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.
Unlocking the Zeppelin Code: The Get the Led Out Story | Ep 001
Tribute Band Sessions
43 minutes
3 weeks ago
Unlocking the Zeppelin Code: The Get the Led Out Story | Ep 001
Alright, music aficionados, settle in—because on this episode of Tribute Band Sessions, we’re diving deep into the electrifying world of Get the Led Out! This isn’t just a band; it’s a phenomenon, channeling the seismic power of Led Zeppelin into packed arenas and captivated audiences.
We’re joined by Paul Hammond, virtuosic lead guitarist and co-founder, for an unfiltered conversation. He takes us inside his journey—how an obsession with pristine, authentic sound sparked a band that doesn’t just play Zeppelin, they become Zeppelin. Every note, every nuance, every explosive live moment is meticulously recreated.
What defines an “arena rock show” today? We’ll pull back the curtain with stories of vintage gear—yes, genuine ’69 Marshall amps and ’59 Les Pauls—fused with modern tech to craft a sound that’s both timeless and fresh. Paul walks us through his formative years in classic rock, the struggle of mastering Zeppelin’s intricate catalog, and reveals the single hardest Zeppelin song to play live.
And the highlights? Direct praise from Robert Plant and Jimmy Page themselves. Imagine hearing that your tribute is Zeppelin-approved! Paul also shares how the band sustains over 130 shows a year, backed by a 14-person crew, and what the future holds for this touring machine. Is Get the Led Out a tribute band, a cover band, or something entirely unique? That debate ends here.
This episode isn’t just an interview—it’s your backstage pass to passion, surgical precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence that sets GTLO apart. Trust me: by the end, you’ll be playing air guitar like a madman.
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Meet GTLO @ https://www.gtlorocks.com/
Chapters with Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome to the Show
0:38 – Meet Paul Hammond & The Zeppelin Standard
1:21 – From Bridgeport to the Stage: Paul’s Awakening
2:30 – Growing Up in a Rock Scene
3:13 – Family Influences
4:07 – The Genesis of GTLO
4:23 – Musical Heroes: Aerosmith, Zeppelin, Purple & Rush
4:47 – Answering the Ad: A Partnership Begins
5:09 – Early Gear & Finding a Stage Home
5:33 – Bridgeport Rib House Residencies
6:28 – From Covers to Tribute: The Revelation
7:04 – Building the GTLO Brand
7:46 – Tribute vs. Cover: The Difference
8:28 – Beyond Look-Alikes: Authenticity Rules
8:43 – The Arena Rock Experience
9:09 – Show Lengths & Dynamic Setlists
9:46 – Playing (Almost) Every Zeppelin Song
10:39 – The Album Experience: Zeppelin I & II
11:24 – A Brush with Greatness: Meeting Jimmy Page
12:15 – Page’s Blessing
13:31 – Robert Plant’s Nod of Approval
14:11 – Vintage vs. Modern Gear
14:45 – Custom Amps & Guitars
15:00 – Digital for Effects, Analog for Tone
16:20 – Custom Ludwig Drums
16:45 – Two Decades Strong: Band Longevity
18:03 – Playing Zeppelin’s Nuance
19:05 – No Click Tracks Allowed
19:23 – Touring Machine: A Full-Scale Production
20:03 – Beyond the Stage: Charity & Private Gigs
21:05 – Handling Critics & Fan Challenges
22:04 – Ego-Free Collaboration
23:23 – Depth of Zeppelin’s Music
23:55 – Orchestrated Kashmir & Experimentation
24:28 – Melotrons & Samples Live
24:40 – Why They Don’t Play to Tracks
25:00 – Page & Plant MTV Arrangements
25:45 – Zeppelin Solo Material & Aerosmith Covers
26:27 – Future Arrangements
27:13 – The Hardest Song to Master: Since I’ve Been Loving You
29:21 – Touring Grind: Back-to-Back Shows
30:00 – Paul’s Ultimate Zeppelin Song
30:57 – GTLO’s Diverse Audience
31:31 – The Future Vision: Growth & Legacy
32:30 – A Classical Rock Orchestra
32:40 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find GTLO
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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.