History Main / TheRoadie

Because of the various jobs roadies are know to do, they are usually portrayed as the "HyperCompetentSidekick" type, managing to fulfill every need no matter how grand. Older roadies are portrayed as sagely, veteran types, having been to every corner of the industry, toured the world, from BadassBiker bars to stadiums, tasted every drug, known every legend and always having AnAesop to impart in the process.

Because of the various jobs roadies are know to do, they are usually portrayed as the "HyperCompetentSidekick" type, managing to fulfill every need no matter how grand. Older roadies are portrayed as sagely, veteran types, having been to every corner of the industry, toured the world, from BadassBiker bars to stadiums, tasted every drug, known every legend and always having a AnAesop to impart in the process.

The Roadie is an integral -- yet sadly unappreciated -- part of the rocking process. Roadies tune guitars, [[LightBulbJoke replace lights]], check mikes, [[{{Bouncer}} bounce entrances]], [[BadassDriver drive the bus]], [[RealMenCook cater parties]], market [[TheMerch merchandise]] and holds the bass player's hair up as they [[VomitIndiscretionShot vomit]]. The music does not just happen by accident after all.

Because of the various jobs roadies are know to do, they are usually portrayed as the "HyperCompetentSidekick" type, managing to fulfill every need no matter how grand. Older roadies are portrayed as sagely, veteran types, having been to every corner of the industry, tasted every drug, known every legend and always having a AnAesop to impart in the process.

* [[TheEighties 1980s]] and [[TheNineties 1990s]] ChristianRock band Whiteheart's 3rd and final lead singer, Rick Florian, started off as a roadie for the band before the discovery of his vocal talent led to his [[StepUpToTheMicrophone being named lead vocalist]] after the previous lead singer, [[StageName Scott Douglas]][[note]]who himself succeeded [[RevolvingDoorBand original lead singer]] Steve Green when Green decided rock music didn't suit him and shifted to a successful career in the inspirational sub-genre. Douglas' full name, incidentally, is Scott Douglas ''Mathieson''[[/note]], was kicked out after a 1985 arrest for [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor aggravated sexual battery]]; remaining with the band until its final album in 1997.

* Roadies in hip-hop music aren't uncommon, but rarely mentioned. Both Music/TupacShakur and Music/CraigMack started out as roadies for their groups (Music/DigitalUnderground and Music/{{EPMD}}, respectively) before going off into successful solo careers.

* The Music/TenaciousD song "The Roadie" was made as a thank you letter to all the roadies out there whose work goes unappreciated. [[spoiler:In the song's official music [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1acvZRvV4 video]] however, the titular roadie Sebastion is portrayed as being a legitimately good roadie that had worked with Music/VanHalen, Music/{{Metallica}} and Music/{{ACDC}} in the past, but eventually gets drunk and destroys Jack and Kyle's green room after being rejected by a groupie. He then goes on to buy drugs, reject a boy who comes to him with a paternity test and then cons money out of them in exchange for a hooker. Jack and Kyle fire him right after.]]

* The Music/TenaciousD song "The Roadie" was made as a thank you letter to all the roadies out there whose work goes unappreciated. [[spoiler:In the song's official music [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1acvZRvV4 video]] however, the titular roadie Sebastion is portrayed as being a legitimately good roadie that had worked with Music/VanHalen, Metallica and [=AC/DC=] in the past, but eventually gets drunk and destroys Jack and Kyle's green room after being rejected by a groupie. He then goes on to buy drugs, reject a boy who comes to him with a paternity test and then cons money out of them in exchange for a hooker (Jack and Kyle to fire him because of it).]]

* The video for Music/DireStraits' song "Heavy Fuel" centers on one of their roadies, played by Randy Quaid.

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/SoulMusic'', the Disc's first rock band acquires a roadie named Asphalt.

* Eddie Riggs from ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' is a roadie [[spoiler:literally]] BornInTheWrongCentury, famous in the biz for his roadie skills and love of classic HeavyMetal, forced to work under the [[{{Jerkass}} disrespectful]] [[NeoclassicalPunkZydecoRockabilly Second Wave of American Tween Melodic Rap Metalcore]] band "Kabbage Boy." After [[spoiler:dying on stage and accidentally summoning Ormagoden in the process]], Eddie ends up in a HeavyMithril world where his [[AccidentalPun rocking and roadie]] skills help him lead the [[HumansAreWarriors human]] [[LaResistance resistance]] army [[HeavyMetal Ironheade]] against the [[HairMetal Hair Metal Militia]], the [[DeathMetal Drowning Doom]] and the [[IndustrialMetal Tainted Coil]]. Roadies are later presented as a stealth-based infantry in Ironheade's army, wielding incredibly large amps and invisibility skills that allowed them to free Ophelia's Razorgirls from Lionwhyte's pleasure tower. Watt-R-Boys are the Hair Metal Militia equivalent.

* In ''Film/BeavisAndButtheadDoAmerica'' it turns out their fathers were both roadies for Music/MotleyCrue.

* Steven from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' has expressed that one of his dream jobs is to be a roadie (his father having once been TheRockStar) and gets to live out this dream by helping Sour Cream set up a rave in "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS3E7DropBeatDad Drop Beat Dad]]".

* ''Film/{{Roadie}}'' stars Music/MeatLoaf as a GadgeteerGenius who becomes a roadie for a traveling rock and roll show.

* The minor [[Music/TheByrds Byrds]] track "BB Class Road" is sung in the persona of a roadie boasting about his skills and lifestyle.

* Roadie Joe from ''WebComic/TheRockCocks'' is a roadie hired by Sterling for the band's first official album recording.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'': Rio's [[NewJobAsThePlotDemands career is never that concrete]], but he is sometimes Jem and the Hologram's roadie.

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* The Music/TenaciousD song ''The Roadie'' was made as a thank you letter to all the roadies out there whose work goes unappreciated. [[spoiler:In the song's official music [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1acvZRvV4 video]] however, the titular roadie Sebastion is portrayed as being a legitimately good roadie that had worked with Music/VanHalen, Metallica and [=AC/DC=] in the past, but eventually gets drunk and destroys Jack and Kyle's green room after being rejected by a groupie. He then goes on to buy drugs, reject a boy who comes to him with a paternity test and then cons money out of them in exchange for a hooker (Jack and Kyle to fire him because of it).]]

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-->- Eddie Riggs, ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend''

The Roadie is an integral - yet sadly unappreciated - part of the rocking process. Roadies tune guitars, [[LightBulbJoke replace lights]], check mikes, [[{{Bouncer}} bounce entrances]], [[BadassDriver drive the bus]], [[RealMenCook cater parties]], market [[TheMerch merchandise]] and holds the bass player's hair up as they [[VomitIndiscretionShot vomit]]. The music does not just happen by accident after all.

* The Music/TenaciousD song ''The Roadie'' was made as a thank you letter to all the roadies out there who's work goes unappreciated. [[spoiler:In the song's official music [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1acvZRvV4 video]] however, the titular roadie Sebastion is portrayed as being a legitimately good roadie that had worked with Music/VanHalen, Metallica and [=AC/DC=] in the past, but eventually gets drunk and destroys Jack and Kyle's green room after being rejected by a groupie. He then goes on to buy drugs, reject a boy who comes to him with a paternity test and then cons money out of them in exchange for a hooker (Jack and Kyle to fire him because of it).]]