Backstage Rock Crew Stories
New Oral History Project Chronicles Untold Stories of Rock Concert Backstage Crews
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Key Points
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Lisa Deyesso is described as a 38-year member of IATSE Local 11 Boston, underscoring her long-standing insider perspective on backstage work.
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Deyesso is quoted saying, “I wrote this book so we don’t forget the people who make the magic happen,” signaling a personal commitment to preserving crew memories.
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The project grew out of the COVID shutdown, when veteran crew members were off the road and uncertain about the future of live touring, with those conversations becoming a preservation effort.
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The press release distributed to a range of regional outlets, including East Coast Sentinel, Tallahassee Journal, Texas News Headlines, Missouri News Online, and Michigan News Updates, indicating broad media reach.
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Readers are framed as encountering a range of backstage experiences described as hilarious, dangerous, and inspiring, signaling the book’s breadth of anecdotes.
A new oral history book called WE ARE THE CREW lifts up the unsung workers who powered rock's biggest tours—roadies, riggers, stagehands, and sound and lighting crews. WBOC The project features 49 first-person accounts from backstage professionals spanning decades, capturing the craft, grit, and humor behind legendary shows from Aerosmith to Metallica. Created by Lisa Deyesso, a 38-year member of IATSE Local 11 Boston, and editor Christina Harlin, the book grew out of COVID lockdowns when touring stopped and veteran crews faced uncertain futures.
Preserving the Invisible Backbone of Rock Touring
For decades, the crews who built rock concerts remained largely invisible to fans. KVOA Deyesso launched this preservation effort to honor the people who make live music happen night after night. "I wrote this book so we don't forget the people who make the magic happen," she said. The 49 interviews span rock's golden era to today, documenting hilarious mishaps, dangerous moments, and inspiring stories that reveal the true complexity of staging world-class shows.
How a Pandemic Shutdown Sparked a Preservation Mission
When COVID shut down touring in 2020, veteran crew members found themselves grounded and uncertain. NewsMirror Those forced conversations became the seed for this oral history project. The creators realized that without documenting these stories, decades of hard-won knowledge and experience would vanish. The book captures not just technical expertise but the relationships and culture that define life on the road—the bonds crews form while solving impossible problems under extreme pressure.
The Crewhouse Extends Support Beyond the Book
The book's release sparked the creation of The Crewhouse, a new nonprofit dedicated to supporting backstage workers throughout their careers and beyond. NCWLife The organization tackles a critical gap: live touring crews often lack stable benefits, insurance, and long-term support systems. By centering crew voices and experiences, both the book and nonprofit aim to shift how the industry values the labor that makes rock-and-roll magic possible on stage every night.
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