Radio Check - Life In The Concert Touring Industry

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Dick Tee got into the music industry as a means to raise enough money to buy a farm. Decades later, no farm, just a wealth of production experience and know how. Dick is best known for his almost 20 years as head of production for the Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid and Other stages. We discuss the massive undertaking that the festival requires, as well as it’s evolution over the years. He also tells us what it was like to return to the festival again last year after ten years away.

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On this episode, Matt and I discuss the first World Cup final half time show at Metlife Stadium. We get into what it was like being there, who was involved, and how this massive undertaking came together. 

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Joe Sanchez first launched his career in the late 80’s as a personal assistant for UK rockers The Cult. He went on to spend the next 25 years touring the global arena circuit production managing high-profile acts like The Pet Shop Boys, Rihanna and Queen w/ Adam Lambert before forming his own production company 1826 in 2014. Joe explains how he came to start 1826, it’s ethos and where he sees the company going into the future as an elite entertainment agency and full-service concert touring production provider. We also discuss what it’s like to work outside of concert touring with unique clients like Formula 1 and Airbnb.

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Lee Charteris is a multi-award-winning production manager who flourished in our industry in the 1990s early 2000s. Like a lot of his peers from that era, he started by humping gear in and out of vans around London. In his case with The Clash. The start of his rise in the industry really started when he got a call from Gerry Stickells to go on tour with Queen as a backline tech. Lee shares stories of his touring life with Queen, Depeche Mode, The Cure and Peter Gabriel as well as huge events like Roger Waters’ The Wall in Berlin and the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert in Wembley Stadium. We also get well into Lee’s involvement with breaking the concert touring industry in the United Arab Emirates where he started his company Flash Entertainment who are responsible for a great deal of the industry’s foundation in the region.

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As far back as the early 90s when guitarist Marty Friedman was a member of the classic Megadeth line-up, he’s had a fascination with Japanese music and culture. On this episode we explore Marty’s 20 plus years living in Japan, his time with Megadeth, 18 solo records and his 2024 revealing autobiography “Dreaming Japanese”. We also get into what it was like reuniting with Dave Mustaine and playing with Megadeth again after two decades at the Tokyo Budokan.

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In this episode, we explore the current Nine Inch Nails “Peel it Back” tour. We have with us longtime lighting designer Paul “Arlo” Guthrie and longtime front of house sound mixer Jamie Pollock. Together we take an in-depth look at the creative and technical aspects of the show design from the conception of the idea through each segment of the 4-act performance. It’s fascinating hearing their unique perspectives on what it took to bring this incredible show to fruition.

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Greg Price knows how to push air. He has made his reputation by mixing the most powerful bands our industry has ever produced. Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Rage Against the Machine, Tool and now Metallica amongst many, many more. Greg shares stories, philosophies, and techniques that have defined his career. It was great catching up with my old friend. 

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Radio Check recognizes the farewell performance of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath with a special episode celebrating the “Back to the Beginning” concert that took place at Villa Park in Birmingham. We welcome back Jake Berry, the show’s production director, and welcome for the first time Patrick Woodroffe, creative director and Greg Price, the shows audio designer. These three industry luminaries tell the story of how the show came together and how it ultimately unfolded. We also share great Ozzy stories and recognize just how influential Sharen Osbourne has been to Ozzy’s exceptional career…. Epic from the start.

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Dallas Schoo is one of the last bastions of original guitar techs who paved the way for how things are done today. He launched his career by chance while at college in Boulder Colorado in 1971. He tells us how he got started and guides us along his incredible journey that led him to working with U2’s Edge for the past 38 years. Dallas is a gifted storyteller with volumes of history that he kindly shared with Matt and I. 

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Nigel Buchan has been the head of production in the Southwest for over 30 years producing shows for Evening Star and then Live Nation. Before moving to Phoenix in the early 90’s, Nigel who hails from England was a successful touring sound engineer mixing seminal bands like the original Motorhead, Judas Priest during their British Steel era and Van Halen’s legendary 1984 tour. Nigel tells Matt and I classic stories about Lemmy’s hijinks and witnessing the break-up of the original Van Halen. He is one of our industry’s true legends.