Tribute Band Sessions takes you behind the curtain of the billion-dollar tribute industry—where legendary music is reborn every night. Hosted by creator, music producer, musician, and talent manager Mike Gendler, along with rotating celebrity co-hosts, each episode features unfiltered conversations with tribute performers, booking agents, and insiders. From tour life and gear to sold-out shows at venues like Red Rocks, this is your all-access pass. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
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Tribute Band Sessions takes you behind the curtain of the billion-dollar tribute industry—where legendary music is reborn every night. Hosted by creator, music producer, musician, and talent manager Mike Gendler, along with rotating celebrity co-hosts, each episode features unfiltered conversations with tribute performers, booking agents, and insiders. From tour life and gear to sold-out shows at venues like Red Rocks, this is your all-access pass. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
Get ready to rock! This week on Tribute Band Sessions, we hang with Rich Kosak, frontman of Mr. Speed—the Kiss tribute that’s been igniting crowds for 31 years. Rich shares his journey from early influences like Cat Stevens and Peter Frampton to the first Kiss concert that lit the fuse. Hear how Mr. Speed was born from a record-show encounter and a shared love of guitar—and how the band evolved into one of the world’s most authentic Kiss tributes.
Rich reveals the dedication behind the spectacle: a custom 1979-style Kiss drum riser built by the son of the original craftsman, fire-breathing shows, blood-spitting, and confetti storms. He opens up about the grind of keeping a pro tribute band alive, the Vegas highs and nightmares, and his unshakable mission to honor Kiss with heart, hustle, and detail.
We talk authenticity, business smarts, costume investments, and his personal motto: passion first, profit second. Whether you’re a die-hard Kiss fan or just love rock history, this is a 31-year odyssey of sweat, makeup, and pyro you don’t want to miss.
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Find Mr. Speed
https://www.mrspeedonline.com/
Chapters:
0:00 – The Dynasty Drum Riser & Meeting Kiss
0:52 – Welcome to Tribute Band Sessions w/ Rich Kosak
2:33 – Early Musical Roots & New England Connection
4:23 – Working in Music & Paul Stanley’s Acknowledgment
5:35 – Vegas Dreams & Dedication
7:29 – Mr. Speed’s Philosophy: One Day at a Time
8:49 – Accidental Genesis of a Tribute Band
10:14 – The Pursuit of Perfection: Sound, Sight & Spectacle
11:35 – The Business of Rock & Staying Top-Tier
13:06 – Setlist Challenges & Fan Expectations
15:53 – The Drum Riser Saga Revisited
17:15 – Investment in Illusion: Props & Pyro
19:40 – Vegas Competition Victory
20:30 – The Vegas Debacle Story
22:29 – Career Highlights: Freedom Hall & NBA Arenas
24:39 – Policing the Tribute Scene
26:27 – Cost of Commitment & The Look
28:16 – Cadillac Cards & Kiss’s Corporate Shift
30:03 – Booking Challenges & Fighting for the Dream
31:45 – Building the Mr. Speed Lineup
34:10 – Physical Demands & Paul Stanley’s Inspiration
35:07 – Honoring Eric Carr with Sister’s Blessing
37:30 – Advice for Aspiring Tribute Musicians
38:45 – Beyond the Music: Look & Business Sense
40:00 – Mr. Speed’s Success Formula
41:29 – The Future: Vegas and Beyond
Find Mr. Speed
https://www.mrspeedonline.com/
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Tribute Band Sessions
Tribute Band Sessions takes you behind the curtain of the billion-dollar tribute industry—where legendary music is reborn every night. Hosted by creator, music producer, musician, and talent manager Mike Gendler, along with rotating celebrity co-hosts, each episode features unfiltered conversations with tribute performers, booking agents, and insiders. From tour life and gear to sold-out shows at venues like Red Rocks, this is your all-access pass. New episodes drop every Wednesday.
