“Rockstar” Q&A with Tony Woodard…
Guitar Hero...
Photo Credit: Josh Stolberg
I want to take this opportunity to share my story!
We explore my life-long relationship with music and some lessons I learned along the way; lessons that offer helpful ideas and reminders for both work and life. Like a ballad, each of our lives tells a story, many of which share a common thread. As you read my story, consider thinking about your own relationship with music (or any passion) or how music may have served as the soundtrack to your life.
Thanks for reading!
“Rockstar” Q&A
Featuring Anthony “Tony” Woodard a.k.a. “Tony Van Woodard”; “Boss Tone”
Toxic A$$ets: Lead Guitar and occasional Lead Vocals
“Watch this…”
April 2022: “Rockin’ your way down on Baker Street…”
Video by Josh Stolberg
Q.
What were some of the earliest songs, albums, music videos, or artists you remember?
A.
"Afternoon Delight" by Starland Vocal Band, “Something” by The Beatles, and “Take It to the Limit” by the Eagles. As a young child, I often heard these songs playing on my parents’ record player console that sat in our living room right across from the pea green sofa.
Q.
Did you come from a “musical” household?
A.
No. While my parents listened to music and had a nice little record collection, they were not musicians.
Q.
Who was (were) your biggest, personal musical influence(s) growing up?
A.
Brian Sullivan who was my guitar teacher in the early-to-mid-‘90s.
March 18, 1995: Go Kart live at the White Rabbit in Austin, Texas during the 1995 SXSW Music Festival.
Fun fact: The band Sublime also played the White Rabbit the night before. Reportedly in attendance for the Sublime show were “Vans Warped Tour” founder Kevin Lyman, as well as punk promoter Paul Tollett of “Goldenvoice”.
Featured in The Kansas City Star - Sunday, March 26, 1995
Q.
At what age did you leave the “aural nest” of your parent(s) or family, to go forth and discover your own music?
A.
Age 10. Specifically, 1984. 1984 was a truly watershed year in regards to all things entertainment, the cultural output of which would have a lasting impact on me. The year featured great music, including music videos that played prominently and frequently on MTV. In retrospect, this was the year that I left the “aural nest”; there’s a big world out there…
Q.
What was the first single or album that you purchased?
A.
“Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor; it was a 45 RPM record.
Q.
What musicians/artists influence(d) you most?
A.
[Laughs] Where do I begin? This is a hard question for me to answer, as I am a big fan of many different artists and musicians. Definitely, the late Eddie Van Halen (and his iconic band Van Halen), along with the late Prince, the late Randy Rhoads, Ozzy, and Steve Vai are major influences. The music of Led Zeppelin and the Eagles, as well as that of Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Stone Temple Pilots, also greatly influenced me.
Courtesy of Anthony Woodard
Q.
Have you ever met any famous musicians/artists?
A.
Yes. Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Shania Twain, Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, who was with Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers.
My “Ozzmosis” CD booklet signed by Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler circa 1995
Photo Credit: Anthony Woodard
Q.
What were some concerts/festivals that you have attended? Is there a favorite or most memorable?
A.
I have seen over 100 artists and bands live; so many great memories. The Def Leppard show on July 18, 1993 at Sandstone Amphitheater was my first Rock concert, with Van Halen following nine days later. Both concerts were stellar. In addition to the planned pyrotechnics at the Van Halen show, nature provided its own fireworks in the form of cloud-to-cloud lighting from storms fifty or so miles away to our North and West. The lightning formed a memorable backdrop for the stage and perhaps was also foreshadowing the band’s future contribution to the “Twister” soundtrack, possibly even its eventual (second) stormy breakup. Some other memorable concerts and festivals were the No Quarter Tour, Lollapalooza, and the Kiss Alive reunion tour, which included the final concert performance of Alice In Chains with the late Layne Staley (July 3, 1996). I was also fortunate to experience Soundgarden live and in-person, as well as the Ramones, as they tore through 21 songs in around 45 minutes at Lollapalooza.
My Summer at Sandstone (1994)
Collage courtesy of Anthony Woodard
More recently, I took my wife and daughter to see Taylor Swift's Reputation Tour at Arrowhead Stadium in 2018. The show set a new attendance record for the venue. A couple of weeks later, I saw Billy Joel live in concert at the venerable Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. My late father joined my wife and I for this memorable event. It was his last major concert.
“Dancing With Our Hands Tied” (acoustic) by Taylor Swift (Live) - Arrowhead Stadium, Sep. 8, 2018
Courtesy of Anthony Woodard
Q.
Did you sing and/or play an instrument when you were a child or young adult? If so, did you take lessons or were you self-taught (or was it a mixture of both)?
A.
[Laughs] Umm, sort of… It was a mixture of both. I initially took guitar lessons when I was in fourth grade. However, I was much more interested in recess. Lessons were so d@#% boring; “C Major, G Major, A minor, blah, blah, blah...”. Not surprisingly, after six months, I could not play anything other than an Em7(add 4) chord. Fast forward. I spent the better part of the next decade cultivating my skills on the soccer field. Conversely, my becoming a “rockstar” was no longer on my setlist. Unfortunately, I suffered a season-ending injury during my senior year of high school and my plans for competing at the collegiate-level went out the window. After a couple of years, while I was still lost in a wilderness of anger and self-pity, something began to stir inside me. I began to “hear” the music again, the guitar again. I became hooked after experiencing my first two Rock concerts in the Summer of 1993. I soon realized two things; (1) I really had to learn how to play the guitar and (2) I preferred live performances over studio recordings. And so, about two months later, I arrived at my local music store with $500 and a plan…. Even though it was over thirty years ago, I still recall everything about that initial lesson in the Fall of ‘93. After another student finished his lesson and left, I opened the door to the tiny room in the back of the music store, a room that was no bigger than a closet. There seated in a small chair, was my new guitar teacher (Brian Sullivan), who was busy taking some notes, tuning his guitar, and adjusting the settings on his amp. We introduced ourselves and quickly got to work. Over the next several months, as Brian taught me how to play, he ultimately shared two additional, yet very important pieces of advice, first saying to me, “Use (modal) scales, without sounding scaly; always play with emotion, with feel.” And, as he demonstrated this important principle with his guitar, he then said, “After you learn these additional scales and a couple more (barre) chord shapes, you will be able to pick up and play along with anything, solo to anything, something that is called improvisation.” I am grateful to him.
Q.
Did you study music theory and composition?
A.
Brian, my guitar teacher, taught me some music theory. I also took a couple of music theory courses in college.
Q.
Do you like to write music, lyrics, or both?
A.
[Laughs] You probably noticed that I like to write… Yes, I used to write lyrics on occasion. However, when it came to the music, I would mostly play by feel; use improvisation.
Q.
When first performing, did you experience stage fright? If so, how did you overcome it or even utilize it?
A.
Yes. About a month or so into my lessons in fourth grade, after learning (or in my case, not learning…) “Every Good Boy Does Fine”, how to properly hold the guitar, and fret a chord or two, it was announced that us students would be performing at our school’s Christmas program later that semester. The assignment; we all had to learn to play “Silent Night”. Christmas programs at Catholic schools were major events, with gymnasiums or Churches filled with a few hundred people. This was the big time. All eyes would be on me and the handful of other students holding six-strings. I really needed to pay attention, practice, and learn those chords! [Laughs] Alas, it was early December. The program was only a week away and as you can guess, I had no clue. It was obvious that I was not practicing and was not going to learn to play “Silent Night” in a few short days. I was in a panic. I did not want to be standing like a house plant in front of a few hundred people. Soon it was Tuesday evening. In the hour leading up to the program, my stomach started to ache and a cold sweat broke out on my face. During the program, as the minutes and songs went by, the nerves set in more and more. I tried to hide my trepidation by loudly singing with my fellow classmates in the choir, but it was to no avail. Suddenly, it was time to perform “Silent Night”. I reluctantly strapped my guitar on and walked towards the front of the audience, seemingly to my demise. “One, two, three, four… Silent Night, Holy Night…”, our sextet came alive with the sounds of creaks, pops, missed chords, and trembling voices. And, there I was, showcasing a new form of unplugged playing, mixed with elements of miming and what would later be known as “air guitar”. I hid my then lack of phalangeal dexterity by belting out some truly memorable vocals, reminiscent of a small foghorn. Amazingly, no one seemed the wiser. In fact, at the end, there was a fair amount of applause and some laughs. Most importantly, I survived the night; I gave ‘em a show… Today, I mostly experience excitement and sometimes a rush of adrenaline when performing. However, I become a different person when I take the stage and put on my cheap sunglasses; I go into “rockstar” mode. Perhaps, this is how I cope. Again, give ‘em a show…
“This is Toxic…” Toxic A$$ets rockin’ in 2022 (…and me playing an epic solo)
Photo Credit: Josh Stolberg (photo filtered by Anthony Woodard)
Q.
Have you ever had a song or performance professionally recorded in a studio?
A.
No, not yet…
Q.
Do you like music history, musicology, and/or trivia?
A.
Yes! I love the stories, not only about the artists, the bands, or the music industry, but about how music itself created lasting memories for me, my friends and family, and even strangers. Fortunately, college electives also offered me the opportunity to learn more about the history of modern music and its social impact (musicology).
Q.
Currently, what are some of your favorite musical styles or genres? Conversely, is there a style or genre that you would like to learn more about?
A.
I have a diverse musical palate, with an appetite for many different genres and styles. However, I most enjoy guitar-centric music, so Rock and Metal are my favorite items on the menu.
Q.
Is there an instrument that you would like to learn how to play?
A.
I have a long way to go, but I would like to master the piano. I would also like to learn how to play the drums.
Q.
Are there other aspects of the music industry that interest you (e.g., producing, engineering, marketing, dance and choreography, style and design, artist management, etc.)?
A.
Producing; specifically, album sequencing and crafting setlists for live shows. I am also interested in marketing and promotion, especially for tours and concerts.
Q.
How has your relationship with music, including performing, helped you in your work life? Any applicable lessons or takeaways (e.g., more comfortable with public speaking or presenting to a large audience, stronger relationships with co-workers, etc.)?
A.
I would say stronger relationships with co-workers. Our company has been blessed with a continuous wealth of musical talent, with multiple co‐workers being part of our band at one time or another. My bandmates are my friends; my brothers and sisters. We are there for each other…
Q.
Has music helped you achieve a better work/life balance?
A.
Yes. I believe we will find that some of our hobbies, endeavors, and dreams, whether old or new, are sources of strength, which can help us re-center and re-connect with ourselves and our loved-ones. For me, it is music…
Q.
Are there any other items or insights that you would like to share or discuss?
A.
Whether it is through music, writing, cooking, painting, or other endeavors, when such an opportunity for emotional release, growth, or happiness presents itself, seize upon it. Find the time!
Playing live in 2022…
Photo Credit: Josh Stolberg