Opening for a major artist is supposed to be your big break. Unless, of course, the headliner decides your big break should involve packing your crap and getting off the tour bus.
This week on Jackalope Tales, Charles and Lisa dig into the wonderfully dysfunctional world of opening acts who got FIRED. Charles tells the story of Eric Church opening for Rascal Flatts — and apparently committing the unforgivable crime of putting on a show that was a little too Eric Church. Rules were broken. Tempers flared. Church got the boot. Somewhere, a tour manager developed acid reflux.
Lisa brings us the strange tale of Kristen Young and Morrissey, where things allegedly went south after Morrissey became convinced Kristen had brought a cold onto the tour. Because when you’re Morrissey, even a respiratory virus needs a villain. One minute you’re living your dream, opening for your musical heroes. The next you’re standing behind an arena with your luggage while the tour bus disappears over the horizon and Morrissey is inside disinfecting a doorknob.
Hit The Road Jack! — an episode about bruised egos, broken rules, bad blood, runny noses, and the harshest words an opening act can hear:
“Thanks for everything. We changed the locks on the bus.”
Jackalope Tales, Where getting fired is tragic… unless it happened to somebody else. – [Ep 155]
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Produced by: Charles Mooney
Executive Producers: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger
Original Music by: Charles Mooney and Lisa Umbarger
Kazoo Solo by: Courtney Mooney
Podcast (jackalopetales): Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:10 — 29.0MB)
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