As a young man growing up in Cleveland, Derrick Green knew at an early age that following the status quo and fitting nicely into society’s neat little boxes was probably not going to work for him.
Quietly slipping from long-haired football player to choir boy, Punk Rock and Hardcore lover, Vegan and soul searcher, Derrick has always followed the path that led to personal growth and artistic freedom.
There are many types of successful people out there; those who fell into their position, those for whom luck comes easy and often, and even those that lie, cheat, and steal their way into opportunities until they find themselves in a position of power, leaving a trail of heartbreak and deceit along the way.
Yet there’s another group, who climb the ladder of success in a most understated way. Day in and day out, they quietly do their jobs, learning, getting better, being forthright with their peers and employers, their innocence and naïveté coupled with a pure love and passion for their career, eventually leading them to the highest ranks within their chosen field.
Guitar Tech Steven “Charley” Cohen is a member of this aforementioned group. His approach is simple, his love of his job is pure and palpable, and his sense of self and his ability is straightforward and clear.
It’s always a pleasure to have the opportunity to interview someone on the show that I consider a mentor, and our current guest, Lij Shaw, definitely fits the bill.
As the host of the highly successful podcast Recording Studio Rockstars, Lij provides his guests with a peek behind the curtain and into the minds of some of the most successful record producers and engineers working today.
As I looked through Joel Lonky's resume, one thing became very clear; there's a lot of black ink on the page. That only means one thing: the dude has worked his ass off for a long time, and the list of artists and experiences he's had have made him one of the most in-demand House Engineers in the business.
Today's guest is Systems Tech Hank Fury, no stranger to the road and the perils that exist out there. This episode has all the elements of a great story; love, passion, sacrifice, and of course, redemption.
A New York native and current Brooklyn resident, Hank's baptism into the world of Rock 'n Roll started at one of the most famous clubs in Manhattan's lower east side; the famed CBGB's. It was here that Hank first learned how to make do with the equipment he had, functioning or not. The road soon beckoned, and Hank went willingly, criss-crossing his way around the country, honing his skills and soaking up knowledge night after night.
To help kick this year off our first guest is Cleveland native Lauren Crowley, Monitor Engineer for such artists as Ryan Adams, Eminem, Tyler the Creator, A$AP Rocky, Kurt Vile, and Jenny Lewis.
Crowley cut her teeth in the Punk Rock clubs of Cleveland before eventually moving on to Full Sail University, and ultimately honing her skills at Eighth Day Sound. From there, it’s been a rapid climb up the ranks where she shares the stage nightly not only with a respectable roster of artists, but also with some of the best crews in the business.
I am so excited about today’s episode, you know I’m a sucker for a good story and this one certainly does not disappoint.
For the last two years, Richard Bennett has bet on himself and made it his life’s mission as Editor-In Chief of Load-In International magazine to bring the touring community together in an honest and visually dynamic way, month after month.
But as any entrepreneur will tell you, myself included, sometimes dreams and ambition just aren’t enough.
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