Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Peter Keys joins Rich Redmond and Jim McCarthy to talk about his wild journey from George Clinton and P-Funk to auditioning for, and ultimately joining, one of rock’s most legendary bands. Peter shares how he prepped for the Skynyrd audition in just days, why learning every part of a song changes your musicianship, and how his Stoner Creek Studio and label are shaping his next creative chapter.

Perfect for musicians, rock fans, and anyone obsessed with the craft and career of making music for a living.

00:00 – Intro: Show production tag & Rich’s gym accident (seven staples, hat talk)

02:20 – Hat fashion, personal branding & “on‑brand” looks

05:05 – Introducing Peter Keys: Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist & resume overview

08:10 – Musical philosophy: “12 notes,” learning every part of the song

12:30 – Drummers as “New York City traffic cops” & live arrangement triage

16:00 – Peter’s geographic journey: East Coast, NorCal, Atlanta, Detroit, Nashville

20:15 – San Francisco in the ’80s: club scene, name‑drops & musical influences

24:10 – George Clinton & P‑Funk era, alumni, “on the one,” funk talk

28:30 – Stoner Creek Studio: post‑COVID build, gear, coffee priorities

31:40 – Touring with Skynyrd: buses, routing, crews & road life realities

35:20 – Dad rock, “Drummer Dad” concept & social media content ideas

39:00 – Kids, marriages, blended family & starting Stoner Creek Records

42:10 – Peter’s kids as musicians, YouTube University & discouraging music careers

45:00 – AI & music (Suno, demos, soul vs. algorithms, using AI as a sketch pad)

49:00 – Nashville growth, Lower Broadway grind & musician survival odds

52:00 – Keyboard competition in Nashville & working live vs. studio

54:40 – Social media flyers, AI graphics & authenticity in visual art

57:10 – Zappa, Wackerman brothers, influences & mind‑bending arrangements

1:00:40 – How Peter joined Lynyrd Skynyrd: the full audition and “nerf piano” story

1:05:10 – Defining himself inside Skynyrd, Billy Powell’s parts & performance philosophy

1:07:30 – Plugs: Stoner Creek Studio/Records, All Time Low Stars, socials & show wrap

Links.

Peter’s Website: https://peterkeys.com

Peter’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/PeterKeys

Podcast Production: https://itsyourshow.co

Rich’s drum intensive: https://drumtensive.com

The Rich Redmond Show: https://richredmond.com/podcasts

Guitarist, songwriter, producer, and real‑estate investor Erik Halbig joins Rich and Jim to talk Nashville showcase days, early Jason Aldean moments, writing number ones with the Wolfe Brothers, using AI tools like Suno, developing young artists, and building real passive income with rental properties. If you’re a working musician who cares about songs and your financial future, this one’s for you.

Timed Highlights:
00:00:00 – Cold open: low‑cash demos, $40 a song, and early Nashville hustle
00:06:10 – What Erik looks for in drummers: alpha energy, loud count‑offs, strong transients
00:15:30 – 90s/00s Nashville: 12th & Porter, Third & Lindsley, showcases, and Jason Aldean’s big break
00:27:45 – Writing wins: Wolfe Brothers number ones and why helping others pays off
00:39:20 – Side hustles: teaching for decades, guitar books, and “rock and roll real estate”
00:50:05 – AI and Suno: how AI demos are killing old‑school demos but creating new studio work
01:01:40 – Producing new artists: getting a “second meeting” and building a brand, not just tracks
01:11:10 – Real estate playbook: condos, tax hikes, equity, and planning a musician’s retirement

Links & Socials Mentioned

  Erik’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@erikhalbig

  The Rich Redmond Show: https://therichredmondshow.transistor.fm/

  Podcast production studio: https://itsyourshow.co

  Drum intensive with Rich Redmond: https://drumtensive.com

Rock drumming powerhouse Tommy Clufetos sits down with Rich Redmond and Jim McCarthy to talk about the reality of life at the top of rock, why every gig matters, and how “playing at” rock is killing the feel in modern music.

Tommy goes deep on growing up in Detroit hauling gear for his dad’s band at age seven, earning gigs with Ted Nugent and Alice Cooper the hard way, and spending 15 years on the road with Ozzy and Black Sabbath. He breaks down drum solos as part of the show, his love/hate relationship with click tracks, and why he’d rather drive 16 hours to a gig and crush it than complain about the grind.

If you care about groove, conviction, and the craft of being a pro drummer, this one’s a masterclass in attitude and work ethic.

Timed Highlights:

00:00 Cold open: “Pound Town” drum container practice idea
03:45 Looking like a musician: leather jackets, visual brand, and “leather and latte season”
08:10 Old‑school parenting: no phone, no TV, and raising a kid on ’50s/’60s/blues
12:30 Meeting his wife on a Rob Zombie–directed CSI episode and reconnecting in Vegas
16:55 Leaving L.A. for Nashville and why he loves the South’s “old‑school” feel
21:40 Detroit roots: hauling gear for his dad’s band at age seven and baptism by fire
27:05 First time sitting in: Moni Moni, kids going wild, and learning patience for the gig
31:30 Playing for Mitch Ryder, Alto Reed, and getting in front of Ted Nugent
36:15 The Ted Nugent test: three rounds of 20 songs, winter drives, and 4 a.m. wake‑ups
42:40 Ozzy years: respect, leadership, and why Tommy won’t casually say “best friend”
48:20 Black Sabbath dynamics: serving Ozzy, Tony, and Geezer all at once
53:10 Planes, not buses: the grind of top‑level international touring
57:45 Clicks vs feel: why real rock needs to breathe and follow the crowd
1:03:20 Using a flashing light only as a tempo reference in Sabbath, then turning it off
1:07:40 Instagram drumming, overplaying, and why younger players “play at” music
1:12:55 Holiday Inn lesson: playing full‑tilt even when nobody is in the room
1:18:10 Tommy’s Rock Trip: original hard rock, young bandmates, and building work ethic
1:24:00 Money and integrity: walking out of a session at 16 when the pay was cut in half
1:29:10 Bob Seger, Alto Reed, and practicing to Seger records then and now
1:34:30 Drum solos as part of the show: structuring the solo so it lifts the entire set
1:39:00 Final advice: know what you’re getting into, focus on the music, and leave no regrets

Links:

The Rich Redmond Show: www.therichredmondshow.transistor.fm

Podcast production studio: https://itsyourshow.co

Drum intensive with Rich Redmond: https://drumtensive.com

Tommy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialtommyclufetos/?hl=en

Freelance Nashville drummer Carlos Guevara joins Rich and Jim to share his incredible journey from growing up in Venezuela under political and economic crisis to rebuilding his life and career in the U.S. Despite being born with arthrogryposis, Carlos became a first-call Broadway drummer, a devoted family man, and a model of resilience and positivity.

They dig into his escape from Venezuela, learning English through drum magazines, adapting his technique around physical limitations, grinding for gigs on Lower Broadway, and balancing music, Uber, and fatherhood. The guys also geek out on Stewart Copeland, Journey, Yamaha’s EAD-10, and the culture of world futbol vs. American sports.

Perfect for drummers, creatives, and anyone who needs a shot of perspective, gratitude, and hustle.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Show open, Drummer Dad idea, and Yamaha EAD talk
3:30 Stewart Copeland stories and guys’ night at the Ryman
7:20 Meet Carlos Guevara: from Caracas to Nashville via Anaheim
11:00 Falling in love with country music and surviving Broadway
15:10 Family, teenagers, and fútbol culture (football is life)
20:00 Learning English from records, Drum Magazine, and method books
23:40 El Sistema explained: Venezuela’s free orchestral training
27:10 Life under Chavez and the decision to leave Venezuela
31:00 Colombia stopover and finally landing in Los Angeles with almost nothing
35:10 Driving Uber in the U.S. and wild passenger stories
39:00 Moving to Nashville, discovering Broadway, and first gigs at Mellow Mushroom
43:30 Breaking into the scene, networking, and always showing up at clinics
47:30 Arthrogryposis: Carlos’s condition and how he adapted his technique
51:00 Ergonomics hacks: extra hi-hat, jam block, and left-foot workarounds
54:10 Yamaha EAD-10 vs EAD-50 and why every drummer should consider one
57:00 Immigrant mindset, AI/apps, and Jam Juice shaking up Broadway bookings
1:01:30 Carlos’s goals: more tours, family balance, and motivational speaking
1:04:30 Venezuelan arepas, keeping traditions alive, and where to find Carlos online
1:06:40 Closing gratitude and episode wrap

Links:
Carlos Guevara Instagram: https://instagram.com/carlosdrums86

Podcast website: https://therichredmondshow.transistor.fm
Rich’s DrumTensive: https://drumtensive.com
Production studio: https://itsyourshow.co

Rich Redmond: https://richredmond.com

Rich and Jim sit down with Nashville drummer, producer, and drum tech Jeff Brown (Shrug Sound Studio) for a deep dive into a working musician’s reality: from opening for Rush and Van Halen to teching the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, tuning for stadiums, building a home studio career, and navigating divorce, burnout, and late-bloomer success.

Jeff shares stories from early days in Anaheim clubs, cruise ship gigs at 18, Nashville’s legendary 12th & Porter era, and playing with artists like Phil Vassar, Thomas Rhett, Steel Magnolia, Tom Kiefer, and more. He also breaks down hybrid drumming on massive pop tours, practical tuning approaches, remote session workflows, and why drum techs are part mechanic, part therapist.

Timed highlights:
00:00 The porta-potty on stage, bar hangs, and touring creature comforts
06:20 Foreigner at the Ryman: Kelly Hanson’s retirement and Luis stepping up to sing
14:30 Meeting Jeff Brown: Anaheim roots, moving to Nashville in ’93, and the 12th & Porter scene
21:40 Dreaming in English: publishing deals, opening for Rush, Weezer, and Van Halen
30:10 Studio work and Shrug Sound Studio: home recording since 2010 and mic choices
36:45 Simple drum recording setups and the Yamaha EAD10 for social content
44:00 Cruise ship gigs at 18: long sets, bad charts, and learning to memorize
51:30 From player to drum tech: Tom Kiefer, Kevin Murphy, and landing the Taylor Swift Eras Tour
1:02:00 High-pressure teching: triggers, MainStage, redundancy, and that one snare mistake
1:11:20 Tuning philosophy: coated vs clear heads, tom intervals, and consistency on tour
1:19:00 Influences: Rush, Stewart Copeland, Herb Alexander, Jimmy Chamberlin
1:27:10 Making people feel it: driving the band, backbeats, and keeping songs fresh
1:36:30 Drum tech as psychologist: honest feedback, compliment sandwiches, and road life
1:45:00 Managers, rates, and word-of-mouth: the business of remote sessions and mixing
1:54:00 Mixing, producing, and Andrew Scheps: falling in love with the mix process
2:01:30 AI, samples, and the future of music work
2:08:00 Writing with his dad, getting humbled, and grieving the “band” dream
2:15:30 Late bloomers, ergonomics, posture, and playing pain-free into your 50s
2:23:00 Social media, tech tips, and why documenting the studio process matters
2:30:00 New goals: sync music, instrumental releases, Shrug snare samples, and upcoming tours

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show:
www.therichredmondshow.transistor.fm

Podcast Filmed and Produced by:
https://itsyourshow.co

Rich’s intensive:
https://drumtensive.com

Jeff Brown – drums, studio, and merch:
https://jeffbrowndrums.com

Shrug Sound Studio
https://shrugsoundstudio.com

Rich sits down with drummer and biomechanics specialist Brandon Green of Drum Mechanics to unpack how drummers can play hard for life without breaking their bodies. They dig into pain‑free technique, throne and kit setup, strength training, cardio, nutrition, and longevity—plus stories about working with Thomas Lang, top touring drummers, and building a business around drummer health.

Timed Highlights:
00:00 – Cold open: Drumstick physics, carpal tunnel, and energy absorption
02:10 – Rich opens the show and introduces Brandon Green of Drum Mechanics
06:40 – Pain‑free drum set playing: Anatomy, physics, and setting up your kit to fit you
14:20 – How bad setup and stick physics create injuries (and how to avoid them)
19:30 – Why most drumming injuries are preventable with better ergonomics and strength
23:55 – Cardio vs. resistance training for drummers and playing into your 60s and 70s
30:05 – VO2 max, longevity, and why “drumming is athletic, but not always exercise”
36:10 – Rich’s snare angle, neck issues, and what changed after working with Brandon
44:00 – Throne height, leg angle, and why your lower back is begging you to fix your seat
52:20 – Brandon’s education: From personal trainer to biomechanics specialist for drummers
59:40 – Helping pro drummers: Thomas Lang, Art Cruz, Matt Billingslea,  and more
1:07:10 – Diet for drummers: Protein, carbs around gigs, and simple food rules that work
1:15:00 – Creatine, magnesium, fiber, and smart supplementation for performance and sleep
1:23:15 – Sunday meal prep, busy schedules, and staying sharp on the road and at home
1:30:40 – Drummechanics.com: Inside the membership, workouts, and live sessions
1:38:00 – Studio makeover, family, kids on drums, and music education in Canada
1:44:10 – Final thoughts: Drum forever, invest in your “fitness bank,” and where to find Brandon

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show site:
therichredmondshow.com

Rich Redmond:
richredmond.com

Podcast production:
itsyourshow.co

Drum-tensive study with Rich:
drumtensive.com

Brandon Green:

drummechanics.com

In this episode, Rich and Jim sit down with drummer, composer, and educator John Wackerman to talk about the Wackerman dynasty, from their band-director dad Chuck to brothers Chad, Bob, Brooks, and John’s own genre-hopping career.

John shares stories from the road and studio with Frank Zappa, Maynard Ferguson, Alan Holdsworth, Family Matters, Vegas headliners, and more. He breaks down his all-star drum duets project with Steve Gadd, Alex Acuña, Ronnie Tutt, Steve Smith, Terry Bozzio, Taylor Hawkins, and others, plus the origin story of DW Drums, a private masterclass with Stuart Copeland, and why discipline and reading still matter in a click-track world.

Timed Highlights
0:00 Show and sponsor intro
1:00 Jim on his son’s musical talent and parenting a creative kid
2:12 Rich on being an “overeducated rock drummer” and closet rocker
5:18 Mapping the Wackerman dynasty: Chuck, Chad, Bob, Brooks, and John
7:56 How the drum duets project was born and why Alex Acuña went first
12:12 The real DW Drums origin story: Drum Workshop, Camco, and the double pedal
16:00 Vegas era: Mandalay Bay, Zumanity, and drummer coffee hangs
21:12 Moving from L.A. to Vegas to Nashville and lifestyle tradeoffs
26:01 A half-day film-scoring masterclass at Stuart Copeland’s house
33:30 Recording Steve Gadd in Rochester when the SSL console dies
40:48 Maynard Ferguson’s band: 300 dates a year, buses, clinics, and survival
48:02 Growing up in a house full of drums, vibes, and serious practice
54:20 Their dad’s pioneering jazz program and what “passion” meant at home
1:03:00 Brooks’s journey from Bad For Good to Bad Religion to Avenged Sevenfold
1:10:20 Charts vs memory: how different drummers approach complex gigs
1:18:30 Drummers and cars: classic 911s, Audis, and gearhead confessions
1:32:40 John’s vegetarian routine, health, and daily fuel
1:40:52 Letting go of CDs and DVDs and living in a streaming world
1:49:05 John Wackerman Drum Academy plans and Rich’s clinic/tour schedule
1:52:10 Closing plugs, mugs, and where to find John online

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show site:
therichredmanshow.com

Rich Redmond:
richredmond.com

Podcast production:
itsyourshow.co

Drum-tensive study with Rich:
drumtensive.com

Guest:

johnwackerman.com

Rich Redmond and Jim McCarthy sit down with Nashville drummer and counselor Elizabeth Chan to unpack what it really takes to build a sustainable music career in 2024: from grinding on the road and tour managing, to setting healthy boundaries, negotiating contracts, and managing your mind while you chase the dream.

Elizabeth shares her journey from Brooklyn churches to Liberty University, moving to Nashville at 20, landing gigs with Carrie Underwood and Lady A, and earning a master’s in counseling so she can help artists unburden and stay healthy in the process.

You’ll hear shop talk on rates, contracts, tour management, mental health, imposter syndrome, AI and the future of music, plus a hopeful look at the rise of female drummers and what real longevity in this business looks like.

Watch, share, and tag a musician or creative who needs to hear this.

Timed Highlights:

00:00 E-bikes, gym guilt, and seven seasons of the show

02:30 Meet Elizabeth Chan: Nashville drummer and the show’s first female drummer guest

08:20 Learning drums in church and 10 years of free lessons

11:30 The audition video that won a full-tuition scholarship

12:50 Moving to Nashville at 20 and booking an audition on day one

20:25 How one CCM showcase put her in front of the whole industry

23:10 Life with Carrie Underwood: Vegas, drum features, and serious work ethic

26:00 Connecting into Lady A through house-band award shows and Instagram DMs

29:10 Doing double duty as drummer and tour manager

36:00 Real talk on pay, prep time, and why low day rates don’t add up

44:30 Nashville’s evolution: from handshakes to “the most one-sided contracts”

48:10 When mental health gets real: Elizabeth’s mom, therapy, and a new path

57:00 Imposter syndrome on big tours and talking to your “child” vs “adult” self

1:00:40 Getting her counseling degree during COVID and launching Arrow Counseling

1:05:00 How therapists avoid taking clients’ pain home

1:08:10 Self-care routines: yoga, pools, oceans, and real community

1:16:10 Helping younger musicians figure out run rate, budgets, and boundaries

1:23:00 AI, music, and why we may run back to live, imperfect bands

1:30:00 Red pandas, otters, and guilty pleasures

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show site:
therichredmanshow.com

Rich Redmond:
richredmond.com

Podcast production:
itsyourshow.co

Drum-tensive study with Rich:
drumtensive.com

Elizabeth: 

elizabethrchan on Instagram, Arrow Counseling (Nashville)

Born and raised in Nashville, Tucker Wilson grew up surrounded by true country music royalty: a grandfather in the Grand Ole Opry staff band, family ties to The Whites, and Uncle Ricky Skaggs holding him the day he was born. Today, Tucker is the powerhouse drummer behind Justin Moore, playing arena and shed tours, cutting number one country records, and rocking with his own band Dog Violet.

In this episode of The Rich Redmond Show, Tucker opens up about his musical lineage, quitting drinking in 2023, dialing in massive Gretsch drum sounds, networking the right way in Nashville, and balancing dad life with the road.

Timed highlights:
0:00 It’sYourShow.co add, cold open, and intro
3:57 Quitting alcohol, losing 35 pounds, and playing better
8:01 Meet Tucker Wilson: Nashville native and Justin Moore’s drummer
16:01 Grand Ole Opry staff band stories and “Spider” Wilson
19:40 The Whites, Ricky Skaggs, and a family of bluegrass legends
22:07 Avoiding the “nepo baby” label and earning it the hard way
30:24 Big beat country drumming and Tucker’s Gretsch setup
35:14 “John Bonham in Lynyrd Skynyrd”: landing the Justin Moore gig
42:30 Why drummers should listen to bluegrass and music with no drums
52:07 Eddie Bayers, Lonnie Wilson, Greg Morrow, Chad Cromwell
56:58 Playing on Justin Moore’s 2023 album and first number one
59:06 “This Is My Dirt” and “Time’s Ticking” hit stories
1:00:00 Leaving social media for sanity, sobriety, and family
1:05:20 Golf, tour life, and keeping your body moving on the road
1:11:00 Studio at home, chasing drum tones, and unmasterable crafts
1:14:31 Dog Violet: Tucker’s rock power trio on Spotify and Apple Music

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show site:
therichredmanshow.com

Rich Redmond:
richredmond.com

Podcast production:
itsyourshow.co

Drum-tensive study with Rich:
drumtensive.com

Tucker Wilson’s Instagram:

@_tuckerwilson

The Rich Redmond Show returns from hiatus with viral Nashville drummer Ethan Harb.

From Santa Barbara to Lower Broadway, Ethan breaks down how he went from garage bands to grinding 3-a-day sets, touring with Taylor Acorn, building Skylines & Satellites, and accidentally blowing up the internet with a single “bonk” in Immigrant Song. Rich and Jim go deep on social media strategy, drum gear, Ableton, mental health, and building a long-term career in today’s music world.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro – The Rich Redmond Show is back
1:00 Meet Ethan Harb: Santa Barbara to Nashville, sushi with Rich, early advice
4:20 Why Broadway is a “blue collar” training ground for drummers
7:40 Skylines & Satellites lineup and original releases
9:50 Songbooks, setlists, and keeping a pop-punk/metal set alive on Broadway
11:35 Drumeo, Stewrat Copeland challenge, and how they produce so much content
16:10 Metalcore, grindcore, and the Cookie Monster vocals discussion
17:45 Doing country gigs while staying in the rock and metal world
19:50 Nashville vs Texas touring and how big some of these markets really are
21:05 Flying nonstop, “sky waitresses,” and road life rituals
28:55 How to actually get into Broadway: sitting in, slow season, and not being a pest
33:15 The “How To Get Fired” Immigrant Song bonk that went viral
34:50 How Ethan films gigs (Zoom, livestream screen records) and edits in iMovie/Reels
41:50 First big click/live track gig with Ben Gallagher and learning Ableton in a week
45:45 Crack vs thud: snare sounds, heads, dampening, and Broadway volume hacks
52:00 Dream kits, Danny Carey, mandala pads, and hybrid setups
57:15 Groceries, inflation, and musician shopping strategy: Walmart, Publix, Whole Foods
1:00:40 Pessimism, therapy, SSRIs, and deliberately choosing positive habits
1:05:45 Non-music friends, walks, and not spiraling alone
1:15:25 H Audio studio, drum sample philosophy, and future recording plans
1:25:10 Rich’s closing thoughts on Ethan’s path and the new season

Links:
The Rich Redmond Show site:
therichredmanshow.com

Rich Redmond:
richredmond.com

Podcast production:
itsyourshow.co

Drum-tensive study with Rich:
drumtensive.com

Follow Ethan Harb:
Search “Ethan Harb Drums” on YouTube and Instagram