Show notes
In this episode of the Adventures of Pipeman on W4CY Radio, Pipeman chats with Josh Todd, frontman of Buckcherry, live at Rocklahoma. With over 27 years in the music industry, Josh Todd reflects on the band's evolution, the importance of passion in music, and shares stories about life outside of music—including his love for surfing and spending time with his son. The discussion dives deep into maintaining longevity and relevance as a band, the importance of camaraderie amongst band members, and how rock and roll connects people across cultures.Main Topics CoveredBuckcherry’s long-standing career and performance history at RocklahomaHow the band has evolved musically and as individuals over 27 yearsMaintaining passion, creativity, and fun in the music industryThe impact of internal relationships and communication within the bandThe universal language and healing power of musicSurfing and family as outlets and sources of inspirationThe power of live performances and Buckcherry’s commitment to touringVocal care, routines, and tips for longevity as a singerKey Discussions & StoriesBand Longevity and EvolutionJosh Todd recounts Buckcherry's 27-year journey, noting, "Everything's a blur at this point... I just show up one day at a time" 00:32.Reflects on gaining knowledge about the music business, touring, and songwriting: "I've just gotten better" 01:24.Discusses the necessity of evolution: “Old school fans... want you to stay like you were back then. But I think as a musician, you want to learn your craft, experiment" 01:28.Passion and Band DynamicsJosh Todd stresses remaining passionate about performing: "The thing that hasn't changed is I'm still very passionate about songs and performing" 01:46.The importance of liking your bandmates: “Bands are like that when they don't like each other, you know? ... We've made a lot of changes over the years so that we continue to stay excited about being around each other" 02:14.Communication in Music and LifePipe Man and Josh Todd highlight communication as crucial: “Communication is key” 02:39.Music as a form of therapy and communication: “It’s the best therapy there is for you, the artist, and me, the listener” 02:55.The Global Power of MusicJosh Todd shares stories of international fans connecting with Buckcherry’s music regardless of language: “People that don't even know the English language will react to our songs in a way that's very touching" 03:32.Talks about Japanese fans using rock and roll to learn English: "They like rock and roll so much... because it helps them learn English" 04:06.Life Outside of Music: Surfing and FamilyPassion for surfing: “I've been surfing since I was a kid... now that's our thing, we go to a spot in Newport Beach where I surfed as a teenager" 04:39.Shared experiences and road trips with his son, listening to music and discussing records 05:27.The calming, grounding effect of surfing after touring: “That’s my chilling out, is going out and getting on the water” 07:36.Josh Todd's journey from aspiring pro surfer to musician: “I wanted to be a pro surfer before I got into music... I surfed religiously" 07:49.Dedication to the Craft & Live PerformanceCommitment to new music and touring: “We put out a great rock and roll record every 2 years, and we tour for 2 years on a record cycle. And we're gonna continue to do it until we don't want to do it anymore" 09:28.Consistency in record cycles compared to bands with long gaps between albums 09:46.Vocal Health and Performance TipsJosh Todd discusses his vocal routine, sharing advice from coach Mark Baxter and emphasizing warm-ups and daily vocalizing 10:45.“The...