This final episode is a bit of a two-parter. Part one is Bob explaining the impact of, mostly, British rock stars and their crews invading tiny Marissa, Illinois to shop at Ye Old Music. In modern day terms imagine Carrie Underwood strolling into your local music store. Part two ends 50 Years of Maximum Rock…
This latest episode of “50 Years of Maximum Rock n’ Roll” Bob Heil will explain what he means by a six pack and what Creem Magazine has to do with that. He will share some special stories about some of the Rock n’ Roll legends that he’s worked with (Jimmie Hendrix) and we’ll finally hear…
This latest episode of “50 Years of Maximum Rock n’ Roll” is not about rock stars trashing hotel rooms or epic concerts. It is about the innovation and technology that has gone into much of Bob Heil’s career. Bob has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the science of audio and we wanted to…
Before ZZ Top were sharp dressed men they were just a little three piece band from Texas. With no beards. But they had “that sound” driven by Billy Gibbons unmistakable guitar and vocal. Bob Heil and Heil Sound were there on the band’s early tours perfecting the live sound where, with a trio, everything mattered.…
From Joe Walsh trashing hotel rooms to groupies, Bob Heil recalls some of the crazier stories that to the rest of us seem like legend.
After working in venues around the globe some of Bob Heil’s favorite live sound venues were actually right in his own backyard. Bob recalls the iconic Mississippi River Fest and how Kiel Auditorium became a live testing venue for Heil Sound.
“A bloody lunatic, I’ll even carry your bags…” It started with a phone call to Bob Heil from Pete Townshend. “Can you build a quad sound system? I have an idea.” From that call, and subsequent visit to London, an artistic vision was transformed to something real that tens of thousands of fans could experience…
The annual NAMM show in Anaheim, California is a must-attend event for anyone in the music products industry. It’s an opportunity to see old friends, make new connections, and get a peek at the latest innovations in music gear. As you would expect, Heil had a front-row seat to this year’s event. In this episode,…
What is it really like to be a professional touring sound man? While some might believe it’s little more than lugging gear and pushing a few buttons, Heil Sound alum Randy Burton will be the first to tell you it’s much, much more than that. In this episode the second half of a two-part interview,…
Music festivals are a staple of the rock ‘n roll industry. Incredible bands, huge crowds, and a rowdy outdoor atmosphere all come together to create an environment where legends are born and history is made. If you want a firsthand account of some of the craziest and most memorable moments in the history of rock…
Peter Frampton is a legend of rock music and the bestknown user of the renowned Heil Talkbox. For the last several decades, his innovation and artistry have helped shape the music you know and love. However, there is one man whose creativity and collaboration with Frampton helped shape his signature sound more than any other.…
Bob Heil is perhaps known best for developing the Talk Box, the renowned device that has been used by rock guitarists for decades to produce a variety of unique sounds. But you might be surprised to learn that the Talk Box didn’t originate in a recording studio or electronics shop. In this episode, Bob shares…
What comes to mind when you think of Joe Walsh? You probably think of his incredible contribution to rock music through The Eagles and James Gang (and other groups), as well as his solo work. But you probably don’t picture him as a ham radio operator or an electronics expert. But in this episode, that’s…
One of the most important, yet most overlooked, parts of a sound system is the monitor setup. Monitors allow the band members to hear themselves and one another in order to give their best performance. In today’s episode, Bob Heil talks about the critical role he played in developing the modern monitor setup and the…
If you’ve ever listened to Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way” or “Do You Feel Like I Do” by Peter Frampton, you of course heard the Heil Talk Box. In addition to building that iconic device, Bob Heil also built touring systems for The Who, Humble Pie, and the Grateful Dead. Bob has a history in…