Picture your favorite band. What does their average day on the job look like? They show up to the gig, play the show, then go home.. right? Trust me, we wish it was that simple.
The untold stories of gigging musicians and other professionals within the music industry, interviews conducted by Max V Bolton.
Past guests include members of Iron Maiden, John Oates (Hall & Oates), Survivor, The Trammps, Alcatrazz, Galactic Empire, New England, Jag Panzer, Millie Jackson, etc
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Picture your favorite band. What does their average day on the job look like? They show up to the gig, play the show, then go home.. right? Trust me, we wish it was that simple.
The untold stories of gigging musicians and other professionals within the music industry, interviews conducted by Max V Bolton.
Past guests include members of Iron Maiden, John Oates (Hall & Oates), Survivor, The Trammps, Alcatrazz, Galactic Empire, New England, Jag Panzer, Millie Jackson, etc
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kitchen Teeth is an original hard rock/alternative rock band based out of Bloomsburg, PA. Since their formation in 2023, they have had appearances on PA Live, The Popko Project, Pennsylvania Pipeline Music, and have been CPMA nominees. Oh, and their cat helps them write songs.
They have also encountered their fair share of Gig Nightmares in the short time they’ve been together, including food poisoning, sound guys going AWOL, getting banned from an open mic night, and much more.
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Tommy Dorfman is the CEO of Juice Entertainment and Founder/Owner of RD Enterprises. He spent 15 years as a promoter in the NJ/NY club scene, building up his reputation and fending off organized crime from the mafia. In 2011, he set out to organize what would be the largest EDM festival on the East Coast before it was shut down by Live Nation and he became blacklisted from the industry.
In today’s episode, Tommy talks about the 15 year legal battle against them (Juice Entertainment v. Live Nation) and how their monopolistic business model hurts artists, venues, and fans alike. He is set to appear for a hearing in New Jersey Federal Court on October 17, and the U.S. DOJ’s antitrust case against Live Nation awaits trial in March 2026 to decide the future of the live music industry.
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Joe Deninzon is a violinist from the NJ/NY area. He’s been the violinist for legendary rock outfit Kansas since 2023 and the co-founder/violinist/lead vocalist for the prog rock act Stratospheerius since 2001. Throughout his career, he has also worked with icons like Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Everclear, Ritchie Blackmore, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Robert Bonfiglio, Les Paul, and as a soloist with the NY City Ballet and Jazz at the Lincoln Center.
In today’s episode, Joe tells of flaky bassists getting arrested for drug possession before a tour, multiple gear thefts in the same week, navigating the occult, equipment failures, and more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
•Catch Joe live with Stratospheerius on October 5 at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, PA and November 5 at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY•
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Justin Adams is a vocalist/guitarist based in Lebanon, PA. He’s been the leader of the metalcore outfit Oshian since 2011 and has recently joined the group Waiting for Eden.
In today’s episode, Justin recounts a gig in 30 degree weather where the absence of mic stands led to audience members holding all of the band’s microphones for 3 hours.
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Tom Theurer is a drummer from Southeastern Pennsylvania. Since first taking up drums in the 80’s, Tom has played with numerous musical outfits including Brass Pocket, I Of Amenti, Sylvia Platypus, Outlaw Pandas, Brian Filone’s Bowie Experience, and Green Cathedral, to name just a few.
In this week’s episode, Tom and I revisit the disastrous fill-in gig we met at and offer advice on what musicians should look out for when accepting gigs.
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Mark Burkert is a guitarist based in southeastern Pennsylvania. He’s currently playing in the 80’s arena rock cover band Old School, but years ago he played guitar for Tapping the Vein and performed with an eclectic mix of bands including Depeche Mode, the Sisters of Mercy, Alanis Morrissette, King’s X, The Damned, Type O Negative, Paradise Lost, Within Temptation, Electric Hellfire Club, and Opeth, to name a few.
In today’s episode, Mark talks about some of the bizarre encounters he’s had with rock royalty throughout his travels as a touring musician in his younger days.
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Jenny Grace is a singer/songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Since 2021, she has been releasing music and performing all around the world with both her namesake country band and her original metal project Aaetheria.
In today’s episode, Jenny and I revisit memories from our European tour with Aaetheria opening for Tarja Turnunen and Marko Hietala from Nightwish, including multiple run-ins with the police, and more recent gig nightmares from touring throughout the U.S.
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Bob “Angelo” Sawyer is a British guitarist most known for his time playing in legendary heavy metal bands Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis. He’s performed alongside other classic acts such as Motörhead, Saxon, Samson, and Hawkwind.
In today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES, Bob tells some stories from his book “Iron Maiden and Praying Mantis: The Early Days”, including tour bus breakdowns on the 1980 Metal for Muthas tour, sword fights in club bathrooms, mischief with Paul Di’Anno and Clive Burr, and a rare show that had bassist Steve Harris handling lead vocals for Iron Maiden.
// #newpodcast #musicpodcast #professionalmusician #gignightmares #diy #ironmaiden #prayingmantis #nwobhm #heavymetal #saxon #motorhead #hawkwind #samson
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Rosie Thorn is a singer from Southeastern Pennsylvania most notable for singing with groups like The Discoteks, Shameless, and Gilligan, a new tribute to yacht rock.
In today’s episode, Rosie talks about how she started singing professionally and what she’s seen during her time, such as nasty bar fights, shady band members, audience fatalities, and more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
You can catch Rosie Thorn live with Gilligan at the Landis Theater in Vineland, NJ on September 5, 2025.
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Mark Newman is a guitarist and singer/songwriter from New York. Throughout his lifelong career, he’s been a sideman for music icons like John Oates (Hall & Oates), Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), Jim McCarty (Yardbirds, Renaissance), Willy DeVille (Mink DeVille), Bobby Whitlock (Derek & the Dominoes), and Sam the Sham, as well as his own original music projects.
On today’s episode, Mark tells a few of his Gig Nightmares, including dealing with aggressive soundmen, getting locked out of the gig as he’s about to go onstage, having guitar amps fail mid-gig, a disastrous gig filling-in with a hot-headed Chuck Berry, and much more.
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Matti Frost is a multi-instrumentalist based in Pennsylvania. Since 2013, he’s been the singer/rhythm guitarist/main songwriter of Philadelphia-based metal outfit Frost Giant. He’s also notable for having drummed with bands like Live Fast Die, The Commercials, and many more.
On today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES, Matti reflects on an ill-fated DIY tour he embarked on 25 years ago with The Commercials through the great Canadian wilderness, getting stopped at the border and being torn apart by mosquitoes, as well as other odd misadventures from his time with the band.
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Gary Shea is an American rock bassist best known for his work with Alcatrazz and New England. Since the late 60’s, Gary’s been performing all over the world on some of the most iconic stages alongside bands like KISS, Rush, Kansas, Styx, AC/DC, Journey, and more.
In today’s episode, Gary tells a few stories from his new book “No Bass, No Party: Sketches of My Life in Music”, including turning down a gig with singer-songwriter Al Stewart to join New England, clearing up rumors about Yngwie Malmsteen and Graham Bonnet, getting ripped off by managers and being sued for $1 million at age 26, and much more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
https://www.alcatrazzofficial.com/
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Rich Goldberg is the president and founder of NJ-based booking agency Ultra Artists. In the 80’s and 90’s, he booked many iconic acts including Greg Allman, The B-52’s, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Thomas Dolby, The Romantics, The Ramones, The Nerds, and many more.
In today’s episode, Rich details some of the issues he’s dealt with as a booking agent, such as “intimidation” from rival booking agents, getting suckerpunched by venue security, having to bail his artists out of jail, contracted bands not showing up to gigs, vehicle breakdowns, wildlife accidents, and more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
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Mark Briody is the rhythm guitarist & co-founder of American heavy metal band Jag Panzer. Since the release of their debut “Ample Destruction” in 1984, the band has left their mark on heavy metal history. They’ve toured the world many times over, making numerous appearances at international festivals like Wacken and Sweden Rock, and released their 12th studio album “The Hallowed” in 2023.
In today’s episode, Mark tells some stories of real-life Spinal Tap moments with Jag Panzer, including falling through stage floors, CB radio interference with equipment during gigs, fistfights in the studio, having to sneak into his own gigs, donating blood to fund recordings, and much more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
https://jagpanzer.com/jpnew/
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Carlos Drouet is a singer from New Jersey. Having taught himself how to sing working for tips on public transit buses as a kid in Ecuador, he has been singing and playing guitar in a handful of local cover bands for the past few years, most notably Faith in Chaos.
In today’s episode, Carlos tells nightmare stories from working with a former guitarist who would curse band members out onstage, stop songs and start them over if any mistake was made, cancel gigs hours before they’re scheduled to start, cancel gigs in the middle of said gig as they’re performing, and much more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
You can catch Carlos with Faith in Chaos at their next gig on April 12, 2025 at O’Leary’s Publik House in Jersey City, NJ.
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Brian Silver is a bassist from New Jersey known as the bandleader of NJ-based tribute act 80’s Revolution. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Brian rocked the East Coast as bassist for The Flossie Band and played many shows alongside iconic acts of the day.
Today’s episode of GIG NIGHTMARES has Brian telling the bizarre story of how he was scouted for The Flossie Band, the many drunken antics of band members, a near-disaster flying to a gig in a ice storm, and how getting kicked out of his own band led him to form 80’s Revolution.
https://www.80srevolution-nj.com/
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Michael Brown is a heavy metal guitarist/vocalist from Baltimore, MD. Since 2011, he has been the frontman for the technical thrash/death metal outfit Nuclear Tomb, as well as playing guitar and touring with bands like Ixias and Total Maniac.
In today’s episode, Michael gives insight into the realities of European DIY touring, dealing with drunks at gigs, having to borrow other bands’ gear when your equipment blows up, and much more on GIG NIGHTMARES.
•You can catch Michael at the Metro Gallery in Baltimore opening for Coroner + Deceased on 3/6/25, on tour with Nuclear Tomb this April, or at Rage of Armageddon on 8/31/25•
// #newpodcast #musicpodcast #professionalmusician #gignightmares #acast #giggingmusician #nucleartomb #ixias #totalmaniac #thrashmetal #deathmetal #weirdothrash #diy #baltimore
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Nathaniel Kinsey is a multi-instrumentalist and life-long fan of hard rock + heavy metal music. He’s been playing in bands his whole life and over the years has opened for notable 80’s rock acts like L.A. Guns, Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), and Faster Pussycat.
Like many youths growing up in the 80's and 90’s, Nathaniel had dreams of someday being on MTV and, as fate would have it, he ended up getting his wish, but probably not in the way he expected.
In today’s episode of Gig Nightmares, Nathaniel tells all about the infamous onstage band breakup that would go on to become a viral video and land his band on Rob Dyrdek’s MTV show Ridiculousness.
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Jimmy Waldo is an American keyboard player, songwriter, and producer. He has recorded and performed with several notable rock and metal bands, including New England, Alcatrazz, Quiet Riot, Warlord, and Blackthorne. Over his 45+ year career, he’s traveled the world playing some of the biggest arenas opening for bands like KISS and worked with some of the biggest names in rock music.
In today’s episode, Jimmy tells a few of his Gig Nightmares, including driving 5 hours to a gig at a nonexistent club, breaking up fights between band members backstage, nearly being ousted from his own band, the unexplained disappearance of Alcatrazz’s first album master recordings, and much more.
https://www.alcatrazzofficial.com/
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Teeze/Roughhouse is an American hair metal band from the 1980’s Philly Metal Scene, notable for their big manes of hair, loud amps, multi-color shredded outfits, guitar spins, blood spurting, stage antics, and tons of makeup. While signed to Columbia/Sony Records, they toured the United States opening for bands like Skid Row, Kix, Ace Frehley, Blue Oyster Cult, Cinderella, Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Steven Adler of Guns N’ Roses, & Eddie Money. In addition to appearing in magazines like Faces, Hit Parader, Metal Edge, Kerrang, Raw, Metal Forces, Billboard, Circus, and RIP, their music has also had rotation on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball as well as placement in TV shows like General Hospital.
In today’s episode, bassist Dave Weakley and guitarist Gregg Malack tell stories from the wilder side of the 80’s, including drunken antics, fistfights in parking lots, fistfights onstage, stage antics gone wrong, and much more on Gig Nightmares.
PRE-ORDER THE BAND’S UPCOMING REISSUE:
https://vanitymusicgroup.bigcartel.com/product/teeze-teeze
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