Episode #14
Joe Walsh, Peter Frampton & Bob Heil: Bonus Episode #2
How Bob Heil opened doors across rock touring and pro audio. Greg McVeigh shares how a half-formed artist relations idea turned into his first client, and how one chance conversation with Bob Heil at NAMM reshaped his career. This episode traces the practical side of relationship-building in pro audio, from gatekeepers and handlers to the artists and crew who make endorsements and touring connections actually happen. Key topics: Greg explains his early career in pro audio sales and marketing at Soundcraft, QSC Audio, Crest Audio, and MeyerSound, and why he wanted to move into artist relations. He describes pitching a product-visibility strategy based on getting well-known acts to use gear on camera, and how that idea was mostly rejected at first. A chance meeting with Bob Heil at NAMM becomes the turning point that leads to Heil Sound becoming Greg’s first client and the launch of Guest House Projects. Greg breaks down why singers were especially valuable in artist relations, since they were visible in TV and video shoots and literally held the product. He shares how Bob Heil’s direct relationships with artists like Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh, Charlie Daniels, and Pete Townshend helped Greg work through layers of managers, handlers, and gatekeepers. Greg reflects on the mindset shift of treating Bob Heil as “my artist,” which helped him approach gatekeepers as collaborators rather than obstacles. He tells the story of meeting Smokey Wendell, Joe Walsh’s longtime security chief and road manager, including an awkward dressing room encounter that nearly went sideways. He recounts how Bob’s team made artist access work in practical ways, whether through a quick approval chain with Peter Frampton’s team or a simple instruction from tour management: if Peter wants to stop and talk, he will. The episode highlights Bob Heil’s long-running ties to the talk box, especially through songs like “Rocky Mountain Way” and “Do You Feel Like I Do.” Greg also mentions Bob’s work on The Who’s Quadrophenia tour, where he helped design and build an early four-channel live sound system. The story closes with Greg reflecting on Bob Heil’s impact as a mentor, connector, and sometimes prickly but deeply valuable force in his career. Timestamps00:00 - Greg’s early career in pro audio and the urge to move into artist relations 00:33 - Why product placement through famous acts felt like the right strategy 01:32 - Searching for opportunity while “unemployed” at NAMM 02:02 - First seeing Bob Heil draw a crowd at a small booth 02:31 - The book that “ruined” Greg’s life and the first NAMM introduction 03:00 - Bob Heil becomes Greg’s first client and launches Guest House Projects 03:30 - Why singers are the “money shot” for endorsements and visibility 03:59 - How Bob’s artist relationships created new access to major acts 04:25 - Working through gatekeepers by saying Bob had already called 04:52 - Treating Bob Heil like Greg’s own client to stay on equal footing 05:22 - Smokey Wendell’s role as Joe Walsh’s bodyguard, friend, and road manager 05:49 - The first uncomfortable encounter with Smokey at the casino venue 06:20 - Getting caught in the dressing room and trying to recover fast 07:16 - Peter Frampton, Lisa, Donnie, and the simple rule for fan interactions 07:46 - Escorting Peter to the Heil Sound booth at NAMM 08:17 - Bob Heil’s role in the talk box history of Joe Walsh and Peter Frampton 08:48 - Bob’s work with Pete Townshend and the Quadrophenia tour sound system 09:16 - The 2016 Maximum Rock and Roll podcast series and its origin 09:32 - Footage from the night Keith Moon passed out at the drum kit 10:03 - Bob Heil’s connection to Charlie Daniels and Bob Workman 10:31 - Greg’s earlier podcast episode with Bob Workman on Roadies and Rebels 10:58 - Final reflections on Bob Heil’s impact, personality, and legacy 11:27 - Closing thoughts on the episodeNotable quotesCopy “Bob Heil was my artist.” Copy “The singer is the money shot.” Copy “We were two Midwest guys who found ourselves on stages and in situations that could confound even ourselves at times.” Many of the guests on this podcast are featured in my "Just 100* Questions" book. For purchasing please visit Guesthouse Projects . Also available on Amazon.
