In these really hard pandemic times I was thinking of, give not just musicians a stage, but also promotors, tour managers and other people (I appreciate) in the music business a spot in the light. These people struggle as hard as the musicians itself, but are often in the background, but without these guys no shows, no tours and also no fun for bands and fans!
Here's a chat with some of the most important, honest and real authentic guys for live music in the Netherlands. Ludy is always an open book, never wears a mask and he is also not just a business guy, he is a real fan as well. I am proud to have a chat with this nice Hard Rocker from the deep south of The Netherlands!
-Hi Ludy, please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Ludy Wetzl, owner of the booking office Eternal Rock Music Agency, which is situated in Maastricht since 2006. Until 2008 we partially did the programming inside the former music venue Poppodium Plato in the city of Helmond and were doing the catering too. From 2008 to 2014 I also was the owner of The Rock Temple in the city of Kerkrade.
-How did your career started and what was the 1st big production you managed?
First I started my career in the booking world as a one-time hobby by booking a Status Quo tribute band, which had to do with a concert of the real ‘Quo” in my province Brabant.
Our second production was already more serious by programming the Eternal Rock Fest, with as line up: Y&T, Vengeance, Freedom Call and Powervice; not much later followed by a gig by Uriah Heep. From then on it all went very fast and a few months later we already did our first, real big production with Motorhead.
-Which shows/festivals you're most proud of?
Being a real big fan of Ritchie Blackmore, surely I was quite happy about my ‘own’ show Blackmore Night Show in 2012 inside venue De Vereeniging in the city of Nijmegen. And also did a Tesla show, which lasted almost three hours! At that time nobody even thought the band Tesla would ever come to Europe again after more than 25 years, but - out of nowhere – the band was booked by Mojo Concerts for the Arrow Rock Festival, and when I got the offer to organize a club show in the Netherlands the night before, I didn’t have to think for a second to do so. Even though I did not even know how high their fee would be, ha ha….. And also the very first gig of Axel Rudy Pell should not be unmentioned here. No one had ever dared to bring the band to the Netherlands. The moment I made it known, that this certainly would be my plan, it was greeted with laughter, because some said that it would attract no more than 50 persons. I thought: “Oh well, so be it, tough luck financially, but even so I will have had a private concert…..” But nearly 10 times as much visitors showed up than what was predicted by critics….. To this day we are still responsible for all ARP shows in the Netherlands. It is impossible not to have our country in its tour schedule.
At international level I quite enjoy being able to send a band to Japan: ultimately the place to be for many musicians. Or to be able to put together a decent tour in South America, for instance.
-Which bands/artists you still like to bring over to the Netherlands?
To be honest, for some years I do not worry anymore which bands I would like to bring to the Netherlands. I’ll just see what comes my way or what’s being offered. In the past, several US 80’s bands were on my list, which had rarely or never toured in Europe. But many of these bands still had the idea, that they would attract full houses, returning home with a suitcase full of dollars. But if I tell them what the score is, the negotiations usually end straight away.
-The most lovely and coolest musicians/bands you've worked with?
I don’t want to sell anyone short – and there certainly are less enjoyable things – but in general very few artists are problem cases. I even got along wit Joey DeMaio, which in itself is quite remarkable J. Also Pestilence’s Patrick Mameli’s reputation isn’t the best, considering his past. Well, I can tell you: we’re best of friends! And two guys that come to mind right now are: Overkill’s Bobby Ellsworth and Tesla’s Jeff Keith. Especially with Keith, I had many a giggle.
-Which band(s) and/or artist(s) never again and why?
I don’t like to air dirty laundry in public. Because any artist I would not want to work with again, can guess for himself.
-How many employees do you have and what's the job of your son Kinley in your staff?
While running an own music venue, I had a team of about 10 permanent staff and if necessary, supplemented by a bunch of freelancers or volunteers. And during shows attended by 2000+ or 3000+ visitors, depending of the production, sometimes forty of them are present. Nowadays being a 100% international booking office we mainly work with freelancers. And my son joins them on certain tours as a light engineer or is responsible for the merchandise. Or is being assigned as tour manager every once in a while.
-Aside of booking shows and festivals you're also working as a tour manager of bands like Pestilence and more Hard Rock/Heavy, Death / Thrash Metal bands from all-over. Please tell me about this job and also Death and Thrash Metal? We all know you as a classic Rock fan!
You probably see me as a Classic Rock fan, because of only booking these kind of bands in the first years of Eternal Rock. It still has my preference, but I’m not afraid of a nice game of Thrash. And throughout the years I came to like Death and Black Metal as well. Well, working as a tour manager, what can I say? It sounds romantic, but sometimes it can be “a hell of a job”, when being stuck somewhere in Peru on the airport, while all luggage is gone. Or almost literally having to fight in e.g. Russia to get the rest of the fee, haha. But the many trips to beautiful places makes it worth while. And very rarely it even looks a bit like holiday. Like we have had a show once on Gran Canaria and in Pula, Croatia, both holiday resorts, a bit of sunshine, a bit of swimming, nice food and at night easily a bit of a show. Maybe many of you won’t expect this, but the UK is my least favorite tour destination.
-What are your personal favourite bands/artists?
From childhood on, my all time favorite is Rainbow and that will never change. Furthermore, there are bands in every genre I can appreciate. Getting older made me listen to music differently. The bands with which I grew up, like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Whitesnake, Pink Floyd, etc. will never not be my favorites, but I also like to listen to e.g. ABBA, Ennio Morricone, the more psychedelic songs of Earth&Fire: you name it. There is so many beautiful, different music on earth.
-Top 5 Classic Hard And Heavy albums!
- Rainbow - Rising
- Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here
- Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
- Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
- Dio - The Last In Line
-Does the Covid19 crisis influence your work a lot and how do you see the live circuit for (touring bands, promotors, bars, venues, festivals), after the pandemic, when all is back "normal"?
For me personally, as of March my revenue is close to zero. Probably not even 5 percent of what it should be normally, but luckily we still have a little something up our own sleeve. It certainly has an influence on my daily work. For months already we are busy rescheduling gigs and tours over and over again, wondering if it will take place this time. Furthermore I’m used to be on the road a lot, but that’s just not happening right now. I would even say, that boredom is setting in. Working two hours a day, that’s about it.
But this will have an influence on the music industry as a whole. At least I expect not to arrange any full tour until autumn. Many clubs may reach the bottom. If this continues, many won’t make it to the end of the year. Personally I know a few clubs abroad, that already don’t exist any more. And what will be the vaccination rules concerning travelling? There certainly will be some artists, who won’t let them be vaccinated, what causes that a tour cannot be booked in certain countries. Well, we’ll see…..
-I want to thank you for taking the time to answer these questions, and I hope we meet soon again at some concert and or festival around! Final words are yours!
You’re welcome. And keep believing in your own vision during these bizarre times.
-Patchman Marco
Met vriendelijke groet / With kind regards / Mit freundlichen grußen
Ludy Wetzl
Eternal Rock Agency
Velijndonk 22 | 6218 GK Maastricht | Netherlands
Phone / What's App Office: +31 6 39625644
Email: Ludy@eternalrock-musicagency.com
Homepage: http://www.eternalrock-musicagency.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eternal-Rock-548304458540309/
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