The Lehigh Valley Rocks!

Butch Maloney

A local Lehigh Valley music and entertainment blog.  The Lehigh Valley Rocks podcast pays tribute to some of the Lehigh Valley's greatest bands. “Give credit where credit is due” is what is often said, and with this podcast, we do just that!  The musicians and bands of the Lehigh Valley area, without question, DESERVE that!

  1. Sep 15

    So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star?!

    Butch Maloney shares his two-year journey in Hollywood, revealing the highs and lows of chasing a rock star dream, the struggles with substance abuse, financial hardships, and the harsh realities of the music industry. Key Topics Butch Maloney's background in the Lehigh Valley music scene The move to Hollywood in 1991 and initial experiences First band and performances at iconic venues like Whiskey a Gogo and Roxy Financial struggles and the reality of paying to play Substance abuse and its impact on his life The disillusionment with the music industry and rock star lifestyle Leaving Hollywood and the lessons learned Reflections on the 90s music scene and industry downfall The importance of resilience and personal growth takeaways Persistence is key to overcoming industry setbacks The glamor of rock is often overshadowed by harsh realities Financial hardship is common in pursuit of dreams Substance abuse can derail even the most promising careers Learning from failure is essential for growth The 90s music scene was both vibrant and brutal Supporting supportive relationships is crucial during tough times Success often involves falling on your face and getting back up sound bites "First note, I break a string, egg on my face" "I had no money, nothing to my name" "The industry is not all it's cracked up to be" Chapters 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 00:29 Butch Maloney's background and early music scene in Lehigh Valley 03:23 The decision to move to Hollywood in 1991 05:17 First experiences at Hollywood clubs and meeting new people 09:07 Starting a band and performing at iconic venues 12:30 The reality of paying to play and financial struggles 16:23 Living conditions and substance use in Hollywood 20:11 The collapse of a job and financial crisis 24:04 Leaving Hollywood and lessons learned 29:18 Reflections on the 90s rock scene and industry disillusionment 31:45 Closing thoughts and upcoming events

About

A local Lehigh Valley music and entertainment blog.  The Lehigh Valley Rocks podcast pays tribute to some of the Lehigh Valley's greatest bands. “Give credit where credit is due” is what is often said, and with this podcast, we do just that!  The musicians and bands of the Lehigh Valley area, without question, DESERVE that!