J.F.Z. · @JordanZeh
22nd Mar 2017 from TwitLonger
Best Backstage Stories of Radio Career!
My very first time backstage was The Allman Brothers in Augusta, GA. Super embarrassed myself by asking Gregg Allman if he "was a roadie?" Gregg was talking to my Boss and mentor Jeff "The Sandblaster" Sanders and Jeff said "Jordan, meet Gregg! Gregg, this is Jordan!" Well, I missed entire show b/c of technical issues back at radio station. The Allman Brothers were ahead of my time AT THE TIME(19 years old) so after a brief conversation, I asked him the dumbest question he's probably ever been asked. My boss looked at him I think for "what should I do?" and Gregg was actually laughing and said "no no! " before this became hilarious on and the most picked at thing for 1st year working. Now, I know what a legend the guy is! I actually knew "The Allman Brothers" were legendary but didn't know any of their first names!!!??? STUPID! If you thought it would take SOME TIME to be as dumb...YOU WERE WRONG!
I WENT to my first concert backstage as the recently promoted Music Director of the radio station. I worked hard on backstage for this and got to see my favorite band Pearl Jam tear up the Charleston, SC civic center! Well, I am pretty sure they killed it but I nearly killed myself. During the show, I got both SHITFACED AND SUPER HIGH. I WAS SO DRUNK that I pulled out a joint in front of both bosses!!! Yes, the joined in!! haha I was right about them! haha but one of them barely got a hold of me before tumbling down the stairs and possible a horrible life ending fall. I wanted BACKSTAGE most and that was a DISASTER where i didn't even ask for backstage for a long long time. Myra Sampson was the record label rep AND SHE WAS THE LEADER OF THE BACKSTAGE GROUP but I TOOK OVER and first room I see is a bunch of steel chairs for which I pulled curtain back and told everyone "here we go!" and that was just the chairs. It gets way worse. My friend and I were fascinated at all the FREE BEER! was backstage! They had all the brands and we asked someone "are those free???" and when we got the green light, we started grabbing multiple ones like it was gonna close!! Then someone asked us "who are you guys?" and we said "we are Stone Gossard's cousin!!!?? Why, I have no fucking idea. Later, we would be asked by Stone if we were his cousin??!! so BUSTED AND I would ask him if he wanted to smoke pot with no discretion at all. I think I said "you want to smoke a spliffy?" for which Stone asked "what was that?" and I said "You know...pot!" Granted, I was still a child but I evidently was asked my name by Pearl Jam manager Kelly Curtis and I responded with "Phil McCracken" and had him saying it for which the record rep was then----crazy enough to invite us to an after party which we didn't come close to making that party! WE passed out within the hour! And the bosses LOVED the excitement I brought backstage because SHAME is FUN for coworkers!
I would say that backstage become more "normal" as years progressed. If i had too many substances, I just didn't go back WHICH WAS QUITE A LOT. MY FAVORITE THING TO DO was to get shithammered and give my All Access Pass to some random kid or teen. I was notorious for it and it DROVE THE STATION MGT crazy! Mainly because some kid would suddenly be roaming backstage at the Civic Centers of these many concerts. I went to so many concerts including Beastie Boys twice in one week, Pearl Jam twice in one week, and Tom Petty(made that a whole vacation) ..all those shows...didn't try for backstage with Pearl Jam even though by then I had become close to their label's national director BUT I just kinda thought "you are too hammered to make a 2nd appearance" and till this day have never went backstage and met Pearl Jam again. I've had chances but Ive given them to kids or teens every time! So, all together ---and even super sober me stopped going to backstage at all by the time 95 Rock became the station I worked for. I would do all interviews with the bands backstage but never attended meet and greets just because they had become more of a chore. I felt most bands felt the same way so it wasn't the coolest way to meet someone so I stuck to the interviews as being my own personal experience with bands.
Zakk Wylde came to Augusta for a meet and greet with fans for his interview and dinner! He was promoting Black Label Society and was immediately interesting as HELL! HE WAS RATHER DRUNK and tore down this huge poster of Metallica's James Hetfield! and then had a profanity laced rant about Hetfield. My boss's uncomfortableness made this so entertaining to watch. Later, he told stories about Dimebag Darrell's funeral and Eddie Van Halen screaming "THERE IS NO GOD!' AT THE FUNERAL after snorting a huge line of cocaine and getting emotional about the death! I actually became kinda his bodyguard's boy assisting them on where bathroom was and where anything was and told him (he happened to be Zakk's bodyguard and brother in law and was HUGE) THAT i so very much wanted to challenge Zakk to drinking contest....which was a disaster. About 2 hours into some drinking, Zakk obliges me on the drinking contest and I LOSE BADLY AFTER THIS NON HUMAN SPECIES DRANK 7 STRAIGHT DOUBLE JAGERS and after my 7th....I tapped out b/c it nearly became vomit. All would have been well other than I was SHITFACED and all Zakk's fault. I don't know why but I began pulling his hair like a child and thought we were "boys' after having a contest with him and I was WRONG. Zakk got furious and I guess the HUGE BODYGUARD nearly beat me silly! I guess that would make the story way more interesting BUT I STILL INSIST THAT THIS IS ZAKK'S FAULT! I never had 7 straight double jagers in my ENTIRE LIFE! Not even throughout the night---that would mean 14 shots! And this was all under 3 minutes and Zakk was again----pretty drunk and never quit drinking some 4 hours earlier! The man was CRAZY! BUT MUCH RESPECT to his drinking abilities! It humbled me very much in that department!
And those are the 3 Best Backstage Stories in Radio Career! I can tell you that all 3 of these guys were super cool all considering! I most dislike Josh Todd(Buckcherry) and David Dramen(Disturbed) as far as their nasty attitude towards listeners. Not me but listeners. Maybe both were having bad day! I dunno! or maybe both were drunk or under the influence. David didn't seem like that was the case but Josh---who knows !!! I actually felt he was a dick the 2 times I was around him ..and again ...to others!