
No matter how good someone is at vocals or their instrument or how much fun they are to be around if they are causing trouble you fire them. I've had to do a few times over the 35 years I've been in bands.
To me,it would be easier winning the lotto,than getting 5 individuals together with talent and messed up lives,to meet up at the same time,perform well,get along,and all that.Let alone cut a record,and have every bodies influences satisfied.That would be a miricle!
"Lead Singer Bingo" = that is one ice cold bucket of water to be standing in. (stood in that bucket too many times) - I answered an add "looking for drummer" HOLLYWOOD ROSE" = I went and was greeted by a group of guys all strung out in a filthy sh*t hole and I turned right around and split without any fanfare, (I had left a project the Singer who was dancing with "Mr Brownstone") I had Zero Patience for nonsense. Turns out Hollywood Rose became GUNS N ROSES . - One band I had Brad Gillis audition for the Guitar spot so coked up he played like ass 1989 - another time in 1987 the Bassist from ANGEL locked himself in our bathroom for 2 hours smoking rock.
It sounds like you guys were looking for Marc Torien (BulletBoys) to front your band. 😂 You mentioned a horn section. Were you guys ‘funk’ along the lines of Extreme or Prince? To my knowledge the only other band I know that had horns back in the day was ‘Slammin’ Gladys’.
We had horns before Extreme and before Slamming Gladys...we were kind of going for what Extreme was doing....then we heard their record. Later I started including a Prince/Hendrix vibe into what we were doing.
I have seen so many posers like this, no time, bad pitch, weird personality. A good band member is so hard. I refused to go on the road with one group I was in because of so many issues. I was like, no way in hell I'm spending weeks on bad motels with these guys. Musically they were great, but so many issues.
I started losing my hair in my 20s and I had older equipment , a 73 tele deluxe and a 68 deluxe reverb amp , and as soon as I walked in to an audition with my guitar not having a pointy headstock I was out
I dealt with that shit in many bands. I was always the leader or one of the band leaders. Eventually I would lay it all out on the table the first day of audition. No girlfriends at practice. No drinking at practice. Do your homework. Show up to practice. Ext..... You know, the basics. It amazed me that I had to tell people these things.
the one member that focused more on the ladies then the music was always our singer it's like dam we need horse blinders on these dudes lol i have about 4 albums of music laying around now waiting to be worded up or organized to be ready for recording. we ended up with 1 cd and i just kept pounding out music into my laptop storing for that right fit well i'm 59 now still waiting need a tune i got um
From 87 to 89, I begged and pleaded with both Greg and Roger to dump the first guy but was continuously out voted. I was still into the music, but I was also just done at the same time. I knew this would be a complete failure in the end, and it was. Like yourself, I was the only one that had an actual job driving for Merv Griffin Ent. in Hollywood. I suppose it doesn't bode well for me that I hung around as long as I did, but I was just biding my time and learning as mush as I could while there. ' Needle in a haystack"...yep!
Amen. A band is only as good as its drummer. Every. Single. Time. Doesn’t matter how good your singer or guitarists are, if your drummer sux then your band will suck - or at least it’s full potential will not be realized.
Still in touch with Jamie...waiting on him to track some of our old tunes and one singer from Boy Elroy is supposed to track some old stuff....the audition guys were just there for a brief period. The singer we picked out of the auction I lost track with a while back...
I was there from 89 to 95. Never heard of you guys. I agree. finding the right fit for that it band was near impossible.Everyone was trying to make it quick. no one wanted to invest their time in anything. soon as they thought something was better, they jump ship or you jump ship. long live yucca street. best days of my live in hollywierd. Funny hear about the big hair and pirate ear rings. I think the whole glam look started to fade around end of 91 early 92 after nirvana stuck and ruined music.
Right, small intimate party shows went off flawless. Important shows at new venues or for people we wanted to impress.... We'd focus and rehearse seriously leading up to the show. Oh, but NOOOO... Something / someone always F*ucked it up ... Eerrrr!!!!!!
Now hiring tuba player for pro L.A. based, national rock act. We have major label contract and management. Must have: pro gear, pro attitude, hair, looks, and music degree from accredited conservatory or university. Ability to sight read bass clef a MUST. Call us if you think what it takes? This is a salaried position staring at $80,000 per year. Some drugs okay. No posers!!!
This guy pops up on my YT feed and I really want to see the vids but the low talking/high volume breathing and mouth noises are maddening! Needs a better mic.
@@Sprenklefish i feel petty complaining about it because he's a cool dude, but with the selection of channels out there, theres certain standards one must meet
@@BobbyGeneric145 It's not for everybody and I'm ok with that. I've got lots of people who like it more and more each day. I have a mic I could do more polished videos. But people like the raw truth and that's what I give. I wonder ....do people tell Tom Bukovac to plug his guitar in and get a mic. I'm over the complaining and I would think you got better things to do.
i thought i was subbed but there is a small chance i was unsubbed. I also sometimes hit buttons while listening to stuff when i am sleeping so i’ll just keep an eye on it. Thx Brad
Now ....wait a minute. 'Hold on. Let me understand this: You're saying, a 'Rock Singer.....from the Sunset Strip late 80s Era..... Had 'Issues???? Come on man. I'm havin' a hard time gettin' my head around this. I mean that is 'SO....unlike guys in a struggling, hard rock or glam 'strip-decade' band, tryin' to get signed??? I can't believe this???? ( * biggest good-natured 'groan' ...ever. Ha ha!....Why? .. Cause i lived it too. Trust me. My outfit ( Northrup) was showcasing down there, late 80s. Very likely.... Two of us in the same club on any given night. Gazarris', Country Club ( Reseda, actually) Roxy.....many others. We were being courted by Kenny Kommsar from Atlantic, who ultimately place our Singer, Johnny Edwards from Kentucky ( yes, the 'Buster Brown' Singer) in 'Foreigner, just after we broke up. I should probably have a podcast too. My 'Trail..... is littered with many stories, much like yours. ( oh...forgot; my Northrup Bros.... did "King Kobra 3'...with Carmine, '88. short lived, then we resumed looking for 'our' deal. Heady Days my Friend. What a time. ( we also had Ronnie Montrose in our Circle....who produced a Demo for us, Menlo Park, Bay Area 89.
"He had...issues...ya know....issues...issues...ya know...ya know...issues." No. I don't know. That's why I'm listening. 4 minutes in and I still don't know. Some helpful criticism - edit your product. It's not a conversation, it's a presentation. You need to keep your audience entertained and engaged. Best of luck with your channel. I'll check back in a year or two to see if I can make it through an entire 20 minute video. Cheers!
One of my favorite channels. No clickbait; pure sincerity.
THANK you!
Yep!!!!
I look at bands like Dokken where George hated don and vice versa but they just put up with it because they knew they were lucky enough to fit all the other puzzle pieces together . Which is a miracle.
Yeah you just have to go with it....
Yeah, til George knocked Don out. They reconciled a few years later.. still don't really get along, though.
I’m gonna knock you out
Moma said knock you out
In that era, as a black musician, the type casting was a very real and demoralizing thing if you wanted anything outside of the soul,funk and jazz genres.
Man you are so right. There were some brothers on the strip and I had a few friends that were from Compton and would come to our shows. If we could have found an incredible soul/rock vocalist that would have been the perfect front man for our band, but nobody came to audition. In some ways rock and funk intermingled via the rock guitar solos in funk music but largely it didn't intermingle as much as it needed to on the Strip.
dwaynejones1146...I agree with you 100%. That was one of the reasons why I started my own hard rock/heavy metal bands and found musicians that weren't caught up in that pre-judge mental B.S.
@@BrianManning-wh6rl That dude had serious pipes. Yeah if we could have found a dude like that. The Bullet Boys had already hit and were pretty much done at this time. We needed fresh blood.
You were a Heavy Metal /Hard Rock player but because you were black they stereotype you has a R&B player!!!! I heard that from the guys in the band, Sound Barrier!!! The record executives kept telling them ," Your Black!!! Why are you playing Rock N Roll?" "Why aren t you guys playing R&B?" So glad they didn't listen but they struggled to get a record deal let alone to get marketed properly. 😮😮 Its stupid!!!! Black people were pioneers of Rock N Roll!!!!
@@michaelbujanda8785 THIS!!! But also it was tough to get black audiences to support black rock acts. They try to keep us all in our own boxes and music is a melting pot.
So many of us have been there and done that. Getting the right people in the band... talent, dedication, willing to put in the extreme hours if you actually want to create something great. My last long term gig was a cover band that did really well, but I had given up on the 'original band' thing around 1986. Going forward, I got into my own little studio thing with midi, sampling... anything to not rely on others to create - that was the day time, and my cover band worked about four nights a week... so I could make some money while trying to make it on my own terms. Exited music biz 100% Dec 1996... played my last gig and got a good paying corporate job at age 36. I gave it enough time before I went to plan B. No regrets, and a lot of fun had along the way.
You probably did the right thing....
@@badbrad yea, I think so.... I am 63 now, retired at age 57. I still play everyday... but by myself. Learn covers... it's fun.
@@YouCanCallMeDon That is what it is all about.
Auditions can be a very humbling experience, or worse, humiliating. I showed up a total green horn, wanna be frontman in the 80's, and the band told me beforehand they had a PA for me to use. It was actually a Shure 57 mic and a Fender Twin guitar amp. Everyone was turned up to 10 and I blew my voice out half way through the first song. Of course the band Dogged me out. One heck of a emotional beating for me! Live and learn brother! Love your channel Sir!
Oh man….
Picked up 500 subscribers this week!!!
Those numbers are going to keep climbing exponentially, keep up the good work!
I hope so!!! Thank you! I'm ready for it to take off. You and I both know it's been a slow and steady incline.
I enjoyed hearing about the strip. Brad you are an awesome story teller! Even though I am a 60 year old rocker on a cover band level you took me back in time! You have a great gift as a communcator! I could probably talk rock with you for hours! 👍🎸🎤🥁
We probably could!!!
Just stumbled onto this channel. Very good content. New sub my man. Keep up the stories
Thanks will do.
Every-single-band I've ever been involved with had that one guy.
I knew it wasn't the norm but i'd learned to accept it. I basically wasted 35 years of my life trying as hard as I possibly could and I finally gave up. People lied to me, stole from me and even started rumors to make me look like the bad guy. Probably just bad luck. It's even close to impossible for me to trust people in general after all that. I really, really loved playing the music though. I loved long rehearsals, nowhere gigs, didn't matter because after you play the song enough times it gets sharp as a razor and i just loved that control. I guess it was worth it.
I really didn't have anything better to do.
Love your channel!
I know exactly what you've gone through brother. Same here with me...
Thank you bro...I appreciate it and hear and feel what you just wrote.
@@Rel6956 We share this brotherhood....
I am an older 70 and a true lover of it. I get you completely! I wrote, I played bands and solos. Bass and guitar. The booze finally got me and I had to tetreat and recover! I am a creator and love the jams and search for that feel. I get you, man, you made it!
@@markjohnson5110 Retreat and recover!!!
I could listen to Bad Brads deep relaxing voice all day bro, i love it.
Man thank you so much!!!
1984: I was 14 years old when we formed shock in San Diego CA 1984. Jerry (Jamie) was always one of the best singers in town. This whole thing started when they were in High School (1981) and the two rival bands went head to head in the Madison High School talent show. Iron Pirate VS Roxauf. I think IP played Michael Schenker's group "Armed and Ready". Jamie's Roxauf played Wasted by Def Lep. After the talent show they combined both bands and called Underground. Underground was a solid band and played out everywhere. Fast forward to 1984 they breakup and start a new band, call it Shock and recruit me to play drums at the age of 14. You cant make this shit up, i seem to recall that the black cloud of unfortunate things would rain on Jamie every other weekend. I was there when he got punched in the mouth at Alberetos taco shop and lost his front teeth. The guys were at least 5 years older then me and the alcoholism was getting in the way of the dream. Time to move on.....
1987: Started a band with Vince Votel (Spiders and Snakes) called Street Angel.
Later that year we both audition for Ruby Slippers in Los Angels and get the gig. My introduction to Hollywood was different then most. My 1st gig was to a Sold Out Country Club and it just continued for the whole 1st year selling out Troubadour Whiskey and the Roxy. All good thing come to a end and it did with the arrival of Guns N Roses..
Next: I try out for Bang Tango this is before they get singed and didn't get the gig.
1988: Then I bumped into some San Diego musicians at Leeds rehearsal studio where i worked and we went on to start Asphalt Ballet and signed to Virgin in 1990 after 134 shows in 2 years at the age of 20 years old. We played every venue in LA SD AZ SF and all places between. We just set the terms to play as many shows as possible and hoped eventually someone would see us.
We played the Strip but we also played Club With No Name, Bordello, Cathouse, Club Lingerie, Xposure 54, Red Light District. We played a Sushi bar in Fontana next to the salad bar, so I'm not joking we would play anywhere. We were a Hollywood Rock band but we a had a singer that was from the deep south and he didn't sound like all them Hollywood hair band front men. It would be this that would get us the deal later. This also built us a following and just like we thought a battle of the bands for KNAC at FM Station led us to a chance encounter with Myron Grombacher who was a judge for the event. After are show he came and found us said he loved the band. He invited Arron Jacovis at Virgin down to see us and we got a deal.
Back then you lived it, breathed it every minute of everyday. I'm very thankful to to all the people that helped along the way. I could have never done it without the help of some beautiful people that gave there time and effort to help me succeed. There is way more to the story but as a contribution to your channel it has the same ear marks of things your speaking of and thought you might enjoy another angle traveled thru the same streets.
Love your channel and the stories you share. Wish you the best in growing this channel. You got something brewing here and your crushing it.
Amazing history...thanks so much! Wild....
Gary was from right up the road. I was the PD at KROK in 91-92 and used to spin the hell out of you guys before soul survive even broke. We hung out once at y’all’s show at the backstage in Houston. Shotgun Messiah, Asphalt and T-Ride. Somewhere there’s an RnR magazine with a pic of us that could probably still have us all in jail! Y’all were supposed to be HUGE! Cheryl Valentine told me so! Lol
Those first two Asphalt Ballet albums were great!
@@GtrMatt Thanks
Happy Saturday
Sounds like you had one hell of a ride, my friend. I tell my kids....you only get out of life, what you put into it. Sounds as though you put the time in.
CHEERS to ALL
Happy Tuesday,
Im not sure what I would do if someone started brewing tea.........probably start laughing😂😂😂 thinking its a joke. You bring back so many memories with your stories. We had a drummer that left practice to go to his little sisters pretend kool-aid party, HUH?? We also had a drummer that would always be late for practice at his own house, so we would audition other drummers on his kit at his house.
THANKS for the memory jolt.
CHEERS to ALL
Audition guys on his kit at his house...you guys are hilarious.
Thanks Bad Brad!
Thanks so much. Your donation helps me keep going...
@@badbrad do you know Patrick Sweany out of Nashville? I just caught a free show of him and his band here in Charlotte
I don’t know him.
Hey Brad! Great story, thank you. Man, you were so close! I'm sorry to hear about your band's vocalist issues. Especially on showcase night. Cheers from Jacksonville, FL.
Thanks bro!
@@badbrad You're welcome, Brad!
Loved your stories Brother Brad! Always quality when you do a video. I'm thinking that when you finally write your book it will be an epic tome, looking forward to that day! Thanks for all you do and share with us. Thanks, John
I appreciate that, John, I've got a lot of stories left.
Great stories, mate. I have subscribed.🎼🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
Awesome, thank you!
I was living there back then and in a Metal band. It was a magical time and The Sunset Strip was the place to play and be. Nuff said.
Yes indeed duuuuude.
I remember sleeping on the floor of a rented warehouse in an industrial park when the choice had to be made between a place to rehearse and/or a place to lay my head at night while forming a band back in the late seventies. Those days certainly weren’t easy however I would not trade the memories for anything in the world today. 😎
It builds character!
Uncle Rico's on the rocking chair telling rock n roll stories again... I love it!!! Thank you brother Brad
Thank you for tuning in. Uncle Rico checking out...
"You sing! We ain't got time for you to brew tea." I think I found my new mantra
LOL
I lived this moved to LA in 84, played the scene in 151 swing, Sweet savage, bunch of bands
Right on!👍🏻
LMAO!! I am going to set up a hotplate by my rig and brew some tea and offer it to my band members.😂
LMAO
Hi Brad
I saw your videos after my 1st trip to nashville/Broadway in 2023 and then you gave me a totally new perspective about the current business in Nashville
I know a guy who brags about playing at the Whiskey in LA
He and his band pay the Whiskey a fee to play there..go figure
Yeah you can do that I guess...doesn't seem like such a happening spot these days...but I do have fond memories.
you got great stories bro
Thanks for listening
amen on your last comment. To have all bad ass musicians that are committed ... Good luck. Not only those two things but also with similar musical taste and ideas. Good blending personalities too on top of that. Sheeeit.
It's nearly impossible...
The Germs were bad ass and they didn’t try to hard
Lead singer named Jamie. That should have been the first clue the guy was going to be trouble.
That was a stage name....
Love your stories.
Glad you like them!
Why didn't the dude drink his tea on the way to the audition ? What a tea diva ! Imagine what he would be like with a hint of success if he is already acting like that ? HAHAHA !!!!
😜 🤣 😂
The brewing tea part 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I know.......Duuuude he's brewing tea bro....Duuude he's brewing tea
BB the James Brown meets Van Halen thing, was that your idea? Your stories are pure gold good stuff!
Yeah my idea....That would have been lightning in a bottle...if we could have found it...
badbrad@@badbradvan halen are mowtown band with Eddie playing guitar
Enjoyable stories here. Brewing tea at an audition sounds priceless to me. And then to basically be underwhelming after that..."Get the fu*k out" - understandable. Finding band members is always a total nightmare no matter what era, genre, country or level. Like throwing a penny and hitting the moon
Throwing a penny and hitting the moon......exactly.
Tea brewer ! That is so odd that it almost makes sense.
"Tea Brewer" the New album on Molten Metal Records. Scorching hot riffs with a touch of lemon. In Stores now.
@@badbradLOL!
very interesting personal , musical experiences !!!
Thank you!🙏
dude i’m dying lol 😂. we don’t have time to brew tea ! lol
LMAO
Man, this story brings back memories. It doesn't matter what city you're in. The story is the same.
Thank you!
Digging these stories.
Thank you!
The Tea Dude😆💯
Duuuude he's brewing tea......
Kid I went to high school with went to la la land. Apparently had a shot at the warrant drummer spot . He was the long haired best friend in Don’t tell mom the babysitter dead.
He got an acting gig....
Those ads sound awesome 😂.
lol
It's is so hard to find quality people is hard. I've played in bands 30yrs and you know in 30sec if there right.
Indeed you do
I started putting bands together when I was 15. Covered Crue, T.S., Hendrix, Priest, Zepplin etc... Our originals were really bad at first, just fragments of crap you'd never want to listen to.
We'd practiced 5 to 6 days a week for 4 to 5 hours at a time covering copies and spending time trying to write (improvise).
When I was 19 I joined up with 4 dudes from my high school. Same pattern...practice, write etc .. Somewhere in that band we turned a corner, started blowing up back yard parties, bars, lots of hot looking chicks coming to our shows.
At that point we decided to play the Whiskey a go go. We packed it out with our fans who drove all the way from San Bernardino to get there.
The guy who signed Van Halen there to be the resident house band approached me on Sunset blvd asking us to come back and play for them the following Saturday waving the pay to play fee. They really liked us and our originals which says alot about this country. You can do anything you want if you're willing to put in the hard work. We played the Whiskey in January 1989.
Great story. Yeah if you're good and put in the work you can rise above the sitch.
No matter how good someone is at vocals or their instrument or how much fun they are to be around if they are causing trouble you fire them. I've had to do a few times over the 35 years I've been in bands.
I agree....
To me,it would be easier winning the lotto,than getting 5 individuals together with talent and messed up lives,to meet up at the same time,perform well,get along,and all that.Let alone cut a record,and have every bodies influences satisfied.That would be a miricle!
Very true!
Brad reminisces about his glam metal band Shock in the 90s,.... sharing funny and crazy stories from their time on the Sunset Strip.
Yes indeed. Glad to have you here. Been a minute.
Great video BB! Lead singers with no transportation, no jobs, no $$, no work ethic...but BIG on ego. Yeah, I've been through that too.
Man you know it.
Any live footage of the madman Jamie and you fellas laying around ??
Sure do a search for shock at the Roxy on my channel
"Lead Singer Bingo" = that is one ice cold bucket of water to be standing in. (stood in that bucket too many times) - I answered an add "looking for drummer" HOLLYWOOD ROSE" = I went and was greeted by a group of guys all strung out in a filthy sh*t hole and I turned right around and split without any fanfare, (I had left a project the Singer who was dancing with "Mr Brownstone") I had Zero Patience for nonsense. Turns out Hollywood Rose became GUNS N ROSES . - One band I had Brad Gillis audition for the Guitar spot so coked up he played like ass 1989 - another time in 1987 the Bassist from ANGEL locked himself in our bathroom for 2 hours smoking rock.
Wow that is crazy bro!
I auditioned a drummer who arrived with a flask of tea, a round of cheese-sandwiches, his dog, and his grandmother!
OMG that is epic!
It sounds like you guys were looking for Marc Torien (BulletBoys) to front your band. 😂 You mentioned a horn section. Were you guys ‘funk’ along the lines of Extreme or Prince? To my knowledge the only other band I know that had horns back in the day was ‘Slammin’ Gladys’.
We had horns before Extreme and before Slamming Gladys...we were kind of going for what Extreme was doing....then we heard their record. Later I started including a Prince/Hendrix vibe into what we were doing.
I have seen so many posers like this, no time, bad pitch, weird personality. A good band member is so hard. I refused to go on the road with one group I was in because of so many issues. I was like, no way in hell I'm spending weeks on bad motels with these guys. Musically they were great, but so many issues.
Man I hear you.
I started losing my hair in my 20s and I had older equipment , a 73 tele deluxe and a 68 deluxe reverb amp , and as soon as I walked in to an audition with my guitar not having a pointy headstock I was out
It was tough back then.
The hardest thing anyone will ever do? What about a PGA tour card? It's not even close. Gotta be about 1M to 1.
I hear ya there
Thanks for your input, Mr. Literal.
I've found that getting people to show up, is the biggest problem in a band.
It can be 👍🏻
I dealt with that shit in many bands.
I was always the leader or one of the band leaders.
Eventually I would lay it all out on the table the first day of audition.
No girlfriends at practice.
No drinking at practice.
Do your homework.
Show up to practice.
Ext.....
You know, the basics.
It amazed me that I had to tell people these things.
You would think it would be common sense.
the one member that focused more on the ladies then the music was always our singer it's like dam we need horse blinders on these dudes lol i have about 4 albums of music laying around now waiting to be worded up or organized to be ready for recording. we ended up with 1 cd and i just kept pounding out music into my laptop storing for that right fit well i'm 59 now still waiting need a tune i got um
Women made it hard for all of us to focus but especially singers...
From 87 to 89, I begged and pleaded with both Greg and Roger to dump the first guy but was continuously out voted. I was still into the music, but I was also just done at the same time. I knew this would be a complete failure in the end, and it was.
Like yourself, I was the only one that had an actual job driving for Merv Griffin Ent. in Hollywood. I suppose it doesn't bode well for me that I hung around as long as I did, but I was just biding my time and learning as mush as I could while there. ' Needle in a haystack"...yep!
I understand bro...
You remind me of a young Muttley McLad!
ok
@ oh The Macc Lads were an awesome band!
@@badbrad oh btw, you forgot to ❤️ my comment lil buddy!
I was just wondering if you ever met Concrete Blonde during your time in Hollywood
Never did...
i believe it's never easy finding a long-term singer
It never is.
Amen. A band is only as good as its drummer. Every. Single. Time. Doesn’t matter how good your singer or guitarists are, if your drummer sux then your band will suck - or at least it’s full potential will not be realized.
Drummer is the key spot.
@@badbrad gotta put em' on a riser
Oh ya!
Did you ever run into any of these cats later on?
Still in touch with Jamie...waiting on him to track some of our old tunes and one singer from Boy Elroy is supposed to track some old stuff....the audition guys were just there for a brief period. The singer we picked out of the auction I lost track with a while back...
I was there from 89 to 95. Never heard of you guys. I agree. finding the right fit for that it band was near impossible.Everyone was trying to make it quick. no one wanted to invest their time in anything. soon as they thought something was better, they jump ship or you jump ship. long live yucca street. best days of my live in hollywierd. Funny hear about the big hair and pirate ear rings. I think the whole glam look started to fade around end of 91 early 92 after nirvana stuck and ruined music.
There were alot of bands....and we were one of 'em.
Sounds like you were looking for Glenn Hughes.
Dude had pipes
I think it’s so much easier to be a sideman lol. Bands are too much trouble UNLESS you accidentally get all the right people which is a long shot.
But then you make sideman money....
Right, small intimate party shows went off flawless. Important shows at new venues or for people we wanted to impress.... We'd focus and rehearse seriously leading up to the show.
Oh, but NOOOO... Something / someone always F*ucked it up ... Eerrrr!!!!!!
always one....
Once you play with a good drummer you can't go back. It's like having a weed party with no weed. Just can't get that groovin feeling that you want!!!
lol
@@badbrad Truth
Now hiring tuba player for pro L.A. based, national rock act. We have major label contract and management. Must have: pro gear, pro attitude, hair, looks, and music degree from accredited conservatory or university. Ability to sight read bass clef a MUST. Call us if you think what it takes? This is a salaried position staring at $80,000 per year. Some drugs okay. No posers!!!
DUUUUDE HILARIOUS!
@@badbrad dude. Your tuba video. Inspired!
Glad I could help lol
A band with issues that’s odd 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
😂
Nice hair
Nice comment
Big head, little head, big head, little head, big...
Bruh...He needed the tea for his throat. no wonder he sounded bad
lol
So you wanted MARK TORIEN before he imploded and GREG BISSONETTE after ROTH. Thats what you were looking for. Yes??
That would work musically but I think Marq had some issues.
@@badbrad thats why i said before he imploded. But yes your correct
@@New_Jax_City I hear ya!
Your stories are great, your delivery though seems like you're trying to tell the story and not waking the people in the next room though.
That’s exactly why my delivery is like that.
Gotta talk louder bro. Love the stories but not the "gotta keep quiet"!
Got volume?😂
Type louder bro...
This guy pops up on my YT feed and I really want to see the vids but the low talking/high volume breathing and mouth noises are maddening! Needs a better mic.
@@Sprenklefish i feel petty complaining about it because he's a cool dude, but with the selection of channels out there, theres certain standards one must meet
@@BobbyGeneric145 It's not for everybody and I'm ok with that. I've got lots of people who like it more and more each day. I have a mic I could do more polished videos. But people like the raw truth and that's what I give. I wonder ....do people tell Tom Bukovac to plug his guitar in and get a mic. I'm over the complaining and I would think you got better things to do.
What a funny story! 😂
Tea bro!
i thought i was subbed but there is a small chance i was unsubbed. I also sometimes hit buttons while listening to stuff when i am sleeping so i’ll just keep an eye on it. Thx Brad
No prob and thank you.
Now ....wait a minute. 'Hold on. Let me understand this: You're saying, a 'Rock Singer.....from the Sunset Strip late 80s Era..... Had 'Issues???? Come on man. I'm havin' a hard time gettin' my head around this. I mean that is 'SO....unlike guys in a struggling, hard rock or glam 'strip-decade' band, tryin' to get signed??? I can't believe this???? ( * biggest good-natured 'groan' ...ever. Ha ha!....Why? .. Cause i lived it too. Trust me. My outfit ( Northrup) was showcasing down there, late 80s. Very likely.... Two of us in the same club on any given night. Gazarris', Country Club ( Reseda, actually) Roxy.....many others. We were being courted by Kenny Kommsar from Atlantic, who ultimately place our Singer, Johnny Edwards from Kentucky ( yes, the 'Buster Brown' Singer) in 'Foreigner, just after we broke up. I should probably have a podcast too. My 'Trail..... is littered with many stories, much like yours. ( oh...forgot; my Northrup Bros.... did "King Kobra 3'...with Carmine, '88. short lived, then we resumed looking for 'our' deal. Heady Days my Friend. What a time. ( we also had Ronnie Montrose in our Circle....who produced a Demo for us, Menlo Park, Bay Area 89.
Wow great stories
Smells like Boy Elroy was barely in Utero
Last incarnation of that band was pretty solid but a flaky singer ended it.
Nice vlog, but quit rocking back and forth!
am I allowed to breathe?
Why does this guy whisper all the time
Filmed very early in the AM ...family sleeping.
"He had...issues...ya know....issues...issues...ya know...ya know...issues."
No. I don't know. That's why I'm listening. 4 minutes in and I still don't know.
Some helpful criticism - edit your product. It's not a conversation, it's a presentation. You need to keep your audience entertained and engaged.
Best of luck with your channel. I'll check back in a year or two to see if I can make it through an entire 20 minute video.
Cheers!
Plenty of people like the channel, it's unscripted, unedited, and a real conversation.....I wish you the best.
Bro I love your stories but you can drag on alot
Nobodys perfect.
@@badbrad no problem just saying
Pay to play?
At this point we were not really doing that:
@@badbrad Thanks for the reply, that was a good story, I rarely met exceptional players that weren't flaky in some way.
@@DAGDRUM53 Some not so good players could be flaky as well.
@@badbrad True, maybe even more so. If I knew then what I know now . . .
@@DAGDRUM53 Oh ya!
The worst story teller of all time😴
Thank God you are the minority.
Lame band, lame stories .. and what's with the conspiratorial whisper??
What's with the Troll comment?
Dude. Get to the point
Patience is a virtue.
Terrible time in music
It was actually pretty cool Jim, sorry you didn't get to enjoy it.
@@badbrad I am 57 and have always been a punk guy. Hair metal was style over substance
Punk is a style and fashion statement as well. I like the best of both. I just love music. Labels are for Labels.
Rigatoni Joni on the Sunset Strip.
😆
Cobain blew away all those spandex headbangers.
Almost nobody was wearing Spandex on the strip in '92.
@@badbrad really? it went kinda Stonesy, didn’t it?
It went in many different directions. Depends on the band.
@@badbrad wasn’t Jane’s Addiction part of that?
Yeah that’s one that was signed but there a hundred that never broke mainstream like that. Some bad, some good, and some great.