rock 100.5 the katt

The beginings of The Diamond Ballroom... Jeff Brownen was sent an audio recording of Ralph Russell Sr. discussing the beginings of the Diamond Ballroom from legendary concert photographer Vernon Gowdy III. Ralph talks about how the idea began, when they purchased the land, began construction, as well as the early days of the Diamond. Max Baker Jr., Jeff Brownen, Josh Lupton, & Jay Ramone listen to this audio, discuss it & tell stories about some of their experiences at the legendary Diamond Ballroom. If you haven't seen Vernon Gowdy III's books on the Diamond Ballroom, they're available on Amazon or Click Here to buy directly from Vernon's website. http://www.diamondballroombook.com/ - The enhanced E-book version has lots more audio to go along with the book!!! 

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September 6th, 1980, "Roklahoma" was held in Norman, Oklahoma at Owen Field with over 30,000 people in attendance for Pat Benatar, Sammy Hagar, Van Halen and Doobie Brothers. In 2007, Rocklahoma as we know it began in Pryor, Oklahoma. There was a group of individuals involved in the rebooting of the festival into a multiday, 1980's Hair Metal Festival. Max Baker Jr. was one of those individuals who helped reboot it as we discuss with Chipz Enuff in an earlier episode of this podcast. In this episode, Max, Jeff, & Jay are joined by Dani, Miss Rocklahoma 2023 and we discuss the process of entering the contest, what it was like finding out you've made it to the next round, then onto the finals, & ultimately winning, as well as how Max & Dani met at a Garth Brooks concert at the Diamond Ballroom. 

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Max Baker Jr. & company are joined by former Midnight Doll, former concert production runner & life long friend Allison, aka Emily. Click play, set back & enjoy funny stories with Max, Jeff, & Emily as they discuss working shows together. What can happen when things go right, & what can happen when things go wrong. Regardless of the outcome, a life long friendship was made, that is still going strong today! 

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We begin this Episode discussing something you can't talk about in the State of Oklahoma without getting a little suspicious. After that, Max & Jeff discuss their long time friends Barney & Carla, whom they got to know over the years. They pay tribute to their friend Barney, who recently passed away.

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Episode 60, aka The Beatles Episode of The Here's The Deal Podcast, The Max Baker Jr. Story as we Celebrate Max's 64th Birthday. We are joined by a very special guest, whom we have discussed numerous times on this podcast, she is also on more than one occasion, Max's voice of reason, & Emergency Contact! Enjoy Episode 60 with Max's sister, Deana Baker. Press play & get ready to laugh... We begin with the Buffalo Bike Run, June of 2005 in Miami, Oklahoma with Evel Knievel, Dennis Rodman, Brian Bosworth, Cross Canadian Ragweed, & Foghat. That was Deana's introduction to the entertainment business after coming from the corporate world. Since then she's been a part of many legendary shows including KISS, Motley Crue, Slipknot, Eric Church, Jelly Roll, & more at The Choctaw Casino in Durant, OK. Coming up later this year they'll host Chevelle.

HERE'S THE DEAL PODCAST - CLICK HERE

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After Max's excursion as Robert Plant's Chauffer through Oklahoma on old Route 66, the week continues to be busy for Max with shows from Ryan Cabrerra as well as the Wallflowers. We also discuss a couple of Slipknot shows that Max missed b/c he wasn't allowed in the building.... Fast Forward to 2023 & now there's actual former band members that aren't allowed inside the venue to see Slipknot... In the Music / Concert / Touring Industry, when your name is added to the "do not admit" list, its known as getting "Max Baker'd"... We also talk about the legend, Shelton Hank Williams III & some of his first shows, touring through Oklahoma w/ Assjack. If you got to see any of these Hank III shows, they were absolutely incredible. 

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We pick up in 2005 on Episode 56 with Max heading back to OKC from Miami, Ok at a death metal show at Bricktown Live with Crytopsy. Brad White & Max Baker Jr. were building shows all over the state of Oklahoma. We look back at lots of adversity that Max faced after Choice Music burned down & how not being chained to Choice Music helped create the Baker Boys & Max building another company in a different avenue. Max also discusses being the runner for Robert Plant for 3 days straight and they travelled down old Route 66. Max took Robert Plant to see Cain's Ballroom at a Kings of Leon show. Jay Ramone actually got to meet Robert Plant that night at the Kings of Leon show... One of the most famous lines that everyone has heard Max say, "You wanna meet the band????"..... Well Max actually took Robert Plant backstage to meet Kings of Leon... Seriously.... 

We also discuss Dr. James Rodgers, AKA “Doc Roc,” & the impact made in Oklahoma with The Cains Ballroom in Tulsa, OK. Thanks For The Memories Doc!

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In the begining of this episode we discuss our engineer' Josh's new family portrait shirt and he also discovers the sound effect buttons.... So just so you're aware, hip hop airhorn drop warning. We continue to discuss shows in OKC, Tulsa, & Springfield Missouri in the spring of 2005 including, Straylight Run, Suffocation, hed PE, Dry Kill Logic, Riff Raff, Loretta Lynn, & more. The one lesson we discuss, that all bands need to make sure they learn... Never yell at the sound guy... we're talking to you HedPe... 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAX BAKER JR!

We decided to release this Episode on Max's Birthday (he doesn't know we decided to release it early for his bday)! March 20th, 1987, The Ramones were on the "Animal Boy" Tour which came through Dallas, TX at The Longhorn Ballroom (newly reopened BTW). This was the very first time Max had interviewed an artist. Up until this point as a journalist, he had only taken photographs for JAM Magazine. He hadn't actually interviewed anyone yet. Max has said for years that he had the cassette recording of him interviewing Joey Ramone backstage at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, TX. None of us believed him, & we were wrong. He did indeed interview Joey Ramone. He found the cassette & we have digitized it & included the interview in this episode. The audio from this cassette has degraded over the years. There was a few hours of clean up work needed, just to be able to understand what Max & Joey are saying because of all of the noise & things going on in the Ramones dressing room while this interview was taking place. Marky is drumming on the table in the background the whole time. The rest of the band are carrying on with whatever conversations they were having, so there is a lot going on but we did our best to clean it up enough to be able to hear Max's questions, as well as Joey's answers. 

On the Ramones - Animal Boy Tour, there were 2 setlists that were used but i couldn't find the exact setlist for the Dallas show. Heres is the link to the setlist from the New Orleans show in the same month - https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ramones/1987/mcalister-auditorium-tulane-university-new-orleans-la-4bc98f92.html 

Here is the setlist from the Austin, Tx show the same month - https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/ramones/1987/backroom-austin-tx-53c98f9d.html 

Happy Birthday Max Baker Jr.!

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In Episode 54, Max & company discuss how Max picked up the pieces after Choice Music burned to the ground, benefit shows at both, Cains Ballroom & the Diamond Ballroom. We discuss the hate thrown towards Max on message boards & the internet. Like a phoenix, rising from the ashes, literally, Max picks himself up from being kicked back to the bottom, determined to keep going, he didn't come this far to lose.... These series of events is what gave birth to The Fabulous Baker Boys & Casino Entertainment. 

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September 7th, 2004 - Dog Fashion Disco, Tubring, & Bad Acid Trip at The Rockwell in Springfield Missouri. Max was in Ghetto Boys mode, his mind was playing tricks on him.... 2 days later there was a Killswitch Engage, Eighteen Visions, Autumn to Ashes, & 36 Crazyfists at the Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. September 11th, 2004 - Family Jam - Cross Canadian Ragweed & Gary Alan at the Zoo Amp in OKC, Followed by an Infinite Records Showcase in Tulsa w/ Rotting Cycle, 80 Proof, Disjointed, Separation from All, Wither & more... 10 Local Metal Bands on 2 Stages at the Cains Ballroom. Max & crew starts to do Concert Production for Casinos... Max got to be the runner for Scott Weiland with some Velvet Revolver shows. Driving Scott was always an adventure! Max gets into concert & event production at Casino's due to a catastrophic event in his life, causing him to literally pick up the pieces yet again when Choice Music burns to the ground in a fire. 

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Episode 51 was recorded at Legends Pubhouse & Venue in Chickasha, Oklahoma. We are joined by Special Guest - Chipz Enuff from Enuff Z Nuff. Beatles The Rock Show tour came through Legends & we were lucky enough to talk to Chip before the show as well as see it! 

Here's The Link (pun intended) to the Hardrock Nite record from Enuff ZNuff on Frontiers - http://www.frontiers.it/album/5731 

Enuff Z'Nuff's Hardrock Nite on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/3nFTRf0aT6WsRTkeSScgYU?si=l2w0g7_0SaykxazWSQsdDA 

Enuff Z'Nuff's latest release "Finer Than Sin" on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/3teWEAVJEew7C6PaTjVjRQ?si=p5Bg10mhSIGmWqEgo5DrqA 

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As Kool & Tha Gang would say, "Celebrate Good Times, Come on!!!!" We are celebrating the release of 50 Episodes of The Here's The Deal Podcast, The Max Baker Jr. Story. We begin in June of 2004 w/ a mini gathering in OKC & an Infinite Records Showcase at Bricktown Live. Jeff Brownen finds an All Access Pass from a couple of Drowning Pool shows, one in Tulsa & one in OKC. The pass featured Moore, Oklahoma's own Jesse Jane. Seeing the picture of Jesse jogged Max's memory about being in a music video with Jesse Jane... Max played a preacher who got a lap dance from Jesse inside of a Church... The band was called "Shotgun Rebellion" & the song is called "Devil's Daughter" with the video shot & produced by Clark Deal at 3130 Studios & is available to stream on Youtube. Max's Mom was not impressed with his acting debut... HAHAHAHA!!!! One of the biggest bands in the world in 2023 is The Killers, who are selling out Arena's & Stadiums, Max discusses a show w/ The Killers live at Bricktown Live in 2004, a less than 500 capacity venue, where tickets were less than $10.... Every band has to start somewhere.... 

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We resume the adventures in Oklahoma Music history, chronologically we start this episode in 2004. We start with January 11th, 2004 w/ The Autumn Offering, Agnostic Front, Diecast, Love is Red & Hatebreed on a Tuesday at the Cains Ballroom in Tulsa. January 26th, 2004 - Sevenudst, Ill Nino, & Element80 at the Rockwell in Springfield Missouri. We also discuss a bruthal show at Bricktown Live w/ Horse Called War, Blunt Force Trauma, Cattle Decapitation, Behemoth, & Suffocation. We also discuss another Candlebox show. Max talks about his friend Damon Johnson & something they have in common, with their love of Two Frogs Grill in Ardmore filled with Rock N Roll photos by legendary Photographer Carl Dunn. Max gets to work a show for his hero Bob Dylan, however, there were strict instructions not to look at Mr. Dylan. Find out how Max & company were sneaking looks at his rehearsals that they were not supposed to be watching. Oops.... 

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In 2005 at the Cains Ballroom, Max met a life long friend at a Tesla show. Little did Lisa know she would start her Rock N Roll Adventures with Max Baker Jr. after that chance encounter. This comedic episode peels back the curtain on the ups & downs of putting on concerts. We also discuss the infancy of Rocklahoma, Country Fever & more... 

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Episode 42 begins with a Ween show at the Diamond Ballroom in 2003. September 21st, 2003 - Twiztid & Society 1 came to the Diamond, Max recalls several Twiztid shows that he's been a part of over the years. October 3rd, 2003 AFI, Hot Water Music & Bleeding Through came to the Bricktown Event Center. We discuss the many shows that happened during this era at the Bricktown Event Center, including a show w/ ICP, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Kottonmouth Kings, & more... Bricktown Streets were flooded w/ Fago. The opener on that show was Tech 9 & we discuss his history of shows that have come through Oklahoma City. 

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This is not an April Fools joke.... We decided to release episode 41 on 4/1/23...

We begin this episode with Back to Back All American Rejects shows at the Brady Theater in Tulsa & the Bricktown Events Center in Oklahoma City. The Tulsa show was filmed for a DVD release... After that we discuss another Tulsa Pimpadelic show.... Where are they now????? We'd love to hear from someone from the Pimpadelic camp to get them on this podcast! June 8th, 2003, KATTFEST featured Godsmack as the headliner... 20 years later, Godsmack headlines KATTFEST 2023! This podcast is as much about the Music & Entertainment Business as it is about the history & legendary concerts that have come through Oklahoma. We discuss what happens next for the next crop of Classic Rock artists... 1990's Grunge artists are now, technically Classic Rock artists. How do they continue to tour & remain relevant?!? We also discuss an Otherside show with Killswitch Engage that didn't happen, the band cancelled the day of the show due to travel issues. The fans were extremely upset about the show not happening & taking it out on Max. The attitudes being thrown at Max, made him think it was a good idea to put the Tour Managers cel phone number on the front door, encouraging the attendee's to call the TM & voice their displeasure. (...not recomended btw)...

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Right off the bat, at the very begining of the Episode, Listen to Big Dad Ritch of the Texas Hippie Coalition do his impersonation of Max Baker Jr. & hear his take on "Here's The Deal"... We left off at Feb. 21st, 2003, a show with Malevolent Creation & Anal Blast at the Otherside in Tulsa. Max tells his adventures of distributing flyers for that show at Oral Roberts University... Who knew such judgement would be thrown at Max from the believers.... Henry Rollins comes to town doing a spoken word show. at the end of Feb. 2003 Max & Jeff discuss an ICP & 2 Live Crew show at the Diamond Ballroom. Throughout numerous episodes Max has discussed "issues... problems.... & show stoppers"... This ICP show had a show stopper situation that had to be corrected. When you rent venues to put on shows, occasionally you've got to fix those show stoppers to ensure the show happens.... THE SHOW MUST GO ON! Jeff & Max discuss the Mad Dogs & Englishmen reunited show April of 2003 with Joe Cocker & Leon Russell. We all agree, in one of the biggest rock n roll feud's of all time, we're all Team Leon! 

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If you've ever wanted to know what it takes to put on a concert or event with a National touring artist, this is the episode for you. We will discuss putting on a show from the start to finish. Max revisits some Diana Ross shows he was a part of as well as the Tornado relief show at Owen Field w/ Toby Keith, Ronnie Dunn, Sammy Hagar, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson & more.... 

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January 11th, 2000 is a very historic day in Oklahoma City concert history. Slipknot was scheduled to play the Tower Theater for the 3rd time. The first show, they didn't have enough room to play the show due to being the opener on a Coal Chamber & Machine Head Package Tour. Max & Jimmy Johnson from Element, scramble, put their heads together to figure out how to get Slipknot back to OKC to play a headlining date. They have an off day on a Monday 10 days later, resulting in Slipknot coming back to play for 400 or so people with Element & Lowlife opening the show. Max see's the popularity of the band growing & wants to bring them back through again & the January 11th, 2000 date was booked. Keep in mind, during this time, 23rd street OKC, was not the nice vibrant neighborhood that it is now! It was a dangerous place to be with vacant store fronts everywhere. We set down with Max Baker Jr. & Jeff Brownen to tell their accounts of what happned that day, where they were during the chaos, the discussions between the band management & the booking agent, & paying the band, all before Slipknot decided not to play. There were rumors for years about what happened that night, Hopefully this clears up some of the chaos & confusion & brings people back together! 

Published & Aired Feb. 28th, 2000 on MTV News - "It was a bad gig, man. We learned out lesson," Corey Taylor (#8) continued. "We're never going to play there again. We're going to play a place that will hold everybody. And he will not be involved," percussionist Shawn Crahan (#6) added.

https://www.mtv.com/news/k9uiqu/slipknot-has-its-say-on-oklahoma-city-concert-flap 

Fast Forward 22 years later to 2022 & Max Baker Jr. was involved in a Slipknot show in Oklahoma, where his company The Baker Boys did production load in & load out.... and yes, Max was in the building, from start to finish! 

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