Tuning Up the Rockstars: Chinner's Roadie Chronicles (Vol. 1)

Ever wonder what it’s like to roll through the golden age of rock with the crew behind the legends? On this week’s Gig Gab, Chinner Winstead takes you backstage—from autograph sessions with Tom Petty to chaos-control on tour with Nantucket. You’ll trace the path from bar band to global tours with Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins, Georgia Satellites, and Tracy Chapman. Spoiler: it all starts with showing up, doing the work, and connecting with the right people at the right time.

But it’s not just rockstar name-drops—this episode’s packed with hard-earned wisdom. Chinner and Dave talk gear (like wireless systems that actually sound right), cable tricks, and why genetics might be stacked for (or against) your hearing. The big takeaway? Your skills matter, but your vibe matters more. In this business, the best gig often goes to the one who’s ready to laugh, work hard, and Always Be Performing.

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 489 – Monday, July 7th, 2025
  • July th: National Day of Rock and Roll
  • Guest co-host: Steve “Chinner” Winstead
• 00:04:55 Chinner’s having eye problems
  • Dave’s having fever and headache problems
• 00:06:03 The Show Must Go On
  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers playing in St. Louis. Mike Campbell fell on the drum riser mid-show.
• 00:08:07 Tom Petty Never Said No To An Autograph
• 00:09:53 But first…Nantucket (the band)
  • Opening for AC/DC on the Back In Black Tour (because AC/DC heard their cover of “Long Way To the Top” and liked it)
  • Kevin Jennings
• 00:12:59 Then…Kevin Jennings introduced him to the Georgia Satellites!
  • Rick Richards (guitarist)
  • Alan “Bugs” Weidel (Tom Petty’s guitar tech)
  • “How are you with Rickenbacker 12 Strings?”
• 00:15:10 The Heartbreakers crew was the best of the best
• 00:16:05 Some love for Rush
• 00:17:03 Craig Ross got Chinner in with Lenny Kravitz
• 00:18:01 And then Phil Collins…and then Tracy Chapman
• 00:19:00 In the end it comes down to the hang
  • Pick the guy you’d wanna be in a foxhole with!
• 00:21:33 Ron Blair said, of Chinner, “Chinner says what most people just think.”
• 00:22:23 Circling Back… The actual start with Nantucket
  • “You wanna go with us to Virginia Beach?”
  • Quaaludes and Disco
• 00:25:47 Everything Happens for a Reason
• 00:28:12 How to keep guitar cables from getting caught under monitors
  • Gaffer Tape
  • Fishing Line
• 00:30:52 Picking the right wireless unit
  • Line-6 created a wireless that mimicked a 50-foot cable (The G10 is the evolution of what Chinner mentioned)
  • Beyer-Dynamic wireless that also mimics a 50-foot cable
  • Alex Alvarez is Lenny Kravitz’s guitar tech
• 00:37:11 Hearing loss might be genetically predisposed
• 00:38:06 Hot Sauce…on Chinner’s next visit to Gig Gab!
• 00:39:39 In Tokyo with Lenny Kravitz…and Diana Ross
• 00:43:19 On the subject of Nicknames…Chinner?
  • Geoff “Bison” Banks
• 00:46:41 Gig Gab 489 Outtro
  • Follow Chinner
    • ChinnerSW56 on Bluesky
  • Angel of Mercy by Dirty Knobs
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    • @GigGabPodcast on Instagram
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