The Tapes Archive

Steve Sybesma, a longtime concert promoter and one of the partners in the creation of Deer Creek Music Center outside Indianapolis. Sybesma hopped on a call with Marc to tell him about his newly created Indiana concert archive website, indianarockhistory.com, and about his concert promotion journey

https://indianarockhistory.com/

00:00 - Intro

00:56 - His new archive website indianarockhistory.com

01:54 - Payouts for some of the biggest bands

03:03 - The first time he wrote a check for a million dollars

04:18 - How he and his partners built their business

04:38 - Sunshine Promotions' competitors

06:41 - The Rolling Stones role in his career

07:28 - Why the Rolling Stones avoided Indianapolis for decades

08:01 - More about indianarockhistory.com

09:10 - The history of Deer Creek Music Center

09:21 - The inspiration to build an outdoor amphitheater

12:09 - What he did after leaving Sunshine Promotions

12:57 - Why he sold out his shares of Sunshine Promotions

15:19 - His plans on writing a book

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A never before published interview with Angus Young (AC/DC) from 1996.

In the interview, Young talks about:

- What it’s like to come back after a five-year layoff

- The ever-changing landscape of rock ‘n’ roll

- The key to AC/DC’s success

- How Bob Dylan compares to AC/DC

- Why AC/DC was considered a punk band in England

- One of his hobbies

- The making of the Ballbreaker album

- How AC/DC comes up with the setlist for concerts

- How the schoolboy outfit came to be

- His thoughts on Butt-head from Beavis and Butt-head wearing an AC/DC shirt

- His thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

- Can we ever expect an AC/DC rock opera?

In this episode, we have the original problem child, AC/DC’s Angus Young. At the time of this interview in 1996, Young was 40 years old and was promoting AC/DC’s album Ballbreaker and their upcoming tour. In the interview, Young talks about how his schoolboy outfit came to be, the reason AC/DC took a five-year hiatus, Beavis and Butthead, and the key to all of AC/DC’s success.

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A never before published interview with Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) from 1992.

In the interview, Butler talks about:

- What happened to his solo career

- Why he left the Ozzy band

- How he reconnected with Dio

- The difficulty in finding a vocalist

- The making of the Wayne’s World soundtrack

- The bleak outlook of the Dehumanizer album

- A rare Black Sabbath press kit

- His thoughts on all the Black Sabbath’s critics

- Whether he thinks Sabbath was the first heavy metal band

- Black Sabbath’s musical influences

- Whether it feels right to be in Sabbath at age 43

- What he thinks about Ozzy retiring.

- Spinal Tap

In this episode, we have Black Sabbath bassist and lyricist Geezer Butler. At the time of this interview in 1992, Butler was 43 years old and was promoting Sabbath’s new album and an upcoming concert date in Indianapolis. In the interview, Butler talks about what happened to his solo career, why he left Ozzy’s band, what he thinks about music critics, and the Wayne’s World soundtrack.

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A never before published interview with Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) from 1995

In the interview, Pollard talks about:

- His creative time of the day

- Upcoming records to be released

- Working with Matador Records

- What makes him happy

- Giving hope to all other garage musicians

- The collectability of his records and “hoarding” a few himself

- Luna Music in Indianapolis

- The business side to making money in the music biz

- His love for The Beatles when they are “goofing around”

- Whether he thinks kids are getting dumber

- What he has tortured himself with over the years

- What it’s like being a musician and living in Dayton, Ohio

- Who he thinks is a “fucking creep”

- Working in the studio

- How the band Ween acted like rock stars

- Writing a song for Tom Hanks

In this episode, we have one of the most prolific songwriters of the past 30 years, Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard. At the time of this interview in 1995, Pollard was 37 years old and was promoting an upcoming concert date in Indianapolis. In the interview, Pollard talks about the collectability of his records and “hoarding” a few himself; the business side of making money in the music biz; who he thinks is a creep; and how he gives hope to all other garage musicians.

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A never before published interview with Vince Welnick (Grateful Dead)

In the interview, Welnick talks about:

-His love for Bob Marley

- If being in the Grateful Dead was anything like he imagined

- His vision as a child that came true

- What it was like auditioning for the Grateful Dead

- The differences between being with The Tubes and being in the Grateful Dead

- The time Robin Williams performed with him

- How he integrated himself to the Grateful Dead’s way of playing live

- His songs that the Grateful Dead will be playing live

- If it was tough to fit in

- The luxury of being in such a popular band

- Working with Todd Rundgren

- Bruce Hornsby handing off the “baton” to him

In this episode, we have Grateful Dead and The Tubes keyboardist Vince Welnick. At the time of this interview in 1992, Welnick was 41 years old and was promoting the Grateful Dead’s two sold-out shows at Deer Creek Music Center in Indiana. In the interview, Welnick talks about what it was like auditioning for the Grateful Dead; his former band The Tubes; and how being in the Grateful Dead felt like being a part of a “big, old, wonderful family.”

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A never before published interview with Paul Stanley (KISS) from 1996

In the interview, Stanley talks about:

- How the 1996 tour is going to be a better Kiss concert than the 1974 shows.

- The familiarity of playing with Ace Frehley and Peter Criss

- Parasitic friends and business associates

- If there will be more reunion tours

- How fast tickets are selling

- How KISS fans are the greatest fans in the world

- His thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

- The founding of the Kiss Army and Bill Starkey, the founder

In this episode, we have the Starchild, Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley. At the time of this interview in 1996, Stanley was 44 years old and was promoting the Kiss reunion tour. In the interview, Stanley talks about the Kiss Army and its founder, Bill Starkey; the familiarity of playing with Ace Frehley and Peter Cross; and how Kiss fans are the greatest in the world.

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A never before published interview with Kurtis Blow from 1997

In the interview, Blow talks about:

- Whether he thinks God cares about pop music

- How he had it all and now has nothing

- What hip-hop fans should go back and listen to

- How early hip-hop had a code of ethics not to use swear words

- Why he got out of the music business

- How he foresaw how big hip-hop would get

- The language of a rap

- Why rap artist don’t typically have long careers

- Why white America has gravitated toward rap

- The first time rap was used for a commercial

- How Don Cornelius, host of Soul Train, broke Kurtis’ heart

- If he became the overlord of music, what the first thing he’d change would be

In this episode, we have hip-hop pioneer Kurtis Blow. At the time of this interview in 1997, Blow was 38 years old and was promoting his three-CD compilation, “The History of Rap.” In the interview, Kurtis talks about how Don Cornelius, host of Soul Train, broke his heart; what hip-hop fans should go back and listen to; and how he foresaw how big rap music would become.

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A never before published interview with Lars Ulrich (Metallica) from 1997

In the interview, Ulrich talks about:

- Pat Boone’s version of “Enter Sandman”

- Metallica’s songwriting process

- How the internet can be a “frightening instrument.”

- Being on the Ferrall on the Bench show and whether he and Scott Ferrall are friends

- What motivates him

- The challenges of touring with a huge stage

- The cover art for “Load”

- The weirdest encounter he has ever had with a fan

- Whether he’s enjoying himself on tour

- How he’s looking forward to “some of that horseradish down at the old St. Elmo’s joint” (an Indianapolis insider tidbit)

In this episode, we have Metallica’s co-founder and drummer Lars Ulrich. At the time of this interview in 1997, Ulrich was 34 years old and was promoting the band’s concert date in Indianapolis. In the interview, Lars talks about Metallica’s songwriting process, the weirdest encounter he has ever had with a fan, what motivates him, and how the internet can be a “frightening instrument.”

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A never before published interview with David Crosby from 1998

In the interview, Crosby talks about:

- Meeting his son after 30 years

- Writing and playing music with his newly found son

- How he is the happiest “walrus” you’d meet

- Why his son is a better musician than he is

- His feelings toward The Doors’ Jim Morrison

- Mistakes he has made in life

- The story behind his new record label, Samson Music

- How he doesn’t make music for the money

- How Music of Bulgaria is the best record no has heard

In this episode, we have singer-songwriter David Crosby. At the time of this interview in 1998, Crosby was 56 years old and was promoting his tour with his new band, CPR. In the interview, Crosby talks about mistakes he’s made in his life, how he connected for the first time with his 30-year old musician and bandmate son, and how he is the happiest “walrus” you’d meet.

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A never before published interview with Ringo Starr (The Beatles) from 1992

In this episode, we’re celebrating the 80th birthday of Ringo Starr by playing Marc’s interview with the Beatles’ drummer from 1992. At the time of this interview, Ringo was 52 and was on tour with his All-Starr Band. Back in those days, Ringo would do five-minute interviews, so this conversation is much shorter than normal. So let’s skip our normal preamble and get right to the interview.

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