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Summertime Grills
Summer evokes images of sunny days, blue skies, cool water, summer grilling, and juicy watermelon. And mid-June to late August is peak watermelon season, which got me thinking . . . I saw a recipe the other day for grilled watermelon and thought, now THAT would...
Musicians Struggle for Help During Pandemic
As manager of a professional touring rock band, I’m seeing first-hand how the coronavirus pandemic is striking professional musicians at their core. Shows and entire tours have been cancelled and rescheduled with uncertainty looming, as the future of touring is...
Lighter Times
Here’s a bit of levity (pun intended) during our pandemic lockdown . . . Well before social media, Dave had a very active forum on his Meniketti website. Those fun posts are long gone, but that forum crossed my mind recently when someone asked me about flying Zero-G....
The Dark Side of Streaming
Music streaming services offer us all a convenient, portable, and fun way to enjoy music—plus, they're a great conduit for discovering new artists and songs. The relatively-low monthly subscription fee for these services certainly seems ideal to us...
Six Days in a French Hospital
When planning this year's European tour, with two days off before the Paris suburb show, I thought I'd book band and crew time off in a lovely walled town in the French countryside just an hour and a half south of Paris: Provins, France. Unfortunately, I never got to...
Behind the Art: Angela Gossow
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Angela Gossow. In an interesting twist, she switched from rock star to manager of the very band she fronted. Angela found that she prefers life behind-the-scenes to life onstage. I must admit, after my...
Behind the Art: Lisa Jenkins
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Lisa Jenkins, manager of the legendary Peter Frampton, among others. Frampton Comes Alive was the soundtrack of my youth, so I was especially intrigued to interview Peter’s manager. I know it sounds trite,...
Behind the Art: Carol Peters
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Heart’s manager, Carol Peters. I’ve adored Heart ever since I first heard “Crazy on You” as a kid in 1976, so interviewing this dynamo was extra-special for me. Carol’s career spans the music industry...
Behind the Art: Jodi Goodman
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Jodi Goodman—top notch concert promoter. Starting in the club scene, Jodi worked her way into the coveted position of President of Live Nation Northern California. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. ~...
I’m Coming Home: A Special Weekend in Dave’s Ancestral Hometown
Dave and I often visit his family in Gubbio, Italia—the beautiful, medieval hill town of his grandparents. But this year's visit was extra special. Gubbio is a beloved town throughout Italy, as Italians cherish the story of il Lupo di Gubbio—the notorious wolf, who...
Behind the Art: April Malmsteen
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet April Malmsteen—the woman behind guitar virtuoso, Yngwie J Malmsteen. As an entrepreneur, April has ventured down many roads beyond the music industry, including founding a cosmetics company and her own...
Behind the Art: Jill Meniketti
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet me! Foghat’s Linda Earl and Leighsa Montrose turn the mic on me this time . . . ~ Jill Jill Meniketti is an amazing human being. Extraordinarily busy but still able to smile! She is not only an...
Paperback Writer
Coming up for air from our whirlwind U.S. tour, between dates, I thought I'd blog a few things . . . The paperback edition of Welcome to Groove House released a few months ago, just in time for our 2-month U.S. tour. And, wow, what a great tour! Thanks to so many of...
Behind the Art: Brie Greenberg
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Brie Greenberg, the woman behind Metallica. Handling such a mega-force as Metallica is surely a demanding and daunting job, but Brie seems to manage it all with grace and vigor. It’s so refreshing to...
Behind the Art: Maria Lundy
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Maria Lundy of QEDG Management, where she’s the woman behind such legendary acts as YES, E.L.P., Asia, Focus, and more. ~ Jill Behind the Art: Maria Lundy Tour Liaison and Special Projects Manager. ...
Behind the Art: Renata Ravina
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Renata Ravina—the fire behind the Red Rocker. As Sammy Hagar’s business manager, she’s kept him busy and in high spirits. Starting as a fan of Sammy’s (her first concert was a Sammy show!), Renata soon...
Behind the Art: Bridget Kendall
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Bridget Kendall. Married to Great White’s Mark Kendall, and also the executive assistant for his band, Bridget dove in headfirst when Great White needed a hand. Once a tour is booked, there’s much more...
Behind the Art: Leighsa Montrose
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Leighsa Montrose. Upon her husband’s suicide, Leighsa was suddenly thrust further into managing Ronnie Montrose’s music and his estate. This amazing woman has survived trauma and has come out on top;...
Behind the Art: Susan Cramer
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet the Rockbar Theater’s Susan Cramer. Susan followed her heart and her love of music, and shifted careers to open a rock music venue. Soaring from her venue’s stellar first year, she continues to reach for...
Guest Blog: Dave Meniketti
When Y&T frontman, Dave Meniketti, expressed that he’d like to do a guest blog on tips for singers, I agreed that this would be a great place to spotlight such valuable information. So for today’s blog, I hand the reins to the venerable Dave Meniketti . . . ~...
Will Work for Wine
Several years ago Dave and I daydreamed of releasing our own wines “some day.” On August 11, 2015—coincidentally, the same peak night as the spectacular, annual Perseid Meteor shower—our seemingly unattainable dream actually came true. Our journey into wine started...
Behind the Art: Lisa Champagne-Sweet
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Lisa Champagne-Sweet. Married to Stryper’s Michael Sweet, and also his band's manager, Lisa is another kindred spirit. I'm quite familiar with how much effort goes into her artist management workday....
Behind the Art: Diana DeVille
I’m thrilled to feature Diana DeVille in this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art. Diana has been Wendy Dio’s “right hand” for as far back as I can recall. She’s been through a lot with Dio, Black Sabbath, Heaven and Hell, and more, and she has her...
A Novel Idea
Frequently, I’m asked how the idea came about for my debut novel, Welcome to Groove House. I’ve touched on that in several interviews, and I’ve shared the story with fans who’ve asked me on tour. So many people have asked since the novel’s release that I figured I’d...
Best Book Tour Ever
My first book tour . . . Twelve years ago when a novel idea was brewing in my brain while on tour overseas, a book tour wasn’t even a wrinkle of thought. So when the time came and Welcome to Groove House was about to be published, it’s only natural that I’d choose an...
Behind the Art: Marianna Burdon
In this edition of my blog series feature, Behind the Art, meet Marianna Burdon. This beautiful lawyer is also the manager and wife of rock icon Eric Burdon. Read on to see how Marianna Burdon lays down the law, and shares an interesting phone call. ~ Jill ...
Behind the Art: Linda Arcello-Earl
In this edition of my blog series, Behind the Art, Foghat’s Linda Arcello-Earl talks wine, musicians, and music, as she discusses her lengthy history in the business. Another kindred spirit, Linda is a band manager and rock star wife, who juggles both in a busy,...
Behind the Art: Nancy B. Sayle
I’m pleased to feature Nancy B. Sayle in my blog series: Behind the Art. As owner/publicist at VQPR, LLC, Nancy has worked with some of the biggest names in rock, generating a media buzz for each of them. I’d heard Nancy’s name around the business, but I first met her...
PRESS RELEASE: Debut Rock ’n’ Roll Novel Wows Rock Stars
PRESS RELEASE: Debut Rock ’n’ Roll Novel Wows Rock Stars March 3, 2015—What are these rock stars buzzing about? The debut novel, Welcome to Groove House, by rock star manager, Jill Meniketti, released by Stanford Court Press. Sammy Hagar: “Who else knows the inside...
Behind the Art: Kate Moore
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, I’m pleased to feature Kate Moore, merchandise & web maven for UFO. I met Kate some years ago at a rock festival in Texas, and we hit it off straight away, sharing the joys and woes of merchandising (a...
Behind the Art: Karrie Keyes
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Karrie Keyes. Karrie’s job is extremely specialized because she’s mixing the sound on stage. Her efforts help the artists lose themselves in the music so that they can perform the ultimate show for their...
Behind the Art: Korie Koker
In this edition of my blog series feature Behind the Art, meet Korie Koker. Hers is not a job for the faint-of-heart. I can't imagine being a talent buyer for a venue. Actually, I can but I'd rather not. Managing the schedule for a live music venue must be...
Travel Like a Rock Star!
Travel Like a Rock Star! With the holidays upon us and millions of people traveling this holiday season, I figured it's a good time to offer up some travel tips. And so, I asked my four favorite rockers to share their best ones for you. (I also tucked in my own at...
Behind the Art: Michelle Sabolchick Pettinato
Apologies for the delay in releasing this next article, but I’ve been on tour (as has my interview subject), and on the road, time and stable WiFi don’t always align. For this edition in my blog series feature Behind the Art, I was especially intrigued to interview...
The Book of Lies
In the music industry, tour itineraries are often referred to as the book of lies. That's usually due to some eager (or lackadaisical) tour manager, who pads the itinerary pages with false information (rather than leaving blank portions) in an effort to route the...
The Art Behind the Touring—Part 2
(or, the Art of Hounding) The other day, someone asked me, “What’s the difference between a promoter and a booking agent?” Booking shows can be a two-part process, with most artists using both an agent and a promoter. For those who don’t know, a promoter can be as...
Behind the Art: Denise Martin
I'm ecstatic to have Denise Martin as the inaugural feature in my new blog series: Behind the Art. She and I share many similarities, as we're both married to the rock stars that we manage. I always enjoy time spent with her, commiserating and swapping tales of the...
The Art Behind the Touring—Part 1
Among other managerial duties, the bulk of my recent time has been devoted to advancing the details for each show on the upcoming European tour while simultaneously planning next year's US spring tour. Planning a tour is like a jigsaw puzzle. I always route out the...
Me, a Blogger?
As I began to consider delving into the world of blogging, I wondered: What the hell do I have to say? I live and breathe my job, but I certainly don't want to subject others to those mundane details, ad nauseam. Then someone expressed that what may seem commonplace...
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