This book will actually tell what pain in the ass is tour management. Cool cover!

Sounds interesting.

Believe me. I wonder if the book has a chapter detailing how he "disappeared" from his Paris hotel room with Mudvayn'e's tour cash after doing blow all night. Left his computer out and on, right next to his passport. The embassy had to contacted to find him. I can't believe he still gets work. ASSHOLE.

From Mark Workman to you, Saytheobvious:

Dear Saytheobvious:

A friend of mine just told me of your post. I don't have time for these things, but your facts are so wrong, I just wanted to help you out with the story. I didn't disappear from a hotel room in Paris, it was Nijmegen, Holland. I didn't do blow all night; I did it for a week until I got my passport back in Paris after my ex-wife talked some sense into me.

If you take a look at my resume, you'll see that I worked for Hellyeah back in the spring of this year. And the singer and guitar player (Chad and Greg) of Mudvayne are in Hellyeah. They are both old friends of mine. Divorce is a helluva' thing to go through.

No, this PG-13 story/mistake isn't in this book, but it will be in my memoir that I'm also currently writing. I'll send you a free copy when it's done, so you can get your facts straight for the future. Thanks for helping to promote my book. I really appreciate it!

Mark Workman

....from Tom Araya, back when "Decade of Aggression" came out. He was giving an interview for RIP Magazine and was talking about how awesome their crew was and mentioned Mark's lighting work. Crazy I still remember reading that...

Best wishes on the book!

Sounds like it would be a very interesting read.

gotta admit...what a great STFU

Mr. Sykes....I bet he has some killer stories to tell.....

Hey, Mark --

I suggest that you talk to your crew members from that tour, several of whom related the story IN DETAIL to any one who would listen. No friends made there. Way to water down theft of funds and drug abuse at the expense of others. Like any narcissistic, self centered tour manager would do. I guess the crew and their experiences don't matter, huh?

Dear Saytheobvious:

I’m glad to see that you’re getting your 15 minutes speaking about something you know nothing about—something that happened nearly 10 years ago. And by the way, many of the crew guys that were on that tour have been on the road with me during the past year. I have more friends around the world than you can imagine.

There was no “theft of funds.” I did have a measly $6,000.00 dollars in their float money on me when I went nuts because I couldn’t save my marriage. The band got that money back, plus 10% interest, as soon as I got home from my crusade of madness. I insisted on giving them the interest; they didn’t ask for it. I seriously doubt that I would’ve worked for Hellyeah a few months ago if I hadn’t.

You mention drug abuse. I’ve worked for some of the most notorious heavy metal bands in the world for 30 years. There’s a lot that comes with that. I don’t know too many people who’ve been in this business for that long who haven’t had their moments. I’ve definitely had mine, but I’m man enough to admit it. I'm glad that you're Mary Poppins, clean and pure.

I don’t have any more time to verbally spar with you about things you know nothing about, but I would have some respect for you if you said who you were instead of hiding behind a screen name. You’re probably someone I fired. As you can see, my name is signed at the bottom of my reply. And, for the record, ANYONE who knows me personally will tell you, I don’t “water down” jack shit. I always tell it like it is.

Have a nice life. I have no more time for you. I have a good life to live. Why don’t you try and do the same.

Mark Workman

Someone you fired? Uh...no. I would never work for someone with your history or reputation. I like staying out of jail and telling the truth. So let's put that to bed right away.

Paying interest on the "measly" 6K that you embezzled is not doing a favor; it's called restitution, and you're lucky you didn't pick up a felony for your "crusade of madness". Blaming a crime on a bad divorce is not a reason, it's an excuse. Call it what it is. It doesn't matter if it's 6 dollars or 600 thousand dollars. It's embezzlement, and the fact that you felt obligated to pay interest on your restitution is your acknowledgment of this fact.

As far as your "friends around the world" -- it's a safe bet that for every one that you claim to have that they are outnumbered 3 to 1 by venue reps, promoter reps, merchandise reps, international crew, local crew, business managers, accountants and band managers who cringe when they hear that they have to "work" with you. Either for the first time (by your history and reputation reaching them through the warnings given by others) or repeatedly.

As far as "living a good life" -- you should spend the rest of yours picking up the phone and knocking on doors apologizing for your behavior and changing it.

People like you make it hard on the honest, hard working folk who wonder why the people that touring bands have to interact with are so hard-assed and rude. Professional tour managers must overcome this factor constantly because of people like you and behavior like yours.

Your book should be titled "How NOT To Be A Music Tour Manager".

You really are a moron, aren't you, Saytheobvious?

Are you not smart enough to see the STRIKE through the HOW TO on the book title on the book cover and get the meaning?!

It is HOW NOT TO BE A MUSIC TOUR MANAGER, you dumb shit!

I've worked in this business for 30 years FOR A REASON--I get the job done--but my readers will learn even more from my mistakes. But you're so stupid that you cannot even see THAT on a book cover. I'm verbally jousting with a MORON.

Again, you keep writing your ignorant, badly-written dribble, but you don't have the balls to come out of the closet and identify yourself. You have balls the size of bbs.

Mark Workman

A moron. I'll take that as a compliment from someone who defines it. I stand corrected, oh lord of idiocy.

Interesting that the only thing you will comment on is a misinterpretation of some graphics on the cover of your "book". No mention or response to the facts surrounding your criminal and abusive behavior -- for the "30 years" that you are so proud to wave around like a flag. The things you boast of most are firing people, drug abuse and scapegoating a divorce as a reason to lie, cheat and steal from your "friends" -- who are, in fact customers and clients. Truly disgraceful.

You say you'll "respect" me if I "come out of the closet" and reveal my identity. No thank you. I neither want nor need respect from someone who doesn't deserve it in their own right. Balls have nothing to do with it. I don't owe you anything; but you owe the industry large for the swath of wreckage that you have created while representing said clients. Figure it out already.

This is not "sparring". This is someone in the know outing you for what you are, and you can't handle it. Period.

Well how can anyone believe what you're saying is credible if you don't tell anyone who you are?