Back in the early ‘80s I wanted to produce my own radio show. I thought that people would love to hear about the behind-the-scenes of rock shows. Now, this sort of production is everywhere, but back then no one was thinking about it much.

          Then one day I got a phone call. Would I want to work the PR side of the Rod Stewart tour, during their leg in the Tri-state area (NY, NJ, and CT)? Even though it was for the band members and not Rod himself, I jumped at the idea. I was assigned to Jimmy Zavala and Kevin Savigar. Jimmy played sax, harp and more, and Kevin played keyboard and wrote.

          I started making calls. One of my first was to a photographer friend named Pete D’Angelo. I figured he might jump on board, as he had helped me a time or two before. Then I started calling radio and club connections. I knew I needed to get these guys interviewed and photographed going to clubs.

          Even though these guys were not household names, it wasn’t too hard to get them interviews. I got them on ABC radio with Pat St. John for national airing and several NYC stations, and I took them to some nightclubs, while I leaked stories to the Daily News and The NY Post in hopes that photographers would snap their pictures.

          I will never forget the first night I went to get my backstage passes at Madison Square Garden. Pete and I went to the rope – and low and behold – my name was there. My name! It should not have surprised me, but it did. I guess I had a fear of getting there and not getting backstage, while pleading my importance like a silly country bumpkin.

          Once backstage, Pete and I were given access others did not have. In fact, we went into the rehearsal room with Rod, Jimmy, Kevin, and the rest of the band. I admit I felt special and knew I was sharing something intimate that very few people ever get to experience. I was too dizzy thinking about what I was in the middle of and preparing for what I had to do next and am not sure I fully relished it, but I certainly took note!

          Part of my job was getting the photographer into the pit, near the stage, before the show started. As things were set up, I had to take them through the tunnels into the Garden and through the crowd. I would get them behind the barrier and run back through the tunnel into the safe zone of backstage.

          I never did well in large crowds and hiding in the back was fine with me. I could still hear the music. It was really cool hearing the strains of “Hot Legs” with the crowd singing along in the tunnel. It was pure magic.