You hear the songs, you see the lights, but you rarely meet the people who make sure the whole machine turns up, works, and gets to the next city. That is why we brought Steve Martin back for a sequel: his career runs from the South London pub circuit to the biggest stages, and he tells the stories from the side of the stage rather than the centre of it.

We start with Nine Below Zero, the era of hundreds of gigs a year, and how one night at the Half Moon in Herne Hill can change a life. Steve talks “sliding doors” moments that take him from superfan to crew, and then into the wider touring world through management links, including the jump to Nick Kershaw. Along the way we dig into the practical reality of live music careers and what it takes to earn trust when you are new, surrounded by experienced people, and battling imposter syndrome. Then we get properly behind the curtain on production management and tour management: getting the show in and out on time, handling crews, working within tight budgets, and navigating the awkward gap between what an artist wants and what the numbers allow. Steve also opens up about the loneliness of being the adult in the room, the pressure it puts on relationships, and how he finds a workable balance with family life after decades in rock and pop touring. We also hit some incredible name checks and lessons learned: Sinead O’Connor, Madonna, Jeff Beck, boy bands like Bros and Westlife, and the wonderfully chaotic world of Madness.

The final chapter is Squeeze, where Steve now helps manage and tour an iconic British band that is still getting bigger, still writing, and still selling out major venues.

If you enjoy true music industry stories, tour life reality, and practical insights into production management, subscribe wherever you listen, share it with a mate who loves gigs, and leave us a review. What part of touring life would you want to hear more about next?

It's Only Rock and Roll is a Phil Blizzard Radio Production - for your production email philblizzardmedia@gmail.com