Geezers of Gear

Marcel Fairbairn
  • 4.1 (17)
  • Performing Arts
  • Weekly

Music Industry veteran talking about anything and everything with incredible people - behind the scenes creating live events, concert and entertainment. Over 300 episodes, with memorable conversations and stories from many pioneers of the event and concert touring world, including hot new up and comers. Geezers Of Gear is never boring, offering great surprises as well. Plus, check out the NEW "Leading Ladies" episodes - that celebrate the incredible women of the concert business, with host (and Geezers Of Gear Producer) Sarah Birnie and our fully Ai FutureTech podcast for industry releases.

  1. 21h ago

    1,000 Drones Over the Bay: Pyrotecnico’s 49ers Spectacle

    FUTURETECH Featuring Pyrotecnico EPISODE 71 Pyrotecnico takes the San Francisco 49ers’ 80th anniversary to the waterfront with a 1,000-drone show over the bay. We explore how large drone fleets create animated 3D storytelling, the challenges of flying over open water, and how Pyrotecnico manages production from choreography and permits to piloting and teardown.

    1,000 Drones Over the Bay: Pyrotecnico’s 49ers Spectacle

  2. 1d ago

    George Gruel - DWD

    Geezers Of Gear Podcast: Legend Series - George Gruel | Dining With Dinosaurs at LDI George Gruel is an entertainment industry veteran whose behind-the-scenes adventures span decades of rock ’n’ roll history. Over a multifaceted career, Gruel has worn nearly every hat imaginable: roadie, road manager, photographer, graphic designer, background singer, lecturer, mentor, and self-described procurer of contraband. His journey began in 1974 photographing the Bob Dylan and The Band tour for the book Bob Dylan Approximately. Shortly after, he lived in Mill Valley, California, alongside Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and folk legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliott. Gruel quickly became a fixture on the road, working with the New Riders of the Purple Sage, managing production for Valerie Carter, and joining the Eagles on their 1977 European Hotel California tour. Gruel is best known for his five defining years (1978–1983) as Warren Zevon’s road manager, aide-de-camp, and best friend. During this era, he shot Zevon’s famous 8x10 promo glossy and photographed the sleeve for Bad Luck Streak in Dancing School. In 1980, he earned a Gold Record for singing background vocals on Don Henley’s hit "Dirty Laundry," and later served as Art Director for David Crosby and Graham Nash’s album Another Stoney Evening.In 2012, Gruel published his worldwide-distributed memoir, Lawyers, Guns & Photos, recounting his wild years with Zevon and friends—later re-released in 2020 as an interactive ePub and Deluxe International Edition. Most recently, his lasting legacy was featured in the 2022 documentary Immediate Family, where he earned dual credits as photographer and backup singer.

    George Gruel - DWD

  3. 2d ago

    Marshall Bissett - DWD

    Geezers Of Gear Podcast: Legend Series - Marshall Bissett | Dining With Dinosaurs at LDI Marshall Bissett was born in Perth, Scotland and studied English at St Andrews University where he did not play golf. He worked in the British repertory theatre system and in London’s West End as a production manager where he met Brian Croft and later Patrick Stansfield who lured him into concert touring. He did tours with The Stones, Elton John, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond and Bob Dylan in Europe. In 1983 he co-founded TMB which became a leading multinational supplier of production equipment. He retired in 2014 and is a freelance writer and photographer for PLSN, Stage Directions, ETC Inc and a couple of fly fishing magazines. He is the co-producer of the Parnelli Awards show and is not afraid to say he loves musicals and fly fishing.   Marshall Bissett was co-founder of TMB (which either meant “Too Many Beers” or Too Much Bulls***” depending on who you talked to, a live event lighting company he retired from in 2014. Born in Perth, Scotland, he came up through legitimate theater before being seduced by Rock and Roll touring with the likes of The Stones, the Who, Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, and many others. He currently writes and handles duties as co-producer of the Parnelli Awards show – when he’s not fly fishing.

    Marshall Bissett - DWD

  4. 3d ago

    Adapting to changes in the live music scene over decades with Jerry Lopez

    EPISODE 368 Jerry Lopez—a senior live sound engineer, production manager, and founder of Los Angeles–based Jerry Rig Audio & Creative Solutions. With over two decades in the live touring industry, Jerry has managed FOH, monitors, and production for artists like Carla Morrison, Natalia Lafourcade, Run The Jewels, and Puscifer, alongside key systems roles at Coachella. As an audio entrepreneur, Jerry builds fly-ready, compact control packages designed by engineers, for engineers, allowing touring teams to land anywhere in the world and hit the stage with zero friction. Whether he’s dialing in FOH or navigating cross-border tour logistics, Jerry brings technical excellence and grounded leadership to every stage he touches. This episode is brought to you by ETC and Main Light

    Adapting to changes in the live music scene over decades with Jerry Lopez

  5. 3d ago

    Steve Terry - DWD

    Geezers Of Gear Podcast: Legend Series - Steve Terry | Dining With Dinosaurs at LDI Steve Terry is currently the Director of Standards and Industry Relations at ETC. From 2001 to 2004 he was VP of Professional Services, and from 2004-2017, he was VP of Research & Development and led the team that is responsible for global development of new products. During that era, his group was responsible for the development of many new technologies, including the transition to LED light sources and entry into the rigging machinery and controls market. Steve began his professional career as the Production Electrician for the Dance Theatre of Harlem in 1971. In 1976, he was responsible for the care and feeding of the first computerized lighting control system on Broadway at “A Chorus Line”. From 1977-1981, he was the Production Sound Engineer for that production.Steve joined Production Arts Lighting in 1976, and was Executive Vice President and Chief Engineer until 1998 when the company was acquired by PRG. In that capacity, he led the Systems Integration and Consulting Group of Production Arts. In 1986, he chaired the USITT Committee that wrote the internationally-accepted DMX512 standard for digital communications in lighting systems. This standard has had perhaps the largest economic impact of any single item on the lighting industry over the last 40 years, by enabling wide interoperability of equipment from multiple manufacturers. Today, we take such interoperability for granted, but before DMX512, that was not the case.Steve has maintained an active involvement in lighting industry standards for more than 45 years. He founded the USITT National Electrical Code Committee in 1980 and was its original chair. He was appointed to National Electrical Code Panel 15 in 1994, and continues to represent the USITT in that role today. He was a founding member of the ESTA Technical Standards Program, and continues active participation in that program. He is a recipient of the prestigious ESTA Eva Swan Award and the Wally Russell Award for Lifetime Achievement.

    Steve Terry - DWD

  6. 5d ago

    Learning and mastering lighting consoles with Madi Adams

    LEADING LADIES EPISODE 30 Madi Adams, a touring lighting designer, programmer, and grandMA3 instructor whose work spans the biggest arenas, stages, and broadcasts in the world. With an incredible resume that ranges from serving as Lighting Director for David Byrne's World Tour and Radio City Music Hall resident LD for Hugh Jackman, to designing and programming for Kesha, The Roots, and Hozier—Madi is one of live music’s most versatile lighting talents. From high-profile fashion shows for Louis Vuitton and Victoria's Secret to world tours for legendary acts like Billy F. Gibbons and WWE, Madi bridges deep technical precision with raw creative spectacle. This episode is brought to you by Lightswitch

    Learning and mastering lighting consoles with Madi Adams

  7. 5d ago

    Roy Bickel - DWD

    Geezers Of Gear Podcast: Legend Series - Roy Bickel | Dining With Dinosaurs at LDI  Roy was a circus rigger and performer prior to being hired as the head rigger for the first “Disney on Parade” show in 1969. He continued until 1974 when he left for Broadway to work for Pete Feller. After some time there, he went on to work the Rolling Stones tour in 1975. That marked the beginning of a long career as a “rock & roll” rigger.  As the first head rigger on the Disney on Parade shows he trained people in climbing techniques, rigging procedures, and physical fitness regimens to maintain peak shape. Roy's techniques were taught to many first-generation entertainment riggers. This training greatly helped the industry's rapid expansion during the rock & roll explosion.  Roy was and is a true innovator. Perhaps the two most notable contributions that changed the rigging world to what it looks like today were the introduction of slings with screw pin anchor shackles around 50 years ago. Along with the sling development, he specified the orientation and sizes of shackles used with the slings; these methods are still in use today. A natural problem-solver, Roy revolutionized industry rigging standards during the 1970s by developing a color-coded system for wire rope lengths (Red, White, Blue, Green, and Yellow for 5’, 10’, 20’, 30’, and 50’ respectively) an intuitive organizational method that remains the industry standard today. His pioneering work extended into production logistics; ahead of the Rolling Stones’ iconic 1975 tour, Roy teamed up with Bill McManus of McManus Lighting to collaborate with CM (Columbus McKinnon). Together, they engineered a way to operate chain hoist motors in the "motor down" position. This breakthrough debuted on the Jethro Tull tour, making it the first tour in history to utilize chain motors. Roy's versatile rigging expertise also includes his work with Disney, where he managed complex setups utilizing drum motors, block and falls, and cable climbers  Roy received the ESTA Lifetime Technical Achievement Award in 2021

    Roy Bickel - DWD

  8. 6d ago

    Mark Fetto - DWD

    Geezers Of Gear Podcast: Legend Series - Mark Fetto | Dining With Dinosaurs at LDI   Mark Fetto started working as a lighting technician in the late 1970s, working his way through the ranks at the Obie Company and Vari-Lite. He then became a lighting designer and senior programmer. In 1989 Mark opened Vari-Lite's satellite office in Las Vegas. He went on to become general manager of Vari-Lite's Dealer Network and later General Manager of North American Operations., Following a 16-year career at Vari-Lite, Mark joined Stage Rigging, Inc. as the National Sales Manager before moving to his position as Chief Operating Officer at Morpheus Lights for 14 years. Mark oversaw touring systems, new inventory, infrastructure, and operational strategies in both production and manufacturing. In 2019 Mark joined OSA International as their Vice President, Lighting and he is now learning how to be a grandpa to four grandkids. The priorities are shifting. Mark's motto in life is: “Do it now, because you can’t count on being here tomorrow.”

    Mark Fetto - DWD
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4.1
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Music Industry veteran talking about anything and everything with incredible people - behind the scenes creating live events, concert and entertainment. Over 300 episodes, with memorable conversations and stories from many pioneers of the event and concert touring world, including hot new up and comers. Geezers Of Gear is never boring, offering great surprises as well. Plus, check out the NEW "Leading Ladies" episodes - that celebrate the incredible women of the concert business, with host (and Geezers Of Gear Producer) Sarah Birnie and our fully Ai FutureTech podcast for industry releases.

Information

  • Creator
    Marcel Fairbairn
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    453
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marcel Fairbairn
  • Show Website
    Geezers of Gear

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