50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

With Bob Heil

50 Years of Maximum Rock & Roll is a podcast hosted by Dave Hines and features concert sound pioneer Bob Heil. Hear stories from his days touring with The Who, Humble Pie, the James Gang and others, to the development of the Talk Box made famous by Peter Frampton. The show will feature special guests who were "in the trenches." Bob will also talk about his current cutting edge microphone designs. Take a look back - and forward - at the inner workings of Heil Sound by the man who created it all.

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Top 10 50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best 50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to 50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite 50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Ep 11: Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

12/07/16 • 37 min

From Joe Walsh trashing hotel rooms to groupies, Bob Heil recalls some of the crazier stories that to the rest of us seem like legend.

S1:E09 Quadrophenia

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

11/15/16 • 47 min

In this episode Bob Heil sits down with Dave Hines to talk about The Who's Quadrophenia tour and how a meeting with Pete Townsend in London blossomed into the album Quadrophenia and the technology that Bob Heil developed to allow that album to be performed live the way it was intended.

Ep 12: ZZ Top

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

12/15/16 • 30 min

Before ZZ Top were sharp dressed men they were just a little three piece band from Texas. With no beards. But they had "that sound" driven by Billy Gibbons unmistakable guitar and vocal. Bob Heil and Heil Sound were there on the band's early tours perfecting the live sound where, with a trio, everything mattered.

In this episode you will hear a wonderful and wide ranging discussion by Bob of his work with ZZ Top including some of his secrets for getting the critical guitar and bass sounds on the road. You will also be treated to some little known nuggets too – Billy Gibbons is a voracious reader – so enjoy!

S1:E08 NAMM Show 2016 Highlights

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

03/31/16 • 29 min

Topics

NAMM, Russ Long, Sandra McCracken, Denny Tedesco, The Wrecking Crew

Synopsis

The annual NAMM show in Anaheim, California is a must-attend event for anyone in the music products industry. It’s an opportunity to see old friends, make new connections, and get a peek at the latest innovations in music gear. As you would expect, Heil had a front-row seat to this year’s event.

In this episode, Dave and Bob chat about the highlights from this year’s NAMM show. You’ll hear about Bob’s connection to Joe Walsh through ham radio, which legendary musician helped birth the PR35 microphone, and why it is the vocal mic of choice for so many artists today. You’ll also hear from producer Russ Long, who shares tips on live tracking, as well the scoop on Sandra McCracken’s latest project. Finally, you’ll hear from filmmaker Denny Tedesco and why his documentary on The Wrecking Crew was such an important project for him.

This episode is packed full of tips and insights for musicians, storytellers, filmmakers, and everyone in between.

Links & Resources

Heil Sound

NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants)

The Wrecking Crew Film

S1:EP15: Midwest

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

01/19/17 • 44 min

This final episode is a bit of a two-parter. Part one is Bob explaining the impact of, mostly, British rock stars and their crews invading tiny Marissa, Illinois to shop at Ye Old Music. In modern day terms imagine Carrie Underwood strolling into your local music store. Part two ends 50 Years of Maximum Rock & Roll with a few stories from current Heil Sound employees who keep the fires burning for performers worldwide as they build incredible microphones for the next fifty years. It's all about people, isn't it? We think it is. The harvest and the feast. Enjoy.

S1:EP14: A Six Pack

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

12/29/16 • 26 min

Bob Heil will explain what he means by a six pack and what Creem Magazine has to do with that. He will share some special stories about some of the Rock n' Roll legends that he's worked with (Jimmie Hendrix) and we'll finally hear how he met Joe Walsh.

S1:EP13: Geeking Out

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

12/22/16 • 32 min

This episode is not about rock stars trashing hotel rooms or epic concerts. It is about the innovation and technology that has gone into much of Bob Heil's career. Bob has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the science of audio and we wanted to give our geeky audio fans a very special episode.

Ep 10: Halls Without Walls

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

12/01/16 • 29 min

After working at venues around the globe some of Bob Heil's favorite live sound venues were actually right in his own backyard. Bob recalls the iconic Mississippi River Fest and how Kiel Auditorium became a live testing venue for Heil Sound.

S1:E01: From Substitute Organist to the World's Biggest Concert Stages

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

01/08/16 • 38 min

Topics: The Grateful Dead, Heil Talk Box, Ham Radio, The Who, Joe Walsh

Synopsis:

If you’ve ever listened to Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” or “Do You Feel Like I Do”” by Peter Frampton, you of course heard of the Heil Talk Box. In addition to building that iconic device, Bob Heil also built touring systems for The Who, Humble Pie, and the Grateful Dead. Bob has a history in concert sound that few can match. He continues to be an innovator by designing and building microphones that are used on concert stages, recording studios, broadcast rooms, and podcasts.

In this introductory episode of "50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll," Bob traces the story of his success from his early days as a substitute organist at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, all the way to the world’s biggest concert stages. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how Bob helped shape the music of Joe Walsh, Jerry Garcia, and many other heroes of rock ‘n’ roll.

Prepare to be inspired and entertained by the story of Heil Sound: the company that not only listens to artists, but does something about it.

Links & Resources

The Night That Modern Live Sound Was Born (the historic story of how Bob saved The Grateful Dead’s concert at the Fox Theatre)

S1:E02: Bob Heil and the Modern Stage Monitor System

50 Years of Maximum Rock n' Roll

01/21/16 • 27 min

Topics: Jeff Beck, Grateful Dead, monitors, The Who, ZZ Top

Synopsis

One of the most important, yet most overlooked, parts of a sound system is the monitor setup. Monitors allow the band members to hear themselves and one another in order to give their best performance. In today’s episode, Bob Heil talks about the critical role he played in developing the modern monitor setup and the rock legends who helped make it a reality.

Other gems you’ll discover in this episode include: What does a giant ham radio antenna have to with Jerry Garcia using two vocal mics at the same time while on stage with the Grateful Dead? Also, Bob reveals some secrets behind a couple of Who frontman Roger Daltrey's most famous on-stage moves. Speaking of The Who, you'll find out why Bob duct-taped headphones to Keith Moon's head. You will also hear Bob Heil's top five loudest bands ranked by stage volume.

Join Bob Heil and he shares stories and insights from fifty years of leadership in the modern sound industry.

Links & Resources

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