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Up Close: Lou Brutus…Radio’s Last Hope

By Michael Parrish hoped for. People are passionate about it to the point of madness.

Roxy Myzal is a huge force in creating ou Brutus is a man of many talents. A renowned radio raconteur playing very loud music hardDrive. We can’t discuss the show and talking nationally to rock stars large and small as he is listened to by millions each without mentioning her importance. Talk about her role in making R

week. hardDrive successful. o c L th Anyone who underestimates Roxy, her k He is entering his 15 season as host of the nationally syndicated hardDrive with Lou Brutus and skill set and tenacity does so at their is also host of its weeknight counterpart hardDrive XL. During the day, he is Senior Director of Active own peril! The short answer is that I get to do the fun stuff while Roxy has the Rock Programming at Sirius XM overseeing Octane, Liquid Metal and Faction as well as the Grateful Dead adult work. The longer answer is that Channel. He’s also heard as the host of the Artist Confidential series. she deals with the nuts and bolts of maintaining the show and politics of the Brutus not only plays music, he makes music. Amongst the bands he fronts are the legendary Dead music world and there is no one better at it. In the same way someone in the Schembechlers and his new group Grumpy Old Punks. As if that weren’t enough, he’s an accomplished military plans for weeks for an operation photographer whose lighthouse images have graced magazine covers and who can often be seen on field that actually lasts only a short time, she will work around the clock to arrange in the photo pits at Major League Baseball games. something like my interviews for Rockstar Uproar, which will only take up He has been an air talent at legendary stations including WMMR/Philadelphia, WHJY/Providence, one evening to record. The amount of WHFS/Washington, DC and WRCX/Chicago. He’s been seen on HBO, NBC, ABC, ESPN and The Uncle Floyd work she put into last year’s hardDrive Live Tour was insane. Roxy lives her job Show. He lives, breathes and defecates music. He has crowned himself as “Radio’s Last Hope.” in the same way that I live mine. There is no OFF switch. It’s a way of life. She Congrats on starting your 15th year of on something I love so much with peo- and I always jokingly refer to the pro- hardDrive with Lou Brutus. How does ple that I have such tremendous respect gram as “The Little Show That Could” it feel to have 14 years of syndication for including Roxy Myzal, Andy because no matter how large the task under your belt? Denemark, Tiz, Bill, Zak and the rest of may be thru these many years we’ve It’s a tremendous feeling of accomplish- our crew. ment and proof of the old adage “Time flies when you’re having fun.” The sup- hardDrive with Lou Brutus originally port and love we receive from so many started as a weekly program, before listeners around the country is the main going “XL” to every weeknight. driving engine and I am indebted to Talk about the differences in the them for the support, which allows me weekly show vs. the nightly show. to live my dream. I feel a bit perplexed I believe the greatest difference is that as well as I cannot even begin to count the weekend version is more stringent- the number of artist interviews I’ve con- ly focused on the music, the artists, ducted around the planet but I know it’s interviews and music news. It has to be a lot! If I remember correctly, one of my as we’ve but two hours and a lot of first for the show was Alice in Chains at music to play and ground to cover! The Tigers Stadium in Detroit where they XL version, thanks to its larger scope were opening for the first KISS reunion and feel, allows me additional canvas concert. My latest to date was all of the on which to inform and entertain. main stage bands for Rockstar Mayhem. However, the central themes for both At the most recent Rock on the Range, I are still consistent: artist interaction, believe I conducted thirty-four inter- great new music and intelligent, if views over the two show days. Although somewhat warped, commentary. The events like that are a daunting amount fact we have Randy Hawke program- of work and prep, the payoff is enor- ming the XL tunes means we’ve got mous for the listeners. I guess the two one of the sharpest brains in radio best feelings are knowing that, at least minding the musical store which is in some small way, I’ve helped to bring another enormous plus. The reaction worthy artists onto the scene as well as from the listeners and the growth of the feeling of satisfaction from working the show are beyond what I could have

FMQB 31 August 2010 20r o1c k0 always been able to make it happen. She Like any good comedy, it’s taking what we the Hieronymus Bosch painting “The is like family to me. Plus, she knows all all know, but never mention, and saying Garden of Earthly Delights.” I remember the good restaurants. it out loud. As for day part, well, I’m up saying out loud, “What the ****?!?!” I very early every morning hitting the gym went on their bus later to do the inter- You have been on air at WMMR/Phila- but afternoons are so much easier on view and as soon as the tour manager delphia, WHJY/Providence, WHFS/ one’s constitution. introduced me they cheered, picked me up Washington, DC and WRCX/Chicago. bodily and carried me around the bus. Which was your favorite and why? You are also Senior Director of Active They then told me how they had heard I suppose my sentimental favorite would Rock Programming as Sirius XM. What every play the show had given them. They be WMMR as that’s where I did my origi- does that entail? were just another baby band and we were nal radio internship and then became a I oversee the programming for Octane, pretty much the only large-scale airplay member of the staff. It was also one of Liquid Metal and Faction. In Will they got over the first year or so. I went R the rock stations I grew up on and con- Pendarvis and Jose Mangin, I’ve obviously to see and hang with them every chance I o c vinced me that this is what I wanted to got tremendously talented programmers got. I didn’t know if they’d blow up or not k do with my life. However, I think anyone who are passionate about their formats nor did I care. I just enjoyed their compa- who knows radio realizes that all of these and music. I’m probably most hands on ny. Plus, the show was insane. Jim Root stations are or were very special places to with Octane in terms of adds and rota- had all the guys write out thanks to me our industry. WHJY was the site of my tions although I’m deep in all of them. on the guitar he played every night of first fulltime show and I left my mark on Having Gregg Steele and Steve Blatter to that first tour and sent it to me as a gift. the city…that they’re still trying to scrub help guide us is a definite plus as they I guess I’m just one of their biggest fans off. WRCX was plain insanity with an are great teachers of the programming apart from the professional support I’ve unbelievable staff and the most evil cre- craft. It’s like anything else in this busi- given. Since then, I’ve been in the studio ative streak witnessed by civilized man. ness, ask lots of questions from everyone while they’ve recorded and traveled It’s run may not have been as long as around you and soak up all the knowledge around the country with them. This year, some other stations but I am reminded of that you can. I think the most fulfilling I wrote a bio for Clown’s band Dirty Little Joseph Turkel’s line to Rutger Hauer in thing I’ve done in terms of on air work at Rabbits but I did it all in prose so I think Blade Runner, “The light that burns twice SXM is as host of the Artist Confidential it was a little too weird to use. I went as bright burns for half as long - and you series. I’ve not only done these long form down to Nashville to hang in the studio have burned so very, very brightly.” It’s interviews with rockers like Smashing with Stone Sour while they finished Audio just very humbling to be so fortunate to Pumpkins and Cheap Trick but jazz artists Secrecy. I also traveled to Des Moines for have worked at so many phenomenal out- like Harry Connick Jr. and country artists Paul’s funeral, which was a very long and lets with so many talented programmers like Reba McEntire and Wynonna. Having difficult day. I’ll hit the road with Stone and air staff. The Oak Ridge Boys harmonize on “Seven Sour for part of the Rockstar Uproar Tour, Nation Army” five feet in front of your too. Finally, one of the best stories I’ve If you were given the opportunity to do face is an experience I wholeheartedly ever gotten on air was Corey Taylor talk- a daily show for one station... which recommend to anyone who can make it ing about working the late night shift at market and day part would you happen. This has also given me the oppor- the big porn shop in Des Moines and lis- choose? And what type of show would tunity to show my ability to work with tening to the show on the way in saying you do? artists in any format, which I believe to himself, “I’m gonna get on hardDrive Wow, that’s tough. I honestly don’t know. allows me to further broaden my career. one day and get interviewed by Lou I’ve been all over the nation and there are Brutus.” It’s pretty humbling to hear so many places that I love. If I could fig- You are sometimes referred to as an something like that. Plus, with circum- ure out a way to do my thing from Cape unofficial member of Slipknot. How stances that bizarre, ya gotta love it! Cod that would be pretty bitchin’ but as did this come about and what is your Hyannis isn’t a tour stop for many (well, number? any) bands I gotta kinda rule it out. As I’ve been jokingly referred to as the 10th for the type of show, I think any kind of Knot, which is pretty funny though it program that allows me to speak honestly, makes me miss Paul Gray all the more. especially in a comedic way, about what’s Roxy and I had gotten an advance of what going on in the world is appealing. I’ve was going to end up being Slipknot’s first had talk offers but to date my love of single “Wait and Bleed” looong before it music has kept me away from those. came out. I loved it. Roxy loved it. I per- Probably the most common comment I sonally thought it was the best thing I receive regarding hardDrive XL is that it’s had heard in ages. We started playing it “real.” The subjects I talk about are not on hardDrive before it was actually that of some radio star lamenting their released. Later, we went to Hartford, CT to contract, ratings or feud with some other cover the opening show on Ozzfest that radio-type. The topics I deal with are year and Slipknot played first at the very almost exclusively taken directly from bottom of the bill. We walked over this plain, old, everyday life. It can be harder hill coming from the gate and the site of to turn the seemingly banal into com- them onstage in front of a ferocious pit pelling radio but it’s far more relatable. was as disturbing as anything from out of

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Talk about the importance of the rela- about it they said, “We must do this for out on iTunes in the Fall. There’s an indie tionships you have built with artists real!” So I hopped a flight to Ohio, we filmmaker who’s interested in doing a over the years. recorded an album over the weekend and docu-pic following our progress and I also Artist relationships are the cornerstone of we became the Dead Schembechlers with understand that Derf, the underground hardDrive, XL and everything else I do. me as lead singer Bo Biafra. I then created comic legend, may be doing something The list of artists who’ve received their an online viral marketing campaign to with us as well. We’ll see where it goes first airplay courtesy of the shows is enor- convince people the band had actually but it should be fun. mous including Godsmack, Disturbed, been around for years. CD101 in Slipknot, Sevendust, Breaking Benjamin Columbus, thanks to then morning man You’re always staying busy. Anything and countless others. They know when Brian Phillips and the late Andyman, else you’re working on? they take the time they are not only hopped on it and spoke on air as if the I like staying busy. I’m currently in the reaching an enormous audience but they made up background were all true. The middle of re-launching my loubrutus.com R are going to be put into the best possible newspapers then started covering us web site. I’ll eventually reintroduce the o c light. It’s also why they come back time including half of the front page of the Brutusman comic book thru it as a down- k and time again. I received one of the Detroit Free Press on the day of our first load and color it yourself line. Just start- nicest compliments I ever got when Rob gig. Between the triangulation of radio, ed a Lou Brutus channel on YouTube, Zombie said, “I hate doing interviews but newspapers and web, the band simply which is getting up to speed and will love seeing your name on the day sheet. I exploded with kids convinced that we had include various interview stuff as well as know that I’m going to have a really been around since 1990 fighting the original rants and musings I create for it. interesting conversation.” Coming from a National Guard in burning couch filled I’d like to do more television and am cur- person whose talents I respect so much streets. The weirdest day of my life was rently shopping around for an agent who means a lot. I suppose that’s why I’ve playing to a sold out Newport Music Hall a knows that part of the biz. I’m also finally been blessed to do projects with Rush, few short hours after our namesake, Bo getting around to the publishing world as Theory of A Deadman, KoRn, A Perfect Schembechler, passed away. He had appar- I am working on the un-authorized auto- Circle, Metallica, Tool, 3 Doors Down and ently been delighted by the existence of biography of the Dead Schembechlers and so many others. I’m often asked by other the band. We gave all the money to his a book of the thousands of backstage radio brethren, “Why do you get to do all charity that night and blew the roof off passes and ticket stubs I’ve acquired thru these artist things?” I tell them it’s a mix the dump. Since then we’ve appeared on my travels in rock. Musically, I’ve been of hard work and professional courtesy. HBO, ESPN, ABC and literally hundreds of working on a hip hop song that mixes the Always be respectful of other people. Be news articles. We come out to play ever worlds of ghetto rappers with that of role on time. Say “please” and “thank you.” couple of years, always earmarking money playing nerds called “Dungeons and Show them the respect of knowing all for The Bo Schembechler Heart of A Dragons Thug Life.” I’ll put it out either facets of their life. They’ll appreciate it Champion Fund. This year, we’ll also give under the name Ol’ Dirty Brutus or Ol’ and you’ll also be prepared for the conver- to the memorial fund for the family of Nerdy Bastard. I’ve released some baseball sation to go in any direction. Also, you’re Andyman who passed recently and to the related pieces thru the years under the not there to get wasted and join the Stefanie Speilman Fund for Breast Cancer moniker Lou Brutus and the Perfect party. If you wanna get loaded then go Research. It’s ironic that so much hatred Pachydermus Percussion Pitches and have out in the crowd and don’t embarrass can actually be made to do so much good. a few more pieces written for that. Plus, I yourself in front of your peers. Life is funny. always like working my Facebook and Twitter accounts, as they are great for Not many people outside of those that What can you tell me about your new testing out material. Throw in my photog- care about the Ohio State-Michigan band the Grumpy Old Punks? raphy and the fact that I’m busily working rivalry know of the Dead I always thought that young people were as the world’s only collector of Joe Smith Schembechlers. What can you say the wrong ones to sing punk rock. If baseball cards means there isn’t much about the band to educate the masses? you’ve got your whole life ahead of you, time to sleep. QB It’s a very long and twisted story. I Mom and Dad are footing your bills and became fascinated by the rivalry between the biggest problem you have is a term the schools. It’s built on pure hatred. It paper then what the hell do you know was rated the biggest rivalry in all of about angst? Punk rock should only be sports by ESPN. I began to concoct the sung by guys who are living thru the story of a long running, mythical band nasty things that life has to offer and that played only one night a year on the who knows more about that then balding, eve of the rivalry game. They would sing paunchy, middle aged guys? Some of the filthy punk songs about how Michigan songs include “Hey You Kids Get Off My sucked and dressed like Ohio’s old coach Lawn,” “That’s No MILF That’s My Wife” Woody Hayes. Their songs included and “My Adjustable Rate Mortgage Really “Michigan Stadium is A Pile of S**t” and Sucks.” Like the Dead Schembechlers, I’m “Ann Arbor Girls Are Dirty Whores.” the lead singer and am surrounding myself Violence, mayhem and bloodshed followed with top-notch musicians who have in their wake. Well, I wrote more and played in underground bands like The more songs and more and more back- Devil Dogs, The Prissteens and The ground. When I told my friends in the Jehovah Waitresses. Hope to have the Columbus, OH based band Watershed debut album, “Anarchy in the Prostate,”

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