Some of these songs are a warning; some are a way of
life. Rock Lifestyle Anthems are the
songs that I return to when I want to get back on the road. I have some experience touring with bands
and whatever is bothering you in real life, gets magnified by ten when you lock
someone in a bus/van for extended periods of time. Things can get crazy out there, but it’s not what you would
think. Sure, there can be drugs and
groupies and sold out shows, but there is also bad food, bad venues and broken
vehicles. When you are on the road, you
have to live in the moment and yet, remember why you are doing all of
this. When I was working on contract
riders for artists, I found that some of the requests were ridiculous, but in
time all of them made sense—even no green M&M’s in a bowl (Van Halen
Reference: RE guitar setup). These
‘requirements’ are meant to take some of the stress off of the artist so that
they can give a great show. The
audience doesn’t care if you didn’t specify that the showering facilities at
the venue must include hot water, or that you have had pizza everyday for a
month. Most of the time these requests
are things that remind you of home: like pop-tarts and a specific brand of beer. So sit back and enjoy the ride because every
day is a winding road, but know that all roads lead home.
Playlist for Rock LifestyleAnthems
1. Grand Funk Railroad-“We’re an American
Band”(1973)
Several years ago, I ran into a tour manager that
legitimized the story of “Sweet Sweet Connie” mentioned in this song. Though I cannot give you direct details,
let’s just say that it’s good to be on tour in the Midwest. Life on the road can have its bumps, but it
can also have its grinds. The GTO’s
rule, and I’m not talking about the band or the
car.
2 Bob Seger-“Turn The Page”(1973)
Every time I hear this song I picture Bob sitting
back stage alone with a bottle of bourbon debating if he has one more show left
in him. I’m not saying that he’s an
alcoholic, but this song has the feel of ‘is this all worth it.’ Most bands have this feeling at one point or
another when the days blend into each other and you can’t remember when you
slept in your own bed.
3. Bad Company-“Shooting Star”(1975)
This has always been my benchmark when deciding to
work with a band. Talent will take you
far, but drugs and alcohol will make it a quick trip. I can’t even begin to list all of the artists that have been lost
prematurely due to the stresses of being famous. You may start out with good intentions, but somewhere along the
way the demands of popularity can destroy a person. Hey, I’m not preaching here, I’ve had my share of wild times, but
I knew how to leave the party, and not in a pine
box.
4. AC/DC-“Shoot To Thrill”(1980)
I’m not sure if this song is bragging or
complaining, but It’s AC/DC, so it really doesn’t matter. I got to see them a few years back and they
can still tear it up, even though most of the members are in their
sixties. This song is one of their best
from their phenomenal album “Back In Black”(1980). This is what Rock N’ Roll is all about, and how to pick up chicks.
5. Foreigner-“Jukebox Hero”(1981)
This is just a great song that should start every
Foreigner concert. I’ve been to a few
shows in my life and this song has the feel of pre-concert excitement. By the time it kicks into full gear I am
ready to be rocked.
6. Tom Petty-“Into The Great Wide Open”(1991)
This is a great parable. This song feels like an updated version of “Shooting
Star,” by Bad Company. I guess each generation needs to hear about
the highs and lows of being famous.
7. Bif Naked-“Back In The Day”(2004)
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