Stage Vault

Chuck
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Stage Vault goes backstage — not for the setlist or the soundcheck, but for the human story. What musicians think, fear, and feel before the lights go down, inside the performance itself, and long after the crowd has gone home. The Before — the rituals, stillness, and nerves before walking onstage. The During — what musicians actually experience in real time under the lights. The Weight — the cost, the joy, and the singular memories that stay forever. Featuring Styx, Kansas, Foreigner, The Zombies, Thomas Dolby, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more. The show ends. The vault opens.

  1. 1d ago

    Nili Brosh: Dethklok, Danny Elfman & the Weight of Three Stages

    Guitarist Nili Brosh lives in three musical worlds at once: Dethklok's animated-metal spectacle, Danny Elfman's orchestral theatrics, and the nightly precision of Cirque du Soleil's Michael Jackson ONE. Recorded on the road during the 2026 Amonklok Conquest tour, days after the release of her fourth solo album, Eventide, this conversation goes past the résumé and into the pre-show rituals, mid-set thoughts, and the one night on stage she'd preserve forever. Nili currently tours as Dethklok's guitarist alongside Brendon Small, Gene Hoglan, and Pete Griffin, has performed with Danny Elfman's live ensemble, and has shared stages with Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, and Guthrie Govan. Her new album Eventide is out now. Photo by Tim Salaz. Stage Vault is a music podcast about the human side of live performance — backstage stories, touring life, and the moments the audience never sees. New episodes every two weeks. The show ends. The vault opens. Sponsored by Musicologie — simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠.

    Nili Brosh: Dethklok, Danny Elfman & the Weight of Three Stages

  2. Sep 2

    Gail Ann Dorsey: David Bowie's Bassist on "Under Pressure" & Going Solo Again

    For nearly 20 years, Gail Ann Dorsey held down bass and vocals in David Bowie's live band — including singing the Freddie Mercury part in "Under Pressure." Now, 21 years after her last solo album, she's releasing The Appearance of Life and stepping back to center stage. Gail talks about the terror of being asked to sing "Under Pressure" for the first time, what she's actually thinking about mid-performance when a show is really working, and how it feels to perform Bowie's music now with the Blackstar Symphony — for audiences still carrying his loss. She also opens up about the night she opened solo at The Vogue in Indianapolis before joining Thomas Dolby's band, and what it costs — and gives — to finally walk out as herself. Stage Vault goes behind the curtain of live music: the nerves, the rituals, and the moments that never make it to the setlist. Hosted by Chuck Fields. New episodes every other week. Follow the show so you never miss one. The show ends. The vault opens. Photo of Gail by Jimmy Fontaine. Sponsored by Musicologie – simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Gail Ann Dorsey: David Bowie's Bassist on "Under Pressure" & Going Solo Again

  3. Aug 19

    Courtney Taylor-Taylor (The Dandy Warhols): David Bowie, Bohemian Like You & the Oregon Symphony

    On this episode of Stage Vault, Courtney Taylor-Taylor — frontman of The Dandy Warhols — opens up about what actually happens inside a performer during 30+ years of shows: the readiness that never quite becomes autopilot, the physical grind of playing sick or hungover, and the two nights performing with the Oregon Symphony that he calls the most powerful music experience of his career. He also tells the story of singing "White Light/White Heat" alongside David Bowie at the Meltdown Festival, reflects on what "Bohemian Like You" still feels like 25+ years into playing it live, and talks through Pin Ups — the Dandy Warhols' new covers album, spanning The Cure, The Clash, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Violent Femmes — and what it means to inhabit someone else's song onstage. Photo by Nicole Nodland Stage Vault is a podcast about the interior experience of live performance: not the catalogue, not the career — what's actually happening inside an artist that the audience never sees. New episodes every two weeks. The show ends. The vault opens. More: stagevaultpod.com Sponsored by Musicologie — simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠⁠.

    Courtney Taylor-Taylor (The Dandy Warhols): David Bowie, Bohemian Like You & the Oregon Symphony

  4. Aug 5

    The Oak Ridge Boys: William Lee Golden on 60 Years of Harmony, Loss & Healing

    William Lee Golden of The Oak Ridge Boys opens up about more than six decades on stage — the four-part harmony that still gives him chills, the devastating losses the group has endured, and what keeps him singing at 87. In this conversation, William Lee reflects on the emotional weight of losing longtime bandmates Joe Bonsall and Richard Sterban, how new members Ben James and Aaron Lee McCune stepped in and kept the sound alive, and why singing has always been “a joy, never a job.” He also shares what it was like performing at Live Aid with David Bowie, the magic of recording family albums with his sons and grandchildren during the pandemic, and the deeply personal story behind his autobiography. If you love classic country, gospel harmony, or stories about resilience and legacy on stage, this episode is for you. New album *Buried Treasures* coming Fall 2026. Photo credit: Brandon Wood/IndieBlingStage Vault is a video podcast about the interior experience of live musical performance — what artists think, feel, and prepare in the moments before they step on stage. Follow Stage Vault for more conversations with legendary performers. #TheOakRidgeBoys #WilliamLeeGolden Stage Vault — The show ends. The vault opens. Sponsored by Musicologie — simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠.

    The Oak Ridge Boys: William Lee Golden on 60 Years of Harmony, Loss & Healing

  5. Jul 29

    Dennis Atlas of TOTO on PRINCIPLE, the 5-Week Leap & First Night on Stage

    TOTO’s Dennis Atlas opens the vault on the most intense chapter of his career so far. Just five weeks after getting the call (while ordering pizza in Iowa), he walked onstage in Luxembourg in front of 20,000 people as the newest member of TOTO. At the same time he was writing and releasing his deeply personal solo album PRINCIPLE — largely created in hotel rooms and on tour buses between shows. In this conversation we go inside: • The dual reality of TOTO tours + solo album • The hour before showtime • What it takes mentally and emotionally to hold your own in a band with 50 years of history • The first notes of that Luxembourg debut • Bringing PRINCIPLE songs to the stage • What the stage gives that nothing else can A must-listen for anyone who loves live music, classic rock, or the human side of performing. Sponsored by Musicologie – simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

    Dennis Atlas of TOTO on PRINCIPLE, the 5-Week Leap & First Night on Stage

  6. Jul 22

    Carmine Appice on Game Changer & Temple of Blues II | Stage Vault

    Carmine Appice joins Stage Vault for a candid conversation about music, faith, and more than six decades behind the kit. In this episode: • Carmine shares the story behind three original songs he wrote after a life-changing experience — songs he has never performed or released before. One of them (“Game Changer”) plays in full while he listens and reacts on camera. • The making of his current blues album, Temple of Blues II. • His pre-show mental routine and the funny Rod Stewart story about practicing single-stroke rolls. • What being on stage still gives him at 79. • The legendary Isle of Wight 1970 show in front of 600,000 people and the moment the entire crowd stood up like a wave. • The Ed Sullivan appearance that changed everything for Vanilla Fudge. Carmine Appice has played with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck Bogert & Appice, and Rod Stewart. He’s still active with Cactus All-Stars and his Rod Stewart tribute project. Temple of Blues II is available now: https://cleorecs.com/products/cactus-temple-of-blues-ii-all-stars-cd Photo by Vito GeraciListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video on YouTube. Follow Stage Vault: @stagevaultpod everywhere stagevaultpod.com Sponsored by Musicologie – simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠⁠.

    Carmine Appice on Game Changer & Temple of Blues II | Stage Vault

  7. Jul 8

    Tiffany on 40 Years on Stage & Stranger Things | Stage Vault

    TIFFANY joins Stage Vault for a candid conversation about what it really feels like to walk on stage after 40 years in the business. In this episode we explore: • Her pre-show rituals — vocal stretching, meditation, coffee when energy is low, and the beautiful chaos of her sister putting on her earrings while her hair and makeup artist tries to work around her • The “we’ll make it work” philosophy that has carried her through every variable on the road — weather, backline issues, late nights, early mornings, and back-to-back shows • How Stranger Things shifted everything: younger fans’ eyes lighting up, emotional family memories flooding back, and a powerful reconnection with 80s nostalgia • Her new cookbook Pop Life and why reworking 80s foods felt like the perfect time to tell her story • Why she doesn’t have one single favorite show — the next one is always the one she’s most excited for TIFFANY has been performing since she was nine, opening for legends like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Waylon Jennings, and later touring with New Kids on the Block. Through it all she has stayed present, adaptable, and deeply connected to the audience right in front of her. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the full video conversation on YouTube. Follow Stage Vault: @stagevaultpod stagevaultpod.com TIFFANY 🔥 POPLIFE: The Ultimate 80s Kitchen Encore: https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Life-Ultimate-Kitchen-Encore/dp/1968919139/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 🌐 https://tiffanytunes.com/ Sponsored by Musicologie – simply delightful music lessons at ⁠⁠⁠musicologie.com⁠⁠⁠.

    Tiffany on 40 Years on Stage & Stranger Things | Stage Vault

  8. Jun 24

    Bruce Watson (FOREIGNER) — Pre-Show Rituals, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour & the Mick Jones Wink

    FOREIGNER guitarist Bruce Watson joins Stage Vault to explore the interior world of live performance. From pre-show rituals and calibrating energy for arena crowds to the emotional weight of playing iconic songs and the special Lou Gramm reunion, this conversation lives in The Before, The During, and The Weight. Includes Bruce’s personal Vault memory: the meaningful first wink from Mick Jones onstage. Warm, candid, and full of insight for any live music fan. Stage Vault — The show ends. The vault opens. Sponsored by Musicologie — simply delightful music lessons at ⁠musicologie.com⁠.

    Bruce Watson (FOREIGNER) — Pre-Show Rituals, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour & the Mick Jones Wink
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Stage Vault goes backstage — not for the setlist or the soundcheck, but for the human story. What musicians think, fear, and feel before the lights go down, inside the performance itself, and long after the crowd has gone home. The Before — the rituals, stillness, and nerves before walking onstage. The During — what musicians actually experience in real time under the lights. The Weight — the cost, the joy, and the singular memories that stay forever. Featuring Styx, Kansas, Foreigner, The Zombies, Thomas Dolby, The Oak Ridge Boys, and more. The show ends. The vault opens.

Information

  • Creator
    Chuck
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Chuck
  • Show Website
    Stage Vault

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