Episode 5 — The Strange Wisdom of Rock & Roll In this episode, a father and daughter pull back the curtain on what life as a touring musician actually looks like. The stage may be glamorous, but most of the job is airports, buses, hotel rooms, soundchecks, late night meals, and occasionally needing a sign onstage reminding you which city you are in. David talks about touring with Sammy Hagar, the strange rhythms of road life, and why the two hours onstage can feel like heaven even when the other eighteen hours of the day are exhausting. The conversation turns to the unexpected lessons that come from spending months on the road with the same group of people. A touring band and crew become something resembling a dysfunctional but deeply connected family. You learn quickly that talent alone is not enough. You have to be someone other people can live with, travel with, eat with, and depend on when everyone is tired, hungry, stressed, sick, or simply sick of each other. They also reflect on the sacrifices touring demands from families, including missed birthdays and long stretches away, while remembering how meaningful the ordinary time together became whenever Dad was home. Then come the rock and roll stories. David remembers playing with Stephen Stills and Neil Young, trading spots with drummers including Lars Ulrich and Matt Sorum, and the one legendary musician who actually left him shaking when they met: Smokey Robinson. His daughter shares her own unforgettable backstage encounter with Stevie Nicks while working production at just 19 years old, desperately hunting down the right Snapple before finally meeting one of her musical heroes and getting an unexpected velvet wrapped hug. The episode closes with the beginning of an incredible Chuck Berry story. After Berry walked off a New Year's Eve performance at Caesars Tahoe, David's band was recruited to back him the following night. Suddenly David found himself behind the drum kit playing the songs he had grown up listening to, trying to keep his nerves under control while realizing he was performing with one of the architects of rock and roll. When instinct took over and he threw a little extra flourish into the ending of “Roll Over Beethoven,” Chuck turned around, looked at him, and gave him a high five. The rest of that story will have to wait for the next episode. People & stories featured: Sammy Hagar, Stephen Stills, Neil Young, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Nicks, Chuck Berry, Lars Ulrich, Matt Sorum, Michael Anthony, plus memories of touring, backstage life, family sacrifice, and the friendships that make life on the road possible. Songs discussed: “Love the One You're With,” “Down by the River,” “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Nadine,” “Rock and Roll Music,” and “Dreams.” We have put together a soundtrack to listen between episodes! Enjoy tracks discussed on Can You Dig It Track Swap playlist, short cut link below...
