kimhawes

On a personal note, I think it's bullshit just like you. Some bands hate it, some bands use it to their advantage. Personally I think music needs to get back to its roots and be more open to all.

That's a very long story but it ends with a Swedish promoter who had displeased Motorhead being tied naked to the Bomber lighting rig, covered in cream cheese.

They absolutely are! I was with them on my first tour in Europe - I was a young lass, only 19, very new to the business. I was selling merchandise that tour, and didn't have money to spend on the road. I was flat broke. (Turns out I was entitles to expenses but no one said!) Rush though made sure I had a meal every day and a place to sleep when there were days off as the girl I was working with used to go off places without and leave me stuck. I was one of the least important people on the tour and the band personally made sure I was alright. Lovely people!!

First of all - yes, Rush were quiet. Except for one night when Geddy Lee, Skip (roadie) and myself ended up so drunk I got to my room but only managed to get my key in the door before I passed out in the hallway. Don't know where Skip ended up but Geddy ended up in the elevator, going up and down the floors all night!

In terms of the job question: maybe because of my 10 years with Motorhead - where I started on merch selling and went up to tour manager so it was my first managing experience - after that I always got the chaotic bands on the grounds that I could handle it! I thrived on the chaos. There was never a dull moment.

I don't want to get anyone into trouble but I'll talk about the original Motorhead line up because none of them are still with us. They took their own chemistry lab on tour with them! It was two guys (who'd been in the SAS!) came on tour to produce the supplies and ensure it never ran out.

There's a fun story from a Rush gig in about 82. The gig was totally sold out and this guy was mad keen to get in so he sent the merchandise people a matchbox full of all these different pills as a bribe. Of course none of us were nuts enough to take them. They were beautiful colours though!

I have to say, I've never been asked for cannabis myself. Plenty of other things though ;)