Speaker 1: 0:46

My guest today is a returning artist who was born in Chicago and raised in northern Michigan, and I'm excited to catch up with him today. Hey everyone, it's Randy Halsey with Backstage Pass Radio. My guest has won four Emmy Awards and has worked and toured with such artists as Ted Nugent, bb King, pink Jelly Roll and Hank Williams Jr. He has written books, is an actor and is a billboard charting artist with his band Grindr Blues. We will catch up with my pal Scott Little Billman out in LA right after this.

Speaker 2: 1:16

This is Backstage Pass Radio. Backstage Pass Radio A podcast by an artist for the artist. Each week, we take you behind the scenes of some of your favorite musicians and the music they created. Scenes of some of your favorite musicians and the music they created From chart-topping hits to underground gems. We explore the sounds that move us and the people who make it all happen. Remember to please subscribe, rate and leave reviews on your favorite podcast platform. So, whether you're a casual listener or a die-hard music fan, tune in and discover the magic behind the melodies. Here is your host of Backstage Pass Radio, Randy Hulsey.

Speaker 1: 1:57

Little Billman. What's happening, brother, how you doing.

Speaker 3: 2:00

I'm doing good man. I was smoking a little stogie and I got a cocktail going. So you're catching me at a good time.

Speaker 1: 2:05

Well, you're all set then, man. So we should have a good chat. You're all set to go?

Speaker 3: 2:10

Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I'll even show you the bike a little bit here. Set then, man. So it's a. We should have a good chat. You're all set to go? Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I can show you the bike a little bit here.

Speaker 1: 2:13

All right, all right so it's great to see you. Yeah, it's been a little while. I was trying to think back, uh, when you were on with me last. I'll probably have to dig a little bit, but it's probably been a good year year and a half, something like that so it's been a little while yep, definitely has um and uh.

Speaker 3: 2:31

Since then I recorded a whole uh other studio album with miles full wider and uh ron meyer on guitar, which is phenomenal, great, great technician, what a great guy and um. So we knocked out the um, we knocked out the whole record. I'm'm very, very pleased with it and I got picked up with a great outfit out of Canada V13 Music. They're a great outfit and so we're releasing August 8th, we're coming out with the first single and I'm still doing sessions and working with people and things like that. But I'm very excited about this record and where it's going and looking to get on the road.

Speaker 1: 3:10

Tell us a little bit about the version 13. Where did this come about and what more can you tell us about it?

Speaker 3: 3:17

V13 came through. I did a bunch of interviews on the last record and stuff like that and a great author, jay came Jay Lang is her name she put me in one of her books and um, it got some love with that and so through that I actually got a publishing deal to do a memoir on all my stuff and um, through her contact, um, chris Gonda, uh and um, the outfit in B 13, um and the outfit in V13, they've come from a long lineage and opened up a new company. So they signed me and we're coming out with the whole record. Like I say, it's coming out August 8th and there's going to be a lot of press, a lot of movement with that and plus my memoir and things like that. So that's how it came and I am so incredibly grateful. It all just felt in my lap and, yeah, it's very cool. I've been through, you know, megaforce Records, warner Chapel and all these different labels and things like that, metalville, stuff like that. So I really feel home at this label. I trust them complicitly.

Speaker 1: 4:27

That's awesome, man. Well, that's great to hear. It sounds like you're busy and you got lots of things going on. What can the listeners you know kind of expect from the new record that's coming out? What can you share with us about the new record?

Speaker 3: 4:41

Well, the new record it's a little darker, if you will. It rocks a little harder. There are topics that were heavy in my personal life and it's got a. Somebody said, you know, springsteen meets Foo Fighters, pink Floyd, and yeah, I guess you know I was always influenced by Floyd and stuff like that. So it has those elements and there's a lot of bands that are not really pulling from that. So Heavy Head, the main track, heavy head is very floyd influence and I actually do a david gilmore cover. There's no way out of here. Um on the record, so I'm really excited to get it out. And um, dealing with a lot of my uh, nashville people and uh, I won't drop any names, but there's a lot of exciting stuff happening with that.

Speaker 1: 5:31

That's awesome. Well, so was there a lot of influence growing up with Floyd, like, were you always a Floyd fan, or did that come later, or were you never really a follower of Floyd?

Speaker 3: 5:41

I was a huge Floyd fan. You know, the wall, dark side of the moon, the final cut a lot of people aren't really hip to the final cut that had a major influence on on me, especially sonically. Uh, I think it's one of the greatest records sonically, the way it's mixed, the way it's produced and then, um, you know, uh, if you go too far with the sound effects you're totally ripping off lloyd. So I didn't do that, but I was definitely influenced. Guitar tones, vocally, and harmonies and stuff Rise Like Fire. They're going to be waterfalling the tunes out, so Rise.

Speaker 2: 6:20

Like.

Speaker 3: 6:20

Fire is going to actually be the last song on there, but Heavy Head, I think, is going to be the third track and it's, I mean, there's no doubt you're going to hear it and go, wow, man, that's so Floyd influenced. So yeah, I definitely think, and I'm a proponent and a fan of so many legacy bands and things like that, but I think Floyd was, you know, maybe the most unique band to ever hit, you know, and I love their lyrics and everything like that. But yeah, it's a bit of a um, a darker record, I guess.

Speaker 1: 6:53

Sure, well, I mean that's floyd was a little darker, right as right. I mean it wasn't like they were an uplifting band or anything like that. Right great band in their own right. But they're right, they were a little, uh, cosmic, a little, a little dark all at the same time. You could probably lump them into a lot of categories, but a great band nonetheless, right, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3: 7:16

Well, you know, I don't really hit the politic thing too hard and I didn't on this record. But with the politics and everything like that, floyd just was always breaking boundaries on the human condition, politics and what they were doing in the studio, politics and what they were doing in the studio. And you know, um, the first track that I sent you, uh it's, you know it's an upbeat rock thing and stuff like that. But um, there's more laid back tempos on this record, things like that that really sink into like what's happening yeah, well, I I definitely want to share a clip of that.

Speaker 1: 7:45

I got one queued up but I wanted to ask you, uh and I guess it would be kind of like asking, um, which kid is your favorite if you had multiple kids but is there a song off the new release that sticks out for you that kind of you know, it's kind of your vibe song, your go-to song from the record the vibe.

Speaker 3: 8:05

Yeah, I would say heavy head. The title track, okay, really means a lot to me. It pulls from a lot of difference from my blues background, my rock background. I didn't get too fancy on drums. You know One of my mentors and how I've always approached the studio thing, when I worked with Fogarty and even Jelly Roll. You know things like that is. You know these producers want you to just lay a good pocket down and go from there. So there's not a lot of fancy drumming on it, it's pretty much meat and potatoes. But lyrically and sonically, yeah, heavy Head is my favorite and it's coming out.

Speaker 3: 8:45

But again, the second track's going to be a loaded gun and a wedding ring. That's very much. It's a kind of a hip hop. Well, I mean, you'll hear it, it's. It's a, it's an old blues riff on the one with a hip hop beat, cool lyrics and things like that on through to, like you know, fade away, which is a straight up rocker. I just want to write, you know, a cool rock tune right down your throat and I'd like to plug.

Speaker 3: 9:12

Uh. Mr Mike Varney. He owns Shroudville Records. They've been a major component in my life with connections and record deals and everything, so he plays lead on that song, Mr Mike Varney. Okay, he's going up for.

Speaker 1: 9:27

Fade Away Very cool, very cool. Well, since we're on that subject of Fade Away, I'd like to share a clip of the new song called Fade Away. So what I'll do is cue that up, probably like 35 seconds, let the listeners listen in, and then we'll come back and chat for just a second about the song. Sound like a plan?

Speaker 3: 9:45

yeah, sounds right on there is the candlelight, there is the essence of an angel waiting for her grace. But I'm not waiting anymore. No, I'm not waiting anymore. I won't fade away.

Speaker 1: 10:18

I'm gonna pray right through my rusty chains. That was a song called Fade Away. Good stuff, man. I love that. Thank you for sending that over.

Speaker 3: 10:38

Absolutely.

Speaker 1: 10:39

So where did the song idea come from?

Speaker 3: 10:43

Uh, I just wanted to go. You know, I really deep, uh deep deep in my lyrics and things like that and risks and stuff, and man, it was like you know, fuck it, I just want to write a rock tune, straight up rock tune, and, uh, go straight ahead down the gut of it and that's what you got. You know, that's what it is and I think the lyrics are cool. Like I say, I wasn't trying to be political, I wasn't really trying to hit the human condition too much, it's just, you know, let's rock out good energy and just bolt through it.

Speaker 1: 11:13

Yeah Well, you're a multi-instrumentalist drummer, guitarist. You also have a kind of that influence of classic rock, blues, what, what is the genre for you Like? If all genres went away and you said you know, I just listened to this one for the rest of my life, are you a rock guy? Are you a blues guy? What would you say? You are.

Speaker 3: 11:35

Man? That is a hard question. I will tell you this as a listener and a songwriter, I'd probably fall into the I'm a rock guy, okay. But if you want to get into my personal life a little bit, I like a good cocktail in the Buena Vista Social Club, right, you know, I listen to a lot of Latin, a lot of Spanish guitar, that kind of stuff. I don't really sit around listening to my stuff and I don't really sit around listening to pop radio. I'm not chasing the carrot of the music business, it's pretty much. I do what I do and take from my influences. But I mean, yeah, at the end of the day, as much as I love Outlaw Country, as much as I love Outlaw Country from Charlie Pryde to Hank Williams Jr, to you can even throw a little Jason Eldeen in there and things like that I'm a rocker.

Speaker 1: 12:25

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 12:29

Have you ever thought about doing a country record at all? Well, if I would have stuck with Jelly Roll, I would have done a lot of country records right. I didn't even know he was going to be doing that. I was doing gangster rap. Well, you know, there's a tune on there called Ghost on the Corner and I'll get you a copy of the record or something like that, and that was definitely out of my when I was in Nashville and dealing with all those cats and I was, you know, really in the mix of it. That's about as close to bro country as I possibly could go. I'm still not a huge fan of Bro Country and that's a whole other topic for another day, or whatever. I'm an old school country guy, but Ghost on the Corner is coming and I'm very proud of that and I think it could hit on country.

Speaker 1: 13:11

Yeah, well, you spoke of Mike Varney on this record playing a little guitar for you. Who else was playing on the record? Were a lot of the instruments. I know you're a drummer, again a guitarist. Were you playing a lot of the stuff yourself or did you have other people on the record besides you and Mike?

Speaker 3: 13:27

Well, besides my first record and other records, I've used a lot of very famous people and things like that. On this record it was pretty much in-house mike helped me out. There's a phenomenal guitar player, ron meyer man, he is just an incredible technician and together we put together you know the record produced by miles full wider, but yeah, it was pretty much in-house man and uh, I played dobro, uh, electric guitar, coos guitar, main vocals, drums. My buddy, leo out of Nashville, did the percussion. Oh, and I will say this Miles put together. There's a tune on there, leaving my Heart at Home, which was Garth Brooks' horn section. So there's a little horns on some stuff, but there's some really great players on there. And on Heavyhead I have cello and things like that and Miles would know more about the players that were on that, but it was all Construct Out.

Speaker 1: 14:22

Sure, share with the listeners real quick kind of your thoughts around this because you think of a guy that is a multi-instrumentalist like yourself. I play piano, I play guitar, but you know I'm not a recording artist, so to speak. I don't do that for a living. But guys like you that are in that business to make a living, some casual music fans that are not musicians would say, well, little Billman is a multi-instrumentalist, why does he have to go hire all these other people to play guitar or drums on his record when he can do all that himself? Can you speak to that a little bit? Why you would go out and get a Mike Varney to play with you and not just do the stuff yourself.

Speaker 3: 15:04

Yeah, absolutely. Well, the thing with that is is that I'm very influenced, uh, you know, by Phil Collins and, uh, dave Bruhl and um, levon Helm and things like that, and my thing is that I'm a really good technician when it comes to drums and percussion. Usually, when I'm in the studio, they lend a harmony, things like that. I will tell you this you need to know your limitations. You want to put out the best product you can. There are just you can be a what is that?

Speaker 1: 15:40

a master of one thing, jack of all trades, a master of none. Yeah, jack of all trades.

Speaker 3: 15:44

Can't believe I didn't come up with that. But that's what that is. And you know you're cutting a record. You want the best product you can and simply, if you have an award-winning guitar player or bass player or anything like that, these guys are incredible technicians on their instrument that want to participate in this thing You're going to go with them. And you got to humble yourself. Sure, you know I'm not going to go up there and try to put out this amazing lead, because it's my record, you know, and and a lot of these things is, these guys take a great direction and it's also a really good everybody coming together. You know, like a barbecue. Sure, you know, and it's like, hey, man, throw in some of this, throw in some of that. Can you do this and that kind of thing? And you just got to know your limitations. I mean, you know, drumming-wise, I drum on my records, I sing on my records, I do all that. I do rhythm, guitar and stuff.

Speaker 1: 16:38

But you're not going to hear some badass ripping lead. Know that, yeah, that's kind of. It's kind of a lot more cocktails in. If those, yeah, the more, the more you drink, the better you sound, right, right, it's gonna sell millions. Talk about branding of the record real quick. Will this go by? Uh, little billman, scott, little billman, how? How will this record be labeled? What would the listeners that want to either purchase the music or go stream the music? Where would they find you? Under what name?

Speaker 3: 17:05

It is all Little Billman and this record is coming out. Little Billman, the record is Heavy Head and it's going to be everywhere. V13 is getting ready to do pre-sales and there's going to be press releases and it's going to be everywhere. V13 is getting ready to do pre-sales and there's going to be press releases and it's going to be a really good push, but it's going to be under. Little billman, yeah, okay, and proud of all my work. And scott little billman, you know, even billman brothers, grinder blues, whatever my thing is, is that, uh, you wouldn't believe how many records that I have played on as a session musician that they have messed up Scott Little Billman, little Bileman, this, that and that it's nuts. But this is coming out. Little Billman, yeah, and it's going to be hitting and they're going to hit it hard.

Speaker 3: 17:47

I mean, you know, record deals are funny. I've had a couple record deals on the slate for this album and I've got to tell, tell you the way the industry is changing and how it goes and things like that. Man, it's a do it yourself business and, uh, this outfit, b 13, um, music and media and stuff there they're doing it right and I've turned down a couple of record deals on this, uh, on this record, because, um, these are other conversations, but I haven't had a really good record deal with any of my projects. You know, and you, you do get like the if you, you know, if you can pull off the jelly roll record deal where they just flood the world with you constantly, that's a great record deal. If you can't get that one, I recommend you, um, doing it yourself. You know, and there's a lot of do-it-yourself thing, man, that I do now.

Speaker 1: 18:35

Is that a good thing though, being an indie artist? Is that good to just kind of? Of course, you don't probably get all the funding like you would with a major deal, but is it less stress to just work for yourself and do it on your own? Can you speak to that a little bit?

Speaker 3: 18:51

Well, I don't think it's less stress. If anything, it's more work. I mean it's more work. I mean, uh, it's more like everybody wants you to be the truman show. You know it's your own truman show and your music is source music, kind of behind of, like you mean ride my motorcycle or me doing this thing and stuff like that. No, I don't think it got easier. If anything, it's kind of taking the power back on.

Speaker 3: 19:11

Um, it's a, it's a do-it-yourself business and if you want it done right, you can also manage, like how you want to brand yourself and things like that. But I mean, I'm having a cocktail, talking to you and stuff. I mean this is about as real as you're going to get me, yep, and yeah, I mean you know it's. I have to tell you straight up record deals are bullshit. Now, unless you get a major, major, major record deal and they're gonna blow you out, you are better off financially, career-wise, everything to do yourself and go from there and, you know, have good management.

Speaker 3: 19:45

Yeah, sure, but uh, I've been through the gamut, man, I've been doing this a long time, longer than I actually thought I would be and, um, I've been able to make a living off it and do some cool stuff, win some awards, play some cool places, work with incredible people and I won't drop any names here and stuff like that, but I do sessions in these really, really legendary, famous almost you know you could call them icons. Man are just like they have assistants running it about Instagram and this and that, can you do this and stuff running it about Instagram and this and that Can you do, this and stuff. And it's a whole new dynamic that I'm actually trying to get hip to man.

Speaker 1: 20:23

Yeah, right on, right on.

Speaker 3: 20:26

Because I don't know, I mean my fans. Only page is taking me only so far, Randy.

Speaker 1: 20:32

I was going to tell you, man, it looks like you got better looking since the last time I saw you, man.

Speaker 3: 20:36

Well, it's cocktail hour. You're looking good too, buddy. Thank you.

Speaker 1: 20:41

Drink a few more of those, man. I'll be a pinup model here before long. Are there measures that you take in order to keep your creativity fresh as it relates to writing songs? Because, let's face it, as a songwriter you can write hundreds and hundreds of songs. How do you keep those fresh, right? Is there something that you do to keep them fresh, or do you just have that fresh of a mind where everything is good to you and you don't struggle with the writing or it sounding mundane or repetitive?

Speaker 3: 21:16

Well, I'll say this there are producers. I produce most, you know, I produce and I work with people that are flexible to let me produce and they put their two cents in and things like that. I would like you know. If truth be told, I would love to have like taken this whole record and just ran it, you know, and turn it over to Trent Reznor, you know, and really put that kind of an edge on it. To stay fresh in this business is listening to all types of music and you've got to follow your goosebumps, man. You've got to follow your goosebumps. If you are in pain, write about it. If you're happy, write about it, and that's a big point. Yeah, to the whole thing that what's staying fresh is evolving as a human yep, that makes perfect sense.

Speaker 1: 22:06

Well, you know you spoke about the record coming out. Where can the listeners go to not only stream it, but but to maybe purchase the music as well? Can you speak to?

Speaker 3: 22:15

that yeah, there's going to be um. Now I've had like major deals and distribution and everything like that. This outfit's running on Disco Kid man or whatever that damn thing is called Yep, and, like I say, it's not going to be hard to find. They are running a big campaign and we're all excited about the campaign hitting on the 8th and so it's not going to be hard for people to find. Okay, just a matter of Googling it right.

Speaker 1: 22:41

Just Google Little Billman, and you should find it right.

Speaker 3: 22:45

Yeah, just Google Little Billman and go from there. Recently I've had three songs on the Amazon show Cross, okay, and that's always good too, and placements have been very good to me and things like that. Oh, you know, it's always would be great to some massive Netflix outfit or something pick up one of my tracks for the main intro, so like that. That's a business side of things. But back to the whole deal. You're always writing we make a living at this, so you are writing for the consumer to a certain extent, like you don't want your songs to be. You know, um, eight minutes long overtures and things like that. You know, thank God for Russian Pink Floyd and all that kind of stuff. But uh, you know these are three, four minute tracks and I'm trying to hit home as much as I can.

Speaker 3: 23:30

And, yeah, to answer your question, it's going to be very accessible and if anybody has a problem finding it I will be pissed, okay.

Speaker 1: 23:38

Fair enough. Well, I think there are some performances coming up, and I think Sturgis comes to mind. Uh and Sturgis. How did the Sturgis shows come up for you?

Speaker 3: 23:50

Well, funny enough. Um, I have a pretty good presence in Las Vegas and Danny Coker from the history channel, uh count customs, uh called me up and uh, their drummer History Channel Count Customs called me up and their drummer couldn't do it, so I had to, like, completely go into this Count 77 world. It's like that. But it was great. We did two nights headlining at Sturgis Full Throttle, which is kind of a bucket list to me. I've been to In-N-Out at Sturgis, but that was like you know, the big stage, the big production. That was really cool.

Speaker 3: 24:23

So I did two shows with them and then I went over to Milwaukee and went from there. But with this new outfit and things like that, I've been in and out of booking agencies and I'm looking for a good booking agency, you know, to get me, get me out there.

Speaker 1: 24:41

But yeah, that's how it just happened. Yeah, cool. I I know that I guess you have a place in in vegas as well. So I guess I mean, is that still the case? You still have a place, or you, you're out in vegas much anymore? What's the story there?

Speaker 3: 24:52

um, I have a beautiful daughter in las vegas. That's what I love, uh a lot and uh. So I go there a lot and I deal. You know, I have really good connections there. So me and Mike will go to dinner and we'll go do jams and stuff like that and that's all well and good. But no, I would say, if you need me, I can get to Vegas in you know three hours. I can take a flight or something. But I'm a Los Angeles man now, randy Yep, yep and take a flight or something.

Speaker 1: 25:19

But I'm a Los Angeles man now, randy, yep, yep. Well, I was going to say when you're out in Vegas you stumble across Stoney Curtis, tell him I said hello.

Speaker 3: 25:26

Absolutely yeah. Yeah, I have really good friends and he's a great player and it was a pleasure rocking out those venues with him.

Speaker 1: 25:32

Oh yeah, Stoney's a great guy. I was out in Vegas, had him on my show, came over to the hotel and we spent some time together. Great dude, great player, for sure. I guess they recently sold off the Counts Vamp Club in Vegas, right? What's the story behind that? Why did Danny get out of the club business?

Speaker 3: 25:52

You know, I'm not really sure the inner workings of why he got out of it, but I will say this it's really a bummer because it was a fantastic venue with incredible production and it was completely classy, phenomenal. Some of the best gigs I played, no doubt in las vegas, was um fam so that?

Speaker 1: 26:11

so that was the premier. Would that that's safe to say? That was probably the premier rock club there.

Speaker 3: 26:16

Yeah, that was absolutely, absolutely gotcha rock club there. Yeah, that was absolutely, absolutely rock club and, with that being said, it's a, it's a just a huge bummer that it folded or he sold it or whatever. You know it was off the strip but it was where you could go rock out to original music. Yeah and um, that's the biggest bummer. That's the one thing I don't like about las vegas man. I'm an original. I've always been an original artist, thank God. Growing up I listened to so much classic rock, my encyclopedia, I mean. Literally I could take any gig almost any time knowing the songs due to that thing. But Vamped will be missed, yeah for sure.

Speaker 1: 26:56

Well, a lot of big names have come through that club. It wasn't just like local rock people, I mean, I think Night Ranger I could be wrong, I think they might have closed or might have been there the last night that it was open but there's been a lot of big names that have come through that club.

Speaker 3: 27:14

Yeah, man, and I got to say I've been in this business a long time and Jeff Tate came through and did Operation Mindcrime Maybe get a couple hundred people in there. It was just like right back to my childhood. It was incredible. The staff and the techs were so cool. Chris Angel would show up these people, stuff these these, and we'd have a great time man.

Speaker 1: 27:44

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 27:44

You know, I have a great time Definitely be be missed yeah.

Speaker 1: 27:48

Well, and correct me if I'm wrong that's the. Those places are the best places to see live music anyway. Right, because it's a. You're right up front, it's personal, you're not lost in the shuffle of a big arena or whatever. Would you agree or disagree with that?

Speaker 3: 28:03

Absolutely 100%. And the thing about that is it's not like. I mean you know whiskey is 10 miles from me right now. You know the whiskey and stuff. I mean it's still a juke joint. You know they got some good production and whatever, but vamped really, man.

Speaker 1: 28:21

I tell you, man, they were state-of-the-art. Yeah, it sounds like it, a lot of yeah, and I know it'll be missed. Uh know quite a few people that have played through there over the years, but uh, so tell me, it sounds like you're stepping into, uh, spider verse.

Speaker 3: 28:30

Talk about spider verse I'm talking about the nicholas cage thing yeah, yeah oh my god what can you share with us?

Speaker 3: 28:38

that's kind of cool and funny. Um, I got there are people out here that throw me some bones so I play a mobster, which I thought, hey, man, I'll show up, play not mobster. But it wound up being through the whole production and, uh, I got to rough up, uh, nicholas cage, and rough up the late. You know this lady and I I play a heavy and, um, you know I you wouldn't believe how many productions I've done that are major, that are like, um, when it goes to editing, you know how it goes. You know you got some lines the lines don't make it that kind of things but uh, it's really cool and I, uh, dressed in a zoot suit and the everybody on, uh, the production was incredibly awesome.

Speaker 3: 29:18

Nicolas Cage was fucking cool and, man, I really feel this one incredible actor Everybody knows him. He was in Braveheart and everything else. I'm kind of bad with names when it comes down to it, but he was a sweetheart too. You'll see him in there. He was my boss, okay, but it's cool. You'll see me, you know, hopefully, and it's badass. Yeah, spider-man Noir.

Speaker 1: 29:41

Nice, nice. What was it like stepping into that role for you as a mobster?

Speaker 3: 29:47

Very easy, man. Yeah, very easy, because I'll tell you this, I worked with Buddy Guy, junior Wells, sun Seals, coco Taylor. I mean, I cut my teeth through Chicago and let me tell you something, man Junior Wells alone, they were run by the mob buddy. And those guys, how they moved and how they walked and how they acted. I totally pulled from that. It was very easy for me to jump into that.

Speaker 1: 30:09

So it was really cool. Go back to the old Capone days, right Indeed, they were all in the waste management business. Yes, they were yeah, sanitation, yeah, sanitation, yeah, make them an offer they can't refuse, that's right. I'm a, I'm a big mob follower man. I'm a I wouldn't say a mob historian, but I've read a lot of books on the mob. I don't. It's a shitty business, it's been made to be, it's glamorized. But there's something intriguing about the underworld like that and I think, if you're playing that role, I think you'd probably agree with that, that there's something kind of cool about the whole mystique of the Omerta. You know that private life, the La Cosa Nostra, right, this thing of ours, right.

Speaker 3: 30:49

I'm actually a big Peaky Blinders fan.

Speaker 1: 30:52

There you go.

Speaker 3: 30:54

I was playing, I was working with Junior Wells, and this one venue just didn't come up with the cash and, uh, I won't drop the manager's name. But he said that's no problem, no problem at all, we'll send a few people up to talk to you later about it If you can't come up with the cash like right now. I did so. Um, yeah, it was completely fun. I had my own trailer. You know, it was that whole Hollywood thing. But again, I'm a hobbyist actor man. I'm in the Screen Actors Guild. I've done some cool stuff. You can make money at it if you get the right breaks and I've done national commercials, which is ridiculous, but it was a blast man. So hopefully when they edit it, I'm all over your TV screen.

Speaker 1: 31:42

There you go. Well, so it's, it's safe to say, and I, yeah, I. I guess it's safe to say you're a musician first and an actor second. Right, would that be a fair, a fair, well, yeah that's absolutely fair.

Speaker 3: 31:51

I have no desire for academy ward, I don't. I work, you know when, if somebody hit me with a major script, I mean that's work. Man, that's work. I mean to memorize all that stuff. And here's the thing With musicians you get to the venue, you do a sound check, I don't know, take a nap, do whatever eat, and then you're on for 90 minutes.

Speaker 1: 32:18

When you act, man, it's like your call.

Speaker 3: 32:19

Time is like a grind um, it is a grind and I uh again um, acting is is cool on, uh, some levels yeah, you mentioned something earlier.

Speaker 1: 32:31

Uh, regarding v13 and a memoir. Right, speak to the memoir. What? What's the story behind this project?

Speaker 3: 32:38

well, I tell you, man, no pun intended, of course.

Speaker 1: 32:41

story behind the project. Well, I tell you, man, no pun intended, of course. Story behind the project, anyway.

Speaker 3: 32:44

Yeah, what happened was is that this author kept telling this publishing company and things like that that I've done all this stuff. And the thing is is that I don't sit around looking at my resume every day. I really don't. But yeah, I got to play the White House, I got got to win some awards, I got to play with all these iconical people. I don't know, I'm kind of like the forrest gump of the industry and they're like well, can you write about it? And then that turned into write more about it and can you get in more personal of?

Speaker 3: 33:16

your life but it comes out to be a you know memoir. And I had no intentions of doing a memoir ever or anything, but I hope I don't know. They tell me it's a good read. Hopefully it is and everybody enjoys it and we'll go from there. But I'm flattered. I'm very grateful and flattered that it's coming out Hell yeah. And I'm in good hands with this B-13 bunch, so I feel good about it.

Speaker 1: 33:38

I'll get you a copy, buddy, yeah man, what, uh, what province in canada are they out of? Do you know off the top of your head?

Speaker 3: 33:46

I don't okay all I know is uh, what's all the baby right?

Speaker 1: 33:51

what's all the baby? I don't know where they are exactly there you go apologize for that?

Speaker 3: 33:56

no, no worries, weekly zoom meetings with them all right.

Speaker 1: 33:59

Well, you're certainly a busy guy. You've done a lot of stuff over your time, uh, without a doubt. Uh, is there anything currently going on with fogarty? I think last time we talked you, you were working with john. Um, I don't know to what extent, but I didn't know if there was anything current with him or is it was that kind of the past. Uh, can you speak to that?

Speaker 3: 34:20

I would say it's. It's a bit in the past. I did a bunch of recording sessions with him on the 50th anniversary of Woodstock and I got hooked up with John right before COVID and that really put the brakes on that. And then we all had to get our shots, which I regret and all that, but we had to do all that kind of stuff like that. And then I went back and did a few more sessions and things like that. I am so proud to be a spoke in his wheels, but the man has worked with everyone and you know I mean his brother. You know Bob will call me up and say am I available for this, that or the other thing? So I don't want to close the door there.

Speaker 3: 35:02

I mean more than Greg can record as much as he wants to do, but I yeah you know, I'm not playing live with him right now?

Speaker 1: 35:09

Right on. Well, I want to be respectful of your time. What did we miss, bro? I know you've got, I mean the. I mean it's a smorgasbord of things you have going on at any given time. What did we miss? Did I not tease something up for you? Is there anything else you'd like to share with the listeners of Backstage Pass Radio?

Speaker 3: 35:31

Man, you're so good, Randy. I think we covered all the bases and if you're happy, I'm happy, and it's always a pleasure talking to you.

Speaker 1: 35:39

Yeah, man, and remind the listeners real quick, before we sign off here, where they might go find merch music, social media, any socials that you want to plug while you're on with me, man.

Speaker 3: 35:56

I hit Instagram really hard, so you know it's actually it's either Scott Little Billman or Little Billman or Scott Billman or whatever, but it's on Instagram and I'm always on there, I'm always posting. My Facebook is Little Billman and then Scott Billman, and you know my website, wwwscottbillmancom or Little Billman I think it's Scott right now. Yep, it's Scott, and it's always there. You know, and you know I'm always, you know, sharing things and stuff like that. Actually, I did an interview a while ago back and they pulled up an old BB King thing with me playing live with him and him calling me out on stage, which is like incredible, me and my brother, me out on stage, which is like incredible, me and my brother and, um, so yeah, I mean it's those things. But I will tell you this they're going to come out with a bunch of press releases and all that jazz. You know we're going to make a good run for the border, so it shouldn't be hard to find.

Speaker 1: 36:53

But yeah, I mean, if you want my personal thing, like I am actually active, it's uh, facebook and instagram okay, what about and I was just thinking about this when you talked about the new record coming out will there be vinyl or what? What will the formatting be of the, the music that you put out? Any vinyl?

Speaker 3: 37:12

well, yeah, we are talking about probably specifically going with vinyl. Um, when I go to europe and things like that, it's always the best seller. Yeah, and I was. You know, the Meadowville record deal. You know we can go down a rabbit hole with that, but I'll tell you this they did a custom vinyl on me. It's white hipster billings. It was very nice. So I am under the impression that vinyls come in plus CD. They're even talking about doing like cassettes and things.

Speaker 1: 37:42

Nice, nice. Well, that's great, because I'm a vinyl collector and I always say that I love to support the artist I don't know. We'll certainly be in touch, but what if that comes out on vinyl? I would love for you to set aside a vinyl and sign it for me. I'll be happy to pay you for it.

Speaker 3: 37:58

Don't have to pay me for it, randy, I'll get you a sign.

Speaker 1: 38:00

I love supporting my friends, and I love supporting the artists, but would love to have that in my stash for sure. As always, man, it's a pleasure having you on the show. I do plan on being in LA soon, so maybe, if you have time for a coffee or a lunch while I'm in town, maybe we could share a story or two. But have time for a coffee or a lunch while I'm in town, maybe we could share a story or two. But I wish you nothing but success, uh, now and in the future, and I look forward to chatting with you again soon, bro I tell you what.

Speaker 3: 38:28

You come to los angeles. You give me a call, we'll definitely get lunch, get coffee, do something, maybe even a cocktail randy there you go, we'll drink a few and we'll both look good, right?

Speaker 1: 38:38

yeah, yeah, that's right, my man. Well, you guys go out and follow Little Billman on all the socials and make sure to keep an eye out on the website at wwwscottbillmancom for show dates, merch, current events, everything related to him as a fine artist. I also ask the listeners to like, share and subscribe to the podcast on Facebook at Backstage Pass Radio Podcast. Podcast on Facebook at Backstage Pass Radio. Podcast on Instagram at Backstage Pass Radio and on the website at BackstagePassRadiocom. You guys remember to take care of yourselves and each other and we'll see you right back here on the next episode of Backstage Pass Radio.

Speaker 2: 39:17

Thank you for tuning into this episode of Backstage Pass Radio. Backstage Pass Radio. We hope you enjoyed this episode and gained some new insights into the world of music. Backstage Pass Radio is heard in over 80 countries and the streams continue to grow each week. If you loved what you heard, don't forget to subscribe, rate and leave reviews on your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback means the world to us and helps us bring you even more amazing content. So join us next time for another deep dive into the stories and sounds that shape our musical landscape. Until then, keep listening, keep exploring and keep the passion of music alive.