The Bert Show: Vault - Interview with Collective Soul

Date: October 28, 2025
Host: The Bert Show (Bert, Dean Roland, Ed Roland, Zoe)
Featured Guests: Ed and Dean Roland of Collective Soul

Episode Overview

This episode is a special vault edition featuring an in-studio interview with Ed and Dean Roland of Collective Soul, one of Atlanta’s most iconic rock bands. The hosts and guests dive into the realities of rock stardom, reflect on what it’s like to hear their own songs on the radio, candidly discuss the financial side of being a musician, and clarify how song rights and covers work in the music industry. The conversation maintains the show’s signature blend of humor, candor, and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction & Collective Soul’s Legacy

[02:16-02:59]

• Dean Roland sets the stage, recognizing Collective Soul as "one of the biggest bands ever to come out of Atlanta."
• Noted songs: "Heavy," "The World I Know," "Shine."
• A fun, light-hearted start with Ed and Dean joking about their "biggest guest ever" status:
  • Ed Roland: "Not physically." ([02:37])
  • Dean Roland: "Yeah, not physically." ([02:39])
• Playful banter about Bert’s height and local radio connections.

Condensed Career Highlight

[03:15-04:07]

• The show plays a mashup montage of Collective Soul’s hits, encapsulating their career in just over a minute.
• Ed Roland jokes afterward: "Oh, we are done. Thank you so much for having us today. You guys are done." ([04:13])
• Dean adds: "You can retire.” ([04:16])

Hearing Their Own Songs on the Radio

[04:18-05:01]

• Zoe asks how it feels to hear their songs on the radio.
• Ed Roland shares honestly:

  "When it first happened, I would always listen because I would go, God, I could have sang that better...Now, if I hear a song on the radio, I usually turn it...it's because I hear it enough and I know, and plus, it's too critical." ([04:27])

• Initial excitement turns into critical self-scrutiny and indifference with time.

On Celebrity & Public Recognition

[05:01-05:47]

• Dean Roland asks if fame makes everyday tasks, like getting fast food, awkward.
• Ed Roland replies:

  "Usually people are very kind and it's usually as simple, to the point, 'love what you do.' And that's it. And you go, 'thank you.'" ([05:22])

• On fan encounters: Ed says they sometimes get "strange" approaches but emphasizes approachability:

  "We feel normal, you know, in a sense, we are approachable...Just come up and talk to us. And we're usually very happy to talk." ([05:47])

Realizing They "Made It"

[06:02-06:49]

• Dean asks when the Roland brothers felt they made the leap from local band to "rock stars."
• Ed Roland quips:

  "Like, when friends started calling, wanting to borrow money. Really? Yeah." ([06:11])

• Dean compares it to NFL rookies suddenly fielding handout requests.
• Ed contrasts musicians' financial realities with public perceptions ("one hit song, millions of dollars—it's not necessarily true"). ([07:07])
• Explains industry misconceptions stemming from 1970s media portrayals.

The Realities of the Music Business & Artist Ownership

[07:22-08:09]

• Ed Roland illuminates the economics of being in a band:

  "People don't understand you're borrowing money to make these records...you pay them back and when you make your money, they still don't let you own your music. Which is a big gripe I have." ([07:26]) "It's like borrowing money from a bank, paying the house mortgage back...the bank still owns it and they rent it out...That's what it means to me about masters. I hope I didn't get confusing on that, but it's really strange." ([07:26])

Cover Songs & Rights

[08:09-09:51]

• The discussion shifts to who owns the rights when others want to cover or sample their music.
• Ed explains some artists (e.g., Metallica, Dr. Dre) negotiated to own their masters, which fuels their stance on file sharing (e.g., Napster).
• Additional band member outlines the mechanics:

  "If he just wants to cover it, they can go ahead and cover it. But if they want to change any words or lyrics or music...they have to contact us, and they have to contact Ed, and then Ed can basically approve that or not." ([09:03])

• On Dolly Parton's cover of "Shine" and whether the publishing money comes back to the band:

  Ed Roland: "Yes." ([09:48]) Additional Member: "Ed gets all the money." ([09:49])

Closing & Final Jokes

[09:51-10:10]

• Hosts thank Collective Soul and joke about Atlanta roots ("from the bridge") and wishful thoughts about Puff Daddy covering "Shine."

  Dean Roland: "Collective Soul into his house. Listen for Shine. You know, that's going to be on some website somewhere. Hey, Puff Daddy's covering Shine." ([09:58]) Ed Roland: "I wish he would. I get paid, remember? I need to be driven around." ([10:06])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ed Roland on hearing his own hits:

  "When it first happened, I would always listen because I would go, God, I could have sang that better...Now, if I hear a song on the radio, I usually turn it..."
  [04:27]

• Ed Roland on fan encounters:

  "We feel normal, you know, in a sense. We are approachable...Just come up and talk to us."
  [05:47]

• Ed Roland on being "rock stars":

  "Like, when friends started calling, wanting to borrow money."
  [06:11]

• Ed Roland on artist rights:

  "It's like borrowing money from a bank, paying the house mortgage back...the bank still owns it and they rent it out...That's what it means to me about masters."
  [07:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:16 – Introduction, Atlanta’s pride in Collective Soul
• 03:15 – Collective Soul career hits montage
• 04:18 – How the band feels about hearing their songs
• 05:01 – Navigating fame and fan recognition
• 06:02 – Realizing they’d "made it"
• 07:26 – The realities of record deals and music ownership
• 08:09 – Song rights, covers, and who gets paid
• 09:51 – Parting words and Atlanta in-jokes

Conclusion

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at being in a world-famous rock band. Ed and Dean Roland deliver honest, often humorous insights about fame, money, artistic ownership, and legacy, while the Bert Show keeps things lively with their characteristic banter. Whether you're a fan of Collective Soul or just curious about the realities of rock stardom, this episode pulls back the curtain on music industry truths with warmth and wit.