On the Bus with Troy Vollhoffer
Episode: Life As A Worldwide Roadie With Tom Mayhue
Date: December 4, 2025
Guest: Tom Mayhue (Tour Manager for Guns N’ Roses, Boxmasters, Carole King, Alice Cooper)
Host: Troy Vollhoffer (Founder of Country Thunder)
Episode Overview
This episode invites listeners onto the “bus” with Troy Vollhoffer and legendary roadie/tour manager Tom Mayhue. Through career-spanning stories and candid insight, Tom shares his journey from a young aspiring guitarist in California to working with some of the biggest acts in music history. The conversation covers the evolution of live touring, hilarious and heartfelt on-the-road tales, the business behind massive touring productions, and Tom's unexpected foray into acting.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Tom Mayhue’s Start in the Business
[03:44]
- Tom began as a musician in Santa Rosa, CA, then shifted focus to roadie and tour work after realizing “I’m never going to catch them,” referring to legends like Van Halen and Randy Rhoads.
- First big touring gig: Aldo Nova (1982), opening for Cheap Trick.
"For a 21 year-old kid, you know, tour in the U.S. and Canada. Driving a truck, loading gear all day—I couldn't have been happier. 300 bucks a week, but I loved it." — Tom Mayhue [04:59]
Networking & Career Progression
[05:12-06:54]
- Built connections with top roadies like Adam Day (Slash/ACDC/Journey).
- Joined Dawkin, then moved with them to management under Q Prime (Cliff Burnstein & Peter Mensch).
- Insight into how Q Prime developed Def Leppard, Dawkin, Metallica, focusing on gradual, sustainable growth:
"Cliff always came out and said: listen, you don't want to do this with your career because... our deal is steady. Let's build this thing." — Tom [07:07]
The Evolution of Touring Business
[08:02-10:07]
- Early days: Club shows, then larger festivals (e.g., Woodstock), but lacked logistical structure.
- Merchandising (thanks to figures like Peter Grant/Bad Company) became a major revenue source alongside records and touring.
- Tom would tour “11, 11 and a half months a year—hated going home.”
Joining Guns N' Roses
[10:07-12:53]
- Approached by original manager Alan Niven after their first record.
- Sent his brother out first, later joined at the end of the Monsters of Rock tour (1988), starting as Stephen Adler’s drum roadie, quickly promoted to stage manager.
- Witnessed GNR’s rapid ascent: from 300,000 to 18 million records sold in under a year, surpassing Carole King's Tapestry.
"It was like the Beatles caught fire. I'd never seen anything like it in my life." — Tom [11:25]
The Songwriting Elite: Carole King & Industry Legends
[12:54-14:04]
- Stories about Carole King’s influence, her ties to hit writing in the Brill Building.
"Not many people could say they wrote songs for the Beatles." — Tom [12:54]
Working with Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters
[01:27-03:36, 14:04-16:33]
- Met Billy Bob through mutual friends and became his go-to tour manager, eventually working on both music and film sets.
- Billy Bob’s rule: “don’t mix film and music,” which relaxed after Tom proved his value.
Acting Career — Trailer Park Boys Adventures
[14:19-17:55]
- Got SAG card alongside Billy Bob for a cameo in Trailer Park Boys, leading to more acting opportunities.
- Improvised much of his performance, found “be meaner!” to the main cast was the recurring direction.
- Noted the fun and family of these productions, with major guest cameos (e.g., Ronnie Wood, Duff McKagan, Rick Nielsen).
Working with Taylor Sheridan & Landman
[19:16-21:27]
- Billy Bob got the script for Landman directly written “in his voice” by Sheridan. Tom was involved onset.
"I've never seen anything written so well for a person...Billy had his voice nailed." — Tom [20:00]
The Business of Touring & Production
[23:14-25:53]
- Massive technological evolution: from unsafe, heavy loads to modular, efficient equipment.
- Importance of cost management and letting skilled production managers communicate directly with artists:
"Any manager that doesn't allow their production people to talk to the artists—they're idiots, absolute idiots." — Tom [24:38]
- Discussed mega-tours (Taylor Swift, Metallica) and the relentless escalation in touring scale and costs.
The Impact of COVID on Touring
[26:18-26:46]
- Pandemic triggered industry-wide retirement: “At least about a third of our industry” left, forcing a generational reset.
- Despite industry shifts, Tom and Troy both confess a continued "itch" for the road.
Proud Moments & Reflections
[27:14-28:17]
- Tom’s proudest career moment: “seeing [Guns N' Roses] get back together again”—the full circle, professionalism, and camaraderie after tumultuous years.
- Recalling Axl Rose’s guest stint with ACDC, shepherded by Tom.
- Tom expresses gratitude for a fulfilling, globetrotting career.
Notable Quotes
-
On early career humility:
"I realized I'm never going to catch them... I'm not even going to be in their league, ever." — Tom [03:44]
-
On the glory of road life:
"I would tour 11, 11 and a half months a year. I hated going home... Never stopped. Didn't want to stop. I just loved it." — Tom [09:42]
-
On the explosion of Guns N’ Roses:
"It was like the Beatles caught fire. I'd never seen anything like it in my life." — Tom [11:25]
-
On Billy Bob Thornton's dual passion:
"This acting thing came secondary to him. It worked for him, and he's amazing at doing it, but his heart is music." — Tom [22:58]
-
Touring wisdom:
"Smart production managers will go to the artist and say, how much money do you want to make? Do you want to take this home or do you want to leave it on the table?" — Tom [24:17]
-
On managers blocking communication:
"Any manager that doesn't allow their production people to talk to the artist, they're idiots, absolute idiots." — Tom [24:40]
-
On seeing GNR reunite:
"To see that happen again, that's definitely one of the shiniest moments...they got to see things full circle." — Tom [27:19]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Early Roadie Days & Networking (Aldo Nova, Dawkin, Metallica):
[03:44] – [07:07] - Touring Technology & Business Models:
[08:10] – [09:47], [23:14] – [25:53] - Guns N’ Roses Rise:
[10:07] – [12:53] - Carole King & Brill Building Legends:
[12:54] – [14:04] - Billy Bob Thornton, Boxmasters & Acting:
[01:27] – [03:36], [14:04] – [17:55] - Landman & Taylor Sheridan:
[19:16] – [21:27] - COVID’s Impact on Touring:
[26:18] – [26:46] - Proudest Moments & GNR Reunion:
[27:14] – [28:17]
Memorable Moments
- Tom realizing he was better suited to the road than playing music — and never looked back.
- The surreal shift from opening clubs to being part of a band that suddenly outsells Carole King in record sales.
- Spontaneously landing an acting gig with the Trailer Park Boys that leads to a recurring character.
- Guidance to artists and managers: let production pros do their job—and don’t let ego get in the way of smart business.
- Reflections on legacy: seeing GNR reconcile and play together again, and realizing his lifelong run is still filled with passion.
Conclusion
Tom Mayhue’s story is a testament to the dedication and resourcefulness required in the music industry’s backstage world. His candid tales and behind-the-scenes wisdom provide a rare glimpse into the evolution of modern touring, the unpredictable path of working with icons, and the humility and hustle it takes to survive—and thrive—“on the bus."
For music, road, and festival lovers, this episode is packed with insight, humor, and inspiration.