WHO'S THIS SLAYER? WANT ME TO POP HIM IN THE MOUTH?

We have always been fans and friends with Slayer. They were super cool to us on tour, on festival dates, and also when Tom came in the studio to record Terrorist, with Soulfly for the Primitive recording. Their wives are cool and basically, we are all members of the same Metal family.

Slayer

On July 7, 2002, we were both booked on the Montreux Jazz Festival. We were the first Metal bands to ever perform for the legendary event. Montreux, Switzerland is a beautiful city on the edge of Lake Geneva, the Swiss Riviera. The festival spares no detail and the day couldn't have been any better!

On this particular tour, my parents accompanied us, along with our family and the band and crew. Max and I took my Mom to search her footsteps during WW2, and her youth in Yugoslavia. We even went to the concentration camp she had been held in! The funny thing was, the bus companies in Europe had all run out of buses and when we arrived, we were delivered 2 buses with seats! This was the beginning of the famous Bunk War Tour......everyone trying to construct bunks on the seats and under the seats, with plywood, air mattresses, cardboard and just about anything scrap we could find!

We grinned and bared it and crossed the shows off the itinerary, one by one. In the backstage of the Montreux show, the dressing rooms were sectioned off with cloth screens with metal framework...no ceilings. All the bands were in the same giant room, which had the thin dividers. Close quarters, but nice and clean. My Dad was chilling in the room, hanging with us, listening to everything going on. Dad was always a hardcore supporter of all things Max. He once told me that Max was the most perfect person he had ever met! To make long story short, they were great friends!

Anyway, back to the tale....Someone from production came in and mentioned that Max wouldn't be able to throw water on stage, like he had been doing his entire career. This gave Max a bit of a start and my Dad got alarmed. He listened intently, and when he couldn't take the lingo, he belted out..."Who is this Slayer? Want me to pop him in the mouth?" You can imagine the explosion of laughter from all of us, imagining my Dad brawling with this man called Slayer! We all cracked up but then freaked a bit when we realized Slayer was on the other side of the screen! We still laugh our asses off, whenever we think about my Dad's outburst that day. He was ready to throw down!! Dad was keeping it real!!!

2 wild friends

me and my dad...

Class dismissed.....

SAN FRANCISCO...SEPULTURA AT THE WARFIELD...1994

We were all very pumped to learn that Sepultura had gotten a show at the Warfield, in San Francisco, in the early 1990's. Damn, talk about some amazing rock history! The theater had been around since 1922, but was used as a location for plays and vaudeville, mainly. In 1979, Bill Graham Presents booked the 2 week run of Bob Dylan dates, and the place has been rocking ever since!

Making faces :P

Day sheet...

On the bus getting ready for the day.

They say "everyone" has played the Warfield. I guess you could agree, since everyone from Charlie Chaplin to the Shaolin Monks, to the Clash to the Grateful Dead, who had the honor of being the house band, until Jerry's death, has given it all on the stage! Well, now, enter the '90's and Sepultura and the invasion of Metal!!! Oh and let's not forget the 20 dressing rooms!!!

Max slamming an espresso before the show

Class dismissed....

IT'S 9/11 AND A TERRORIST JUST CALLED...

Strange things happen to people in their life. This is a beyond comprehension event that happened to ME. Believe the facts. I am running this class again, try to make some sense, of an unbelievable day. I am not allowed to print the message, as the FBI has requested of me. God bless the families affected by this tragic, perverse day. May this never, ever happen again.

Good morning my Students, people of the tribe,  people of the world…  Did you know that a terrorist called me on the early morning of 9/11, two hours before the attack on the Word Trade Center?  No, you didn't.  Did you know that your's truly is in possession of a voicemail message from 9/11 that is equivalent to the Zapruder tape of JFK's assassination?  No, you didn't.  I have carried this ever since that dreadful morning in 2001 and I will not suppress it anymore.  People need the information…

I wake up early, before 6:00 am every day, but on September 11th of 2001, it was a morning I could never forget.  I went into my office and I saw the light blinking on the caller ID- strange for a call to come in the middle of the night, but I could see that a couple did- a pizza place in New Jersey.  Weird.

I went outside a grabbed the newspaper noticing Michaels Jordan's face in the corner.  It was an article about a press conference scheduled for that day.  Going back in the house, the phone rang in the kitchen.  It was my mother calling bright and early, "Turn on CNN Gloria."  I asked, "Why?" - "Turn it on honey." Click. She hung up.

The shock filled me as I saw the tower in flames, the smoke billowing.  Running through the house, I woke everybody up and went to the TV.  Before our eyes a second plane struck the second tower.

A few hours later, I went to the office and checked my messages.  A scary, creepy messaged slithered in my ear.  WTF?  This can't be.  The caller was slow, rehearsed, a message of unbelievable proportions.  Although I didn't realize it at the time, it told a three-part story of wicked betrayal of the American people's trust.  It told the past, the present and the future of our world.  A prophecy with a chilling message is there, taking residence in my voicemail.

I went to a pay phone at the Safeway near my house and dialed the FBI hotline number that was on the CNN ticker at the bottom of the screen.  A woman told me to preserve everything about the phone call and that somebody would come by to check it out.

I preserved.  I waited.  I waited.  I called.  I waited, I called, I called...And called...and called...Many things happened on my end as I tried to get this information to someone.  I recorded the call and put it on a CD.  I then did what any good manager would do;  I asked our booking agent to book a tour for Soulfly to New York City and to New Jersey.  This gave birth to the Static X/ Soufly US Tour in 2002.

My students, did I also mention that the call came in at 6:30 am EST, from 30 miles outside of Newark Airport?  Did I mention that I uncovered a pay phone company that was related to the call?  Did I tell you the message is one and a half minutes long and the caller called twice.  Did I mention I took a Policeman with me as I visited each of the locations connected with the call?  Did I tell you I met with the Terrorist Task Force in NYC?  Did I also mention that the Policeman had called me a couple months later and told me that one of the places we visited was the apartment of one of the hijackers of flight 93?  I still find it unbelievable, and I know that you must too.  It's not our usual class but I told you that I had a few surprises...

And what's even worse??? Part three, the prediction and future visions mentioned in the call- many deaths for many years.  A huge debt for America, someone talking with a crooked jaw (co nance), social security being cut...  HOW DID THE CALLER KNOW?  Why, simply put, he "listened" outside the apartment.

THIS IS WHO INFLUENCED ME TO COME FORTH..THESE CHILDREN NEED THE TRUTH...

This is my life.

Anyone interested now?


Class Dismissed...

SO YOU WANT TO BE A MANAGER...101

When I started managing bands, I really didn't have a clue. I was learning about show production, gear, marketing and Metal, in general, in The Bootlegger's. I was also producing shows at rented venues. Stepping into management was another level. I guess I was made for it, as I have always loved music, written notes, planned ventures, and been an organizer. I never really was a manger limited to managing. Since I have gone on the road with my bands forever, I know my way around most every city, have friends in every city and town, and am familiar with the press, radios and record labels in almost all the territories in music. At first, I thought all managers toured but now I know better.

Sepultura and Sacred Reich.  Sacred's first time in France

When I first started going on the road, I managed from behind the merch booth. We didn't have enough money to take all the necessary crew, so I took on 4 jobs to help my bands get going. Besides managing, I was the tour manager, sold merch and also was the tour accountant. I have even been known to sit at the drums, switch guitars and get water and towels for the stage. You will never see me on the mid-stage as I do not have any desire to go out there....for any reason at all.

Me sitting selling mercy in former Yugoslavia

At home, in Phoenix, I enjoyed helping bands get gigs if a show got cancelled or a band had a day off. I have been known to Bbq and thrown down blankets. You know what? It was all just more education, as far as I was concerned. The more about Metal and the business I could learn, the better. Remember The Crumbsuckers? They were one of the funnest throw and goes I helped set up. This was many years ago, of course, in the Sacred Reich days. We grilled and had a great show at night. The Boredoms, Nuclear Assault, Brutal Truth, Cathedral...many bands have graced our home.

Crumbsuckers

Crumbsuckers vocalist

I understand most managers sit in offices, but it was never my style. I like to meet the press people and know what is going on. Image is everything and some requests artists get are not really beneficial. As I started my relationship with Max, I had to limit the number of bands I took on, since they all wanted me to tour and I knew it wouldn't be possible. I have tried to surround myself with loyal, hard working and fun loving people. I saw Willie Nelson's production pull up to a hotel once and they were all white haired, long time friends and family. I knew that formula was for me.

Having an imagination is really important in the music business. I think managers are a sort of artist, in their own way. Planning tours, sifting through artwork, guest musicians, finding label deals, it's not all black and white. You need to see the gray! When someone asks me how to get started, I suggest they find a local band they really love and start there. Nothing better than at the shows, going to practice and being involved in the entire evolution process. Once you get the hang of it, you will either be getting your band's hype going or you will be getting a bigger band. It's all up to you! Don't take no for an answer and believe in yourself! It also helps if you are an insomniac!

Sacred Reich, Atrophy and Me at dinner in Nurenberg

Class dismissed...

EASTERN EUROPE 1989 101.....SACRED REICH AND ATROPHY

In 1989, I had two bands that I was managing...Sacred Reich and Atrophy. Sacred was born in my brother and my local Metal club, The Bootleggers, and I discovered Atrophy from a cassette demo tape called Chemical Dependancy. I absolutely loved them from the minute I heard it! They were from Tucson, Arizona, which fit my radius at the time, which made them even more appealing. I signed them with Holly Lane, the A&R at Roadrunner Records. By the time Violent BY Nature (With Richie's first appearance in Metal, in the cover art, drawn by Paul Stottler), the second full length was released, they were the number one selling band at Roadrunner, selling over 40,000 units in one year.

I had an idea to make a European run with Sacred Reich and Atrophy supporting, but I knew Atrophy would make approximately $50 per show, and not be able to get an adequate amount of tour support to finance their tour. Ah, the baby band's lament.... I formed the idea to have Atrophy be the crew for Sacred, in exchange for airfare, a lift on the bus, catering, and sharing gear. This worked out perfectly and we headed to Europe.

Greg Hall and Me

The tour was about 3 months in duration, if I recall, and included much of Eastern Europe, which was beginning to open up for shows. Keep in mind there were no cell phones, fax machines, pagers or wifi at that time. Every border had to be dealt with by border patrol searching the bus, producing your visas and God knows what other surprise would befall you. The only phones were pay phones with crazy coins and operators that didn't speak English. I remember the first time we crossed into Czechoslovakia. Greg Hall and I were so excited, we got out on the side of the road at a small restaurant and had a drink, bread and sausage. We were living the dream!

Cemetery in Berlin

Backtracking a bit, we entered Berlin for the first time also on this tour. There was one highway into the city, from Western Germany, and it was so bumpy, the bus would shake and bounce the entire route. Checkpoints were empty shells on the side of the road, and parts of the Berlin Wall were still strong. It was a different Berlin than the modern city you visit now.

I mentioned to our driver, Bill Leonard, that I had heard about a cemetery in Berlin, that held the remains of young people, teenagers, who had tried to climb the wall to freedom on the other side, but were gunned down by the guards. He knew exactly what I was talking about and took us there, to pay our respects. Young freedom fighters, warriors..

On the side of the road buying local crafts...

Fans in Belgrade

As we entered Yugoslavia, I felt my roots becoming sharply aware. The customs, the food, the architecture.....everything Mom had talked about. It was all real!! Months before, I had received a fan letter to Sacred Reich from a young man in Slovenia, named Gregor Musa. I instantly was excited to hold that letter in my hands. From him, I met a promoter who brought the tour package to former Yugoslavia. It was one of the most exciting times I entered a country. The country I knew so well!! I could smell the smells and see the people before I ever physically arrived.

Sacred Reich and Atrophy at dinner

More to come.....

Class dismissed......