SIMON
aka Pie Man or You Know, Si. . .
The Tour/Stage Manager
Simon is our tour manager and our go to guy at the gigs. He does the pyros, calls the lights, and drives the Green Goddess. He makes sure that we don’t muck about on stage during sound check. If you stick around the auditorium after the show you can hear Simon yelling backstage for the girls to move their asses to get to the signings in the foyer. He’s a very sympathetic guy, but he can also be the Dutch uncle that tells you to wind your neck in and grow up, but he’s also the guy that will be there in a flash if you need him.
ELAINE
aka The Boss, Lainey
The Merch Lady/Operations Czar
Elaine is the face of the show and the first person you come in contact with when you see THE DEAD RINGER FROM HELL SHOW. While not as brash as a London stall merchant her selling skills are no less impressive because she only sells quality merchandise. Elaine also pays everyone and books the hotels. She does the VAT and the books and does her best to keep a lid on her husband’s spending. She knows the show better than anyone and has a well respected ear for sound. We all hate it when she is not with us.
This is Large Marge, our lorry. This is the mock up for the sign writing that we are going to have done to her sometime in May.
About The Dead Ringer From Hell Crew: These are the guys and the girl that make the show happen. They are engineers, roadies, light techs, sound techs, curtain operators, electricians, drivers, suppliers of various gadgets and connectors, pyro-operators, mechanics, clothes washers, dressers, merchandise sellers, critics, psychiatrists, sounding boards, cleaner of motorcycles, picker up of Jerry’s things, guitar tech, punching bags, magicians, and our rocks. They see us --especially me-- at our best and worst and yet they show up to the next gig as if yesterday never existed. They’re the ones who will always ask you if you’re alright and really want to know the answer and you like them and sometimes you hate them, but no matter where we are or what the circumstance they always make it a gig.
Jer
SHAD
aka Shadman or Shaddam
Sound Engineer
When it comes to cool under pressure no one comes close to Shad for being cool. We have never seen him angry and we have never seen him excited. Nothing is too much trouble and he is a great guy to talk to because he is a calming influence and he has a way of telling you that you are wrong or a prat without hurting your feelings. He is a rock muso and knows exactly what sound is desired. He can and has stopped us to tell us if something is pants or if something is off. He is an excellent engineer and is always part of the solution to a great gig.
JAMES
aka James
Sound Engineer
Yea, it’s a terrible picture, but it’s the only one he gave us. James is also very cool under pressure and there is never a problem that he cannot fix in a matter of minutes. He has an affinity and an understanding of sound gear that is second to no one. He will read a tech manual the night before a gig and know all the ins and outs of a piece of equipment. He is a techno-geek, but he walks like John Travolta so we guess that evens things out. James is the guy that will tell you that you are a prat and don’t know what you are talking about, but you laugh at his brass rather than get mad. James does not suffer fools and is not a diplomat, but he is always helpful, can fix anything, he’s extraordinarily talented and a lot of fun to be around.
MOJO
aka Mojambo, Coco, or Shag pasty
Driver Of Truck, Mover Of Gear, and Carer of Bikes
Eh, Eh, Eh, one, two, one, two.
That is what we hear over 15,000 watts of Nexo PA when we roll up to a venue and the guys are in the first stages of sound check. Mojo has one of those voices you can hear from anywhere in the venue or the surrounding counties. Mojo is the guy backstage that sees to it that new batteries are in our in-ear monitors and mics and he makes sure that the girls have turned their mics on. He is also Jerry’s guitar assistant and sometimes comes onstage in the most indiscreet manner to pick up said guitar for the next scene. Mojo also cares for the show’s bikes, Betty and Rose. He cleans them and cares for them and makes sure nothing happens to them. Mojo also drives our lorry and sleeps inside of it to protect our gear. The boy has got a heart of gold and is generous to a fault. While all the guys are stand up dudes, Mojo is the first one of us that you could and would call at 3:00am in the morning if you needed help.
PAUL
aka Mr. Dominic
Booking and Publicity Manager
Paul is the unsung hero of THE DEAD RINGER FROM HELL SHOW. He is the person that calls the theatres, chases them up to make sure that they are doing the publicity properly, that they have what they need, etc.
This is a really difficult and sometimes lonely job because you are working long hours on the phone and sometimes all you have spoken to is one or two people of which one of them might be an assistant to an assistant who is a bit too jumped up for their own good.
Paul is utter professional and a real asset to our show. If there is a problem with anything he is in there to fix it. Unless you have dealt with booking a new show into theatres you don’t know how soul destroying it can be, as people rarely call you back, the person you need to speak to is never in, and sometimes ending a long day with nothing to show for it. However, Paul always sees the bright side and is alway positive and motivated. He never lets us lose hope.