What do The Beatles, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Queen, Bo Diddley, Jason Aldean, and a random fan named Dave in a backstage doorway all have in common?

Sandy Gennaro.

In this episode of Circling the Drain, John and Jim sit down with veteran rock drummer Sandy Gennaro, a man whose career has taken him from watching The Beatles on TV as a kid to playing arenas around the world and speaking to Fortune 500 companies about leadership, gratitude, and beating the odds.

Sandy shares:

- How seeing The Beatles on Ed Sullivan at age 11 made him decide his life’s path, and why he literally taped a photo of a drummer to his bathroom mirror and told himself, “That’s going to be you.”  

- Stories from his early band Blackjack with a pre–solo career Michael Bolton and guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS, Billy Squier, Meat Loaf, Grand Funk).  

- Touring and recording stories with Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Bo Diddley, and a 3‑month European tour opening for Queen.  

- His powerful Dave in the Doorway story, a five-minute interaction with a fan that changed his entire life and career.  

- Why he believes recognition, gratitude, and lifting others up are the real measures of success, on stage and in business.  

- How a chance connection with Rich Redmond (Jason Aldean’s drummer) and his daughter’s college search led him to Nashville at exactly the right time.  

This one is packed with rock & roll history, road stories, and surprisingly deep lessons about leadership, humility, and the power of small choices.

Topics & Themes:

- Visualization, mindset, and “no Plan B” careers  

- Working with major artists (Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett, The Monkees, Queen)  

- How artists treat their fans, good and bad  

- The drummer’s role as the CEO of the band  

- Why recognition (from roadies to CEOs) is fuel for performance  

- Moving to Nashville and reinventing yourself later in life  

- Sandy’s book Beat the Odds in Business & in Life  

3:10 – East Coast Roots, Italian Family & Giving Up Red Meat  

Sandy talks about growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Italian family life, his mom’s reaction when he quit red meat in 1979, and turkey meatballs with toothpicks.

5:00 – Europe vs. U.S. Food, Movement & Smartphone Culture  

A quick tangent on food quality, more active European lifestyles, binge-watching, binge-scrolling, and distracted driving.

6:20 – Toy Drums, Early Rhythm & The Beatles Moment (Deep Dive)  

Sandy revisits the story of getting his first toy drum at 2½, and how that Beatles performance became the defining moment of his life’s direction.

7:40 – No Plan B: Rock Star Drummer or Home Depot  

How committing fully to a dream, and overcoming obstacles one at a time, shaped Sandy’s entire career.

9:00 – First Big Break: Blackjack with Michael Bolton & Bruce Kulick  

Sandy tells the story of his first professional band Blackjack, with Michael Bolotin (Michael Bolton), Bruce Kulick, and Jimmy Haslip, and working with legendary producer Tom Dowd.

12:40 – Touring with Peter Frampton & Learning the Big-League Game  

Opening for Peter Frampton, playing arenas for the first time, big-label hype, and how Blackjack led to other opportunities like Benny Mardones’ Into the Night.

14:30 – Cyndi Lauper, Joan Jett & Cancer Fundraising  

Sandy’s work with Cyndi Lauper (Money Changes Everything) and Joan Jett (The Hit List), plus how they still support his cancer fundraisers with signed merch and swag.

17:00 – The Monkees: TV Band, Real Legacy  

Stories from decades of Monkees reunion tours, their innovative early use of video to sell records, Davy Jones’ dedication to fans, and their impact on pop culture.

19:20 – Davy Jones at Dinner & Always Signing Autographs  

Anecdotes about Davy Jones eating at Sandy’s house, his heartthrob status, and refusing to leave venues until every fan in line got an autograph.

20:20 – Gratitude, Fans & Never Forgetting Who Got You There  

Sandy’s philosophy on always appreciating fans, recognizing people by name (like servers), and why it’s non-negotiable to show respect to those who support you.

24:00 – Opening for Queen in Europe (1986)  

The CRAFT tour with Queen across Europe: how Queen treated their openers, full access to production, after-show parties, and hanging with Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor.

25:50 – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Headliners  

Contrasting Queen’s generosity with less gracious headliners; John shares a rough experience opening for Roy Clark’s band.

31:00 – Drum Techs, Crew & Recognizing the People Behind the Show  

Sandy talks about his drum tech Bob Oiler, a Modern Drummer shoutout, and why public recognition for crew and “lower-level” staff is so life-changing.

32:40 – Leadership Lesson: Recognition Fuels Engagement  

How appreciation boosts engagement, pride, and self-esteem, from the CEO to the person emptying the wastebasket, and why praise must flow both ways.

35:10 – Life Philosophy: Souls, Flames & Sprays of Gasoline  

Sandy’s spiritual take: each person’s soul as a flame, small kindnesses as “sprays of gasoline,” and how lifting others up is the ultimate purpose and measure of a life.

40:40 – From Drums to Keynote Stages: Speaking to CEOs  

How Sandy moved from entertaining tens of thousands as a drummer to moving corporate audiences to tears with stories and life lessons.

44:10 – Bo Diddley, Health, Aging & When to Park the Bus  

Touring with Bo Diddley, his stroke after a final gig, and a broader conversation about aging artists, residencies vs. touring, and knowing when it’s time to slow down.

48:40 – Why Sandy Moved to Nashville: Stars Aligning  

The full story: a call from Sammy Merendino, meeting Rich Redmond, seeing Jason Aldean at Madison Square Garden, his wife’s commute, his daughter’s interest in Belmont, and realizing Nashville was the next chapter.

52:30 – The Dave in the Doorway Story (Life-Changing 5 Minutes)  

A fan named Dave in the backstage doorway at Toad’s Place in 1981 asks for an autograph, a photo, and a favor. Sandy takes an extra five minutes, gives him his card, and everything changes.

55:20 – From Dave to Cyndi Lauper & the Love of His Life  

How Dave Wolf later calls with a new singer he’s managing, Cyndi Lauper, leading to Sandy joining her band, massive success, and ultimately meeting his wife Sherry in Charlotte. One small choice rewires his entire future.

59:30 – Thoughts → Words → Actions → Personality → Legacy  

Sandy wraps his core philosophy: how repeated thoughts shape words, actions, personality, and ultimately how the world experiences you.

58:00–1:01:30 – Drummers & CEOs: The Same Job?  

Why the drummer is like the CEO of the band, setting tempo, consistency, and tone, and how band dynamics mir...