We Are the Road Crew
Out on the road and touring as a rock band, artists wholeheartedly rely on their crews. The term "roadie" is thought of as an archaic and demeaning term, replaced now with guitar tech, drum tech, sound engineer, production manager, and wardrobe person. 
Duff McKagan's column runs every Thursday on Reverb. Follow him on Twitter @Duff64.
As an artist, you make the record, book the tours, get the T-shirts made (merch), tour for an average of 14 months, then go home to rest and make another record. If you are a professional crew person, however, the road NEVER ends.
Since we have been out on this Mötley tour, I have been reunited with a few people who I have worked with over the last 22 years of touring:
Beth has done wardrobe for probably 25 years. She worked for us in GN'R when we could finally afford that luxury. Years later, she worked for Velvet Revolver. The Rolling Stones and AC/DC have been her main gigs for most of these 25 years, and right now she is doing this Mötley Crüe gig. Beth has known me through all my personal ups and downs, and, for the most part, has witnessed me morphing from a hopeless alcoholic to a hapless parent. Beth has been privy, too, to my daughters' growing up; now my 11-year-old Grace stands a few inches taller than little Beth.
"Viggy" Vignoli is a very interesting sort and absolutely fascinating to talk to. At the moment, Vig is Tommy Lee's drum tech and does programming in the studio. He started doing this type of gig when he was 15, working for Whitney Houston when she first started in 1985. Vig finally left Whitney when things got out of control during the Bobby Brown marriage fiasco, and moved on to Cameo (Vig did the "Word Up" tour!), Prince, Sevendust, and now Tommy Lee, to name just a few.
Life on the road certainly takes a certain personal constitution which you either do or don't have. The folks in the road crew rarely go to a hotel bed after the show, and must hope for a locker-room shower at the waiting venue. If you stay in the game long enough, however, you can command the big bucks. Top tour managers can earn from $8,000 to $12,000 a week (Madonna's and Cher's tours are the real high-paying gigs, but the demand on one's time and sanity must be taken into account).
Our Loaded crew right now consists of Martin Feveyear as tour manager/sound engineer, Stadi as guitar/bass tech, Ryan as guitar tech/drum tech, and Dennis as merch guy. I don't really know anyone's last name except for Martin's, but living together on a bus day in and day out, you get to know just about everything else about these peoples' lives--and their significant body odors and hygiene habits. Loaded is a low-budget affair at best, and the band and crew work real hard for mediocre pay.
Ryan plays another very significant role for all of us. He has taken it as a personal challenge to be our "Johnny Go Time." That is, he reminds us, when times are hard and we're tired, that this is about fucking ROCK AND ROLL and it's time to throw down. Ryan has various ways of getting us up for a gig, including throwing out enthusiastic David Lee Roth high kicks or exhorting how "rad" '60s band Pentagram is. The guy just lives it, period. 
Ryan "Go Time" Moore
A favorite Ryan moment of mine was in Finland. No one had really slept for something like 65 hours and we had a gig to do. Ryan literally picked himself off the ground and staggeringly gave us a DLR kick to remind us that it was indeed time to rock, whether we were seeing sleep-deprivation-induced "trails" or not. Ryan kicks ass!
Stadi is an even-keeled German transplant to London. Nothing ever really seems to faze him, except for the day last week when we did a gig in Switzerland with ZZ Top. Stadi loves him some Billy Gibbons, and sheepishly asked me if I would introduce them. I did. Stadi had a wide grin on his face for the next three days. Ryan, of course, was not as shy, and last I saw he had enlisted ALL the ZZ Top guys to help him make a video Web log for his YouTube site.
Stadi
Martin pretty much holds this whole thing together. Without Martin, there probably would be no Loaded. From guiding the musical direction of the band to recording us to doing our live sound to tour-managing us, Martin does it all. Like Geoff and I, Martin is a father, and having the heartache of missing the ones you love added to a stressful work and travel schedule can really fuck with you. Martin somehow finds a way to gather himself when we need him and shine a guiding beacon for us all to follow.
If you are a casual fan of music and like to go to shows once and a while, take a moment to look at the production and take note of the lights, PA, amps, drums, and stage. Know that there are hardworking people who take a lot of pride in making that show the best it can possibly be for you on that particular night. Being an artist and creating an idea that can be then taken on the road is one thing. The men and women in road crew are the ones who make the rest happen. I raise my glass high to them.
As a postscript: Ryan is actually one Ryan "Go Time" Moore from Portland. Facebook him to see some of his most hilarious Webisodes.
25 comment(s)
Julie says:
Hey Duff,
Great column once again.
I have to say that I agree with you that a road crew is absolutely essential to a band.
Two weeks ago, I went to see a death metal show with my husband (not really my cup of tea, but it was a reason to get out of the house and get my parents to baby-sit my son for the night). The show was scheduled to start at 10pm, but we showed up early and got to watch the crew set up the drum kit, do sound check and all that good stuff. I've been to several (bigger) shows in the past where, by the time I got there, everything was set up and ready to go, so it was really pretty cool to watch the "behind the scenes" moments. One of the bands playing that night was a local band (whose guitarist was my husband's bass teacher until he stopped going to his lessons... He was really good, so that was a shame, but, uh... I digress...) and it was fun to watch the interaction between the band and the crew. I actually thought the lead singer was a crew member until he jumped up on stage with the band because he was so involved with setting up equipment and playing with the sound board (trying to solve problems with the drums and mics)!
Anyway... All that to say that after seeing that show, it's easy to see how hard those people work and how much they do for the bands they work with/for. I'm sure they make band members' lives so much easier and I'm sure it feels good for them to see their work is appreciated.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 17 2009 @ 8:16PM
Sarah says:
That was a really nice blog.
It sounds like you've got a great road crew!
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 17 2009 @ 10:16PM
Lynn says:
Nice column, in giving kudos to your crew.
Having been to many different shows/concerts, I do look around and appreciate what the road crew does, from the stage setup to the lights to the sound system, etc. I love watching it all and it's fascinating to me. I have no doubt that there is a lot of very hard work that goes into it all in order to make a show successfully go on night after night.
Actually, I always wanted to be part of the road crew! I'd like to have Beth's job! Bottom line is, though, I probably wouldn't really like it. It looks and sounds sort of "glamorous" maybe, but weeks and months on the road would be tough. I give them all the credit in the world for being able to do it.
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 17 2009 @ 11:07PM
Celine says:
Hi Duff!
Nice to read about your crew and thank you so much for the concert in Berlin, it was amazing! You really seems to enjoy what you do and we could see it. Thank you for singing So Fine, it's my favorite!
Have fun with the rest of the tour, hope you'll come to France one day!
Céline
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 17 2009 @ 11:38PM
Davis says:
Shout outs to Portland! Nice!
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 12:06AM
Marcelo Allende says:
Nice article man.
So Loaded is not a 4-guys-band.
No road crew, no rn'r.
See ya
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 12:08AM
Titia says:
I think that the "small hands", like we call them in France, meaning, the one behind the scene are THE people ! You super stars are great but it's true, that preparing all the shows on tour must be a hard but very rewarding job ! Long live the "small hands" ! And your article is great, but you know it anyway. Thank you to talk about the backstage people. YOU ROCK.
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 1:29AM
Hugo says:
Hey Duff
Hope that the Tour continues to be cool...
I raise my glass to you for mentioning all those persons that work is the "backstage" of things and are very often forgotten.
Not only in the music industry, but pretty much in everything we do, or attend to, there are always persons working in the "shade", persons that contribute in a very significant way to our comfort or entertainment...
Really cool thing to do, take care.
Peace
Hugo
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 2:57AM
Sophia says:
Hi Duff,
Really sweet column again this week, so nice of you to acknowledge the road crew. Every gig I've been to this year has had a fantastic crew supporting it, making sure everything goes smoothly. I remember Frenchy looking run off his feet at the merch stand when I saw Loaded last September, but he and the other members of your crew all did a great job and certainly helped to make it a very memorable night. Good luck with the rest of the tour, I hope to see you guys later on in the year.
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 3:04AM
Kris says:
Kudos to the road crews everywhere; lovely tribute to the work they do to make sure shows happen. Techs rock, indeed.
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 5:56AM
Karina says:
Hey Duff,
Which Ryan Moore from Portland is he on Facebook? There are 6 different people. :S
p.s. I love you & your writing :)
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 6:05AM
Kristin says:
I just discovered this blog today, and what a nice first impression. Seriously Duff, very cool of you to give proper thanks where it is due. Plus, they could really make you guys sound like shit if they wanted to.
At the show in Jacksonville, FL I dragged my husband up there as soon as the doors opened. At first they would'nt let us in because they were still doing the sound check and setting up. I think they had pitty on me (or my husband) because they eventually let us in early. That was one of my favorite parts of the show! I sat there and took mental note of every aspect of the set up and preparation. All so I could have a good time.THANKS GUYS!
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 6:41AM
shameless says:
Only one woman on the crew, and she does wardrobe? How very... lame.
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 10:48AM
katie says:
okay so i've missed the last few columns so i'll comment on them now.
1. on the "midwest" column,
corey taylor has a big fat roger daltrey neck.
2. on the "finnish" column,
you know you dont need a marriage license in finland...just a quick fun fact.
3. on this weeks column,
ryan should grow a mustache.....and ya know who must be a sick stage crew, the ones who did the nine inch nails shows.....
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 11:37AM
MiaStella says:
Hi Duff!
Great that you pay tribute to all of those hard working men and women behind the stage who play and important role to make everything happen and the show taking place, but who are mostly "invisible" to the public eye. I'd worked some time as Video Operator and Script & Continuity in film business and sometimes it is really frustrating not being seen or acknowledged for all the work you do and only those in the spotlight get all the credit and cheered at. People often aren't conscious of the effort which is performed by the crew and their importance. So thank you for this public appreciation!
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 12:18PM
Mike Terry says:
What's Ryan's youtube addy? I wanna see that vid he made w/ da boyzz.Peace,Mike
p.s. Kudos to all the "roadies"
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 2:16PM
Elizabeth says:
Hiya, Duff--
Boy, you've put out some great columns, but I think that this one is my favorite. YAY for you for being so cool and so appreciative of the talented, hardworking, knowledgable people who work behind the scenes.
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 6:40PM
Stacy says:
Kudos for shouting out to the crew. I will never forget the VR show I went to when I was up front and I looked around the stage. I couldn't help noticing how big everything was, from what I assume were amps in the background to really TALL lighting rigs, and thinking I never would have made it if I had followed my childhood musician/roadie dreams. Does someone actually have to climb to the top of that lighting rig to set it up?
Posted On: Thursday, Jun. 18 2009 @ 10:16PM
Mad_Mama says:
YES! Road crew and techs KICK ASS! I know a lot of 'em, and man, it is a HUGE job. You are right - they each and every one of them take personal, deep pride in setting everything up to make that show the BEST it can possibly be. Every time - and it's a long long day... load in to God-knows-what kind of place with and without stairs (NeuMos sucks!), faced with funky wiring, lights and sound boards... then set up on rickety stages, the show, then, taking all that apart again, and FAST so the next act can take over. Then, put it all away in the crates and boxes, carefully, dammit - so nothing gets hurt and you don't have to repair shit before the next show, and haul it all back outside to stuff like a Jenga game into a trailer that's becoming smaller every frickin night, I swear!
That's about right, huh, guys? There's more, but you sure did a nice thing here, saying all that about your crew. Without those guys, no show - no rock n roll, no music makes the world go round shit!
Love you - love ALL of you!
Melissa
Posted On: Friday, Jun. 19 2009 @ 10:44AM
Andrew says:
Hey Duff~
I think two very overlooked aspects of the biz are lighting and advertisment. A good investment also would be researching a foggy mist, "smoke machine" that can enhance musical awareness for the appreciation of a rock in roll show.
Have a great tour!!!!!
Posted On: Friday, Jun. 19 2009 @ 7:12PM
Petra, Orlando FL says:
I totally agree with Titia! And thanks once again for a great blog!
Posted On: Friday, Jun. 19 2009 @ 7:44PM
George says:
Great column!! And at your show i noticed Stadi and Ryan and back then i figured they are cool guys! They put on something like a mini-show, that was fun!
Posted On: Wednesday, Jun. 24 2009 @ 5:41AM
ZZSANGEL says:
we have been lucky enough to have met Nikki Sixx's tech and right hand man Darren while on tour with Motley, and he is a really cool person! He even took my 12 yr old daughter on his bus and gave her a bunch of cool picks and swag. He is very nice and even though sooo busy, took time out for us:)
Posted On: Saturday, Jul. 4 2009 @ 4:37PM
Verisimilitude says:
THANKS MAN! Nice to be recognized once in a while.
A loyal roadie.
Posted On: Tuesday, Jul. 7 2009 @ 4:32PM
Mark says:
I thought this article was absolutely interesting; love any behind the scenes stories.
We love rockin', especially in front of the stage but you have one up on us - you get the satisfaction of writing songs and playing 'em live.
We're always looking forward to Thursdays for the next update. Any chapters on 'Life On The Road' are always welcome. Thanks and keep rockin'
Posted On: Friday, Aug. 7 2009 @ 7:54PM