Here's The Deal Podcast -The Story of Max Baker Jr

The autobiographical, untold story of Max Baker Jr. The story of not giving up and always trying to overcome the odds. “I didn’t come this far to lose” – Max Baker Jr.

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The Cramps, Evanescence, Slaves on Dope & Pissing Razors

Spring 2003 was a blur.

One night you’re at the Diamond with The Cramps. The same night you’re across town at The Other Side going full Texas with Pissing Razors, 40 Grit, and Society 1. Back-to-back shows. Highway miles stacking up. The road felt like home.

Three days later, April 29, Evanescence hits the Bricktown Event Center with Revis, Die Trying, and more. Momentum building. Alternative breaking wide open.

Then April 30, back at The Other Side: Slaves on Dope, Hotwire, Skindred, and Lock n’ Load. Different crowd. Same intensity.

Those weeks weren’t organized. They were lived.

When the schedule gets that packed, the venues start blending together and the highway becomes your constant.

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#HeresTheDealPodcast #TheCramps #Evanescence #SlavesOnDope #PissingRazors #Skindred #BricktownEventCenter #MetalShows #ConcertStories #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #oklahoma #oklahomacity

Follow & Connect: Max Baker Jr. Instagram @bmaddmaxx | Facebook @bmaddmaxx Jeff Brownen Facebook @jeff.brownen

Links: Here’s The Deal YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@heresthedealok

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3 Days with ICP & 2 Live Crew

Three days. Three cities. One crash course in show business.

February 28 at the Diamond Ballroom. March 1 at Cain's Ballroom. March 3 at The Cotillion.

That run wasn’t just about ticket sales. It was about learning how Psychopathic Records operated.

ICP’s show was precision chaos. Around 100 liters of Faygo per night. When the soda ran out, the show was done. That’s how rehearsed it was.

931 at the Diamond. Packed. Capacity.

Three days on the road builds relationships fast. By the end of that run, friendships were forming. Tour manager Bill Dall. Time spent with the crew. Seeing firsthand how a band freshly dropped by Disney turned controversy into loyalty and movement.

And then there were the moments only a promoter remembers. Flags hanging in the venue. Decisions that had to be made. Adjustments on the fly.

Three shows. Three nights. A front-row education in controlled mayhem.

#HeresTheDealPodcast #InsaneClownPosse #2LiveCrew #PsychopathicRecords #DiamondBallroom #CainsBallroom #TheCotillion #ConcertStories #TourLife #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #oklahoma #oklahomacity

Like, share, and follow so these stories keep getting told.

Follow & Connect: Max Baker Jr. Instagram @bmaddmaxx | Facebook @bmaddmaxx Jeff Brownen Facebook @jeff.brownen

Links: Here’s The Deal YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@heresthedealok

Here’s The Deal Podcast Website https://heresthedealok.com

Buy Here’s The Deal Vintage & Collectables https://heresthedealvintagecollectables.com

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Concert & Event Production Services https://bakerboyspro.com

Buy Roadie CBD Balm & Oil https://bakersremedycbd.com

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8,000 Rolling Stones Tickets Sent to Oklahoma

One Friday at 9:30 AM, a second Dallas date was announced for The Rolling Stones.

Without warning, 8,000 tickets were sent into Oklahoma. 3,000 to Norman. 2,500 each to two Oklahoma City record stores.

Within an hour, nearly all were gone.

The sale was kept secret to prevent overnight campouts and chaos. No social media. No presales. Just word spreading fast and fans racing to get there in time.

A different era. A real rush.

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#HeresTheDealPodcast #TheRollingStones #OklahomaMusic #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #oklahomacity

Follow & Connect: Max Baker Jr. Instagram @bmaddmaxx | Facebook @bmaddmaxx | TikTok @maxbakerjr Jeff Brownen Facebook @jeff.brownen

Links: Here’s The Deal YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@heresthedealok

Here’s The Deal Podcast Website https://heresthedealok.com

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Concert & Event Production Services https://bakerboyspro.com

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Aerosmith Runner – Get A Grip Tour 1993

This was one of those jobs that teach you more than any classroom ever could.

June 4th, 1993, at The Myriad, working as a runner for Aerosmith on the Get A Grip Tour, with special guest Jackyl. Being a runner means you’re responsible for everything no one sees. And trust me, you learn fast.

Aerosmith was a big mentor band for me, not just musically, but personally. They were clean and sober. I was clean and sober. That connection mattered. Watching how they worked, how they handled themselves, and how seriously they took recovery made a lasting impact.

People don’t realize what goes into a day like that. Bands may be on buses and private planes, but laundry still has to get done. And when you’re handed 22 touring bags of laundry, your job is simple but terrifying. Make sure bag one doesn’t end up mixed with bag six. That mistake can end your day really quick.

Being a runner teaches you the city you’re in. You learn about the small, independent businesses that can help you. You learn who can do reliable fluff-and-fold under pressure. You learn who understands urgency.

I used to take laundry to a small place down on Shields run by a Chinese woman who knew the deal. Every time I walked in, she asked only two questions. “When do you need it back?” “Is this all?”

She stopped everything and handled it. Every time.

Then you’d deliver it back and hope like hell nothing was wrong. If it was perfect, you were a hero for the day. That’s what makes a good runner. Knowing your community. Building trust. Showing up consistently.

That’s the side of show business people never see, but it’s what makes the show happen.

Special thanks to Jeff Brownen for historical research, flyers, ticket stubs, and fact-checking support on this episode. #jeffbrownen

#Aerosmith #GetAGripTour #Jackyl #TheMyriad #ConcertRunner #BehindTheScenes #LiveMusicLife #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #HereTheDealPodcast #oklahoma #oklahomacity

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Follow Max Baker Jr. Instagram: @bmaddmaxx TikTok: @maxbakerjr Facebook: @bmaddmaxx

Follow Jeff Brownen Facebook: @jeff.brownen

Like and share our content so we can grow and keep real music history alive.

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The Hollywood Knockouts on Jeff’s Birthday

In this clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast, Max tells one of the most outrageous stories from the early days — a night inspired by a Def Leppard show in Tulsa that spiraled fast.

After the concert, Max and a friend ended up at a bar featuring The Hollywood Knockouts — a touring all-female wrestling troupe from Hollywood. The idea hit immediately:

This could be a show. This could make money.

So Max booked them.

The venue was packed. The energy was through the roof. Jeff’s birthday was in full swing.

The first act went off without a hitch.

Then reality hit.

Mid-show, Max is pulled into the kitchen by officials flashing badges and calmly explaining that 17 violations had already occurred — and they were only through the first act.

The show didn’t stop right away. But the message was clear.

What started as a wild idea fueled by post-concert chaos quickly became a crash course in regulations, risk, and learning things the hard way — something that defined much of that era.

Another legendary night. Another lesson learned in real time.

🎧 Full episode streaming now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

#HeresTheDealPodcast #MaxBakerJr #HollywoodKnockouts #RockAndRollStories #BehindTheScenes #90sNightlife #OKCMusicHistory #ConcertChaos #PodcastClips

📲 Follow Max Baker Jr. Instagram & Facebook: @bmaddmaxx TikTok: @maxbakerjr

📌 Jeff Brownen

Facebook:  @jeff.brownen

With special thanks to Jeff Brownen, co-host and historian of Here’s The Deal Podcast, for archival materials and fact-checking.

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Rock City & Madd Maxx’s 3rd Metal Bash

This clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast goes back to 1987 and one of the most personal traditions Max ever created — the Madd Maxx Metal Bashes.

After getting clean and sober, with a sobriety date of July 14, 1987, Max decided to channel that energy into music. Instead of parties going the wrong direction, he created Metal Bashes to celebrate sobriety, community, and heavy music.

The 3rd Metal Bash was a big one.

🔥 Crowbar — their first-ever show in Oklahoma 🔥 Finals featuring Billy Rocket, The Differents, and Sinners & Saints 🔥 Sinners & Saints took the win 🔥 Local bands stacked on the bill 🔥 Rock City and Madd Maxx’s working together

These weren’t just shows — they were milestones.

Max ended up doing around 15 Metal Bashes before the run ended, all tied to staying sober and building something positive through music.

There were even limited-run Metal Bash shirts — some with only a handful ever made — pieces of history that still exist today.

This clip isn’t just about bands or venues. It’s about survival, purpose, and turning sobriety into something loud, positive, and lasting.

🎧 Full episode streaming now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

📲 Follow Max Baker Jr. Instagram & Facebook: @bmaddmaxx TikTok: @maxbakerjr

📌 Jeff Brownen

Facebook:  @jeff.brownen

With special thanks to Jeff Brownen, co-host and historian of Here’s The Deal Podcast, for archival materials and fact-checking.

#HeresTheDealPodcast #MaxBakerJr #JeffBrownen #MusicHistory #MetalHistory #ConcertStories #MusicBusiness #PodcastClips #90sMetal #OKCMusic #oklahoma #oklahomacity

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Local Bands Scene: Pay-to-Play or Build a Following?

In this clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast, Max breaks down a conversation that still sparks arguments today — was it pay-to-play, or was it about learning how to build a real following?

Back in the early ’90s, local bands were filling bars for $5 shows, playing solid sets of originals with a few covers mixed in. Bands like Forte, Powerlord, Ibex, Section 8, and Force of Habit were part of a growing underground scene that didn’t exist before.

The system was simple:

🎟️ Sell tickets 🎤 Earn better slots 💵 Get paid 🍻 Get drink tickets

If a band sold the most tickets, they headlined. If they didn’t, they learned fast.

Some people later labeled it “pay-to-play,” but Max explains the reality — it only failed when bands didn’t promote themselves. When bands worked the system, it helped them build crowds, gain leverage, and create momentum.

Looking back at the old contracts today feels wild, but at the time, it was about trying to run things legit and give local bands a real path forward.

Then one show — January 17, 1992 — changed everything.

🎧 Full episode streaming now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

#HeresTheDealPodcast #MaxBakerJr #LocalBands #PayToPlay #DIYMusicScene #OKCMusicHistory #UndergroundRock #90sMusic #ConcertPromotion #MusicIndustryTalk #PodcastClips

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On November 21, 2025 Lynyrd Skynyrd played their final night of their Hell House Tour at the Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma. This Is "Tuesday's Gone" performed that night as a tribute to the late great Gary Rossington

#lynyrdskynyrd #garyrossington #skynyrd #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #concertmemories #choctawcasino #choctawdurant #concers #classicrock #liverockconcert #liveconcert #rockconcerts

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Kansas - Carry On My Wayward Son (Live) 11/22/25 #kansastheband #choctawdurant #choctawcasino

Kansas played the Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma on November 22,2025. This is their encore song "Carry On My Wayward Son" from the last night of their 2025 Tour

#kansastheband #choctawdurant #choctawcasino #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #classicrock #concertmemories #liverockconcert #concertmemories #rockconcerts

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Ryan Bingham - Tulsa Time (Live) 11/1/25 #ryanbingham #jjcale #cainsballroom #concers

Ryan Bingham played two nights on his All Night Long Tour at the legendary Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen and Calder Allen performing "Tulsa Time" by J.J. Cale on the first night November 1, 2025

#ryanbingham #jjcale #cainsballroom #concers #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #concertmemories #livemusic #tulsaoklahoma

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On August 15, 2025 Queensryche and Ace Frehley played a show at the Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma. This is "Silent Lucidity" from their 1990 album Empire

#queensrÿche #acefrehley #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #choctawcasino #choctawdurant #liveconcert #concertmemories #rockconcerts #livemusic #livemusic

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Max Going Through Old Concert Tickets From the 90s

In this clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast, Max starts flipping through a stack of original concert ticket stubs from the 1990s — and the names on them are unreal.

We’re talking:

🎟️ Pantera, Prong, Exodus — December 2, 1990 at The Diamond for $12 🎟️ Skinny Puppy at The Diamond and another club 🎟️ Enuff Z’Nuff 🎟️ Echo & The Bunnymen 🎟️ Jeff Healey 🎟️ Steelheart & Don Dokken 🎟️ Wrathchild America opening for Pantera as they were on the verge of arena tours

You even hear ticket prices climb in real time — $9, $12, $13, $15 — with no service charges.

These weren’t just concerts. They were moments in Oklahoma music history — the years when bands like Pantera were transitioning from clubs to arenas and the scene was exploding.

This clip is a reminder of how fast things moved… and how different live music used to be.

🎧 Full episode available now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

#HeresTheDealPodcast #MaxBakerJr #Pantera #90sConcerts #TicketStubs #OklahomaMusicHistory #TheDiamondOKC #SkinnyPuppy #EchoAndTheBunnymen #MetalHistory #LiveMusicThrowback #ConcertMemories #PodcastClips

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Pantera’s Diamond Ballroom Show: Early Days & Local Talent

This clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast dives into Pantera’s early Oklahoma days — before arenas, before mainstream radio, when every show was still being built one ticket at a time.

Max breaks down two key moments:

🎸 October 11, 1990 — Diamond Ballroom Pantera with Exodus and Wrathchild America Only 363 people in the room Tickets were $9

Then came one of the most important shows of that era:

🔥 July 26, 1990 — Cowboys From Hell release show Knockout Productions promoted it Pantera’s first Atlantic Records release They brought their own sound and lights It felt like watching a band on the edge of something massive

But what made the show special wasn’t just Pantera — it was the local bands.

Max has always believed in giving local talent a real shot, not just opening slots. If a band was going to be treated like a rockstar for the night, they had to help sell tickets and build the scene.

Local bands on that bill included:

⚡ Fortay ⚡ Oliver Magnum

The show took place at Kinetics, a three-story club in early Bricktown — before the canal, before the development, back when the streets were dark, raw, and the club was rumored to be haunted.

This is Oklahoma music history — when legends and locals shared the same stage.

🎧 Full episode streaming now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

#HeresTheDealPodcast #MaxBakerJr #Pantera #CowboysFromHell #DiamondBallroom #OKCMusicHistory #KnockoutProductions #OliverMagnum #LocalBandsMatter #MetalHistory #BricktownHistory #LiveMusicStories #PodcastClips

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Nine Inch Nails: Unforgettable Cain’s Show & “Cocaine” Effect

This clip from Here’s The Deal Podcast captures one of the most unforgettable shows to ever hit Oklahoma.

Before Nine Inch Nails became a global force, the band rolled through on the Pretty Hate Machine tour — and Max helped promote one of their most talked-about shows at Cain’s.

The production was unlike anything people had seen:

⚡ Massive strobe lights ⚡ Two crew members throwing bags of flour into the air ⚡ A blinding white haze that looked like a sea of cocaine ⚡ And Trent Reznor delivering music that felt completely new and dangerous

The visual effect was so intense that decades later, Max still remembers it clearly. He even received a Pretty Hate Machine hard card from Trent as a thank-you — something later lost in a fire, but never forgotten.

This wasn’t just a concert. It was a moment when industrial music hit Oklahoma like a shockwave.

🎧 Full episode streaming now 🔥 The Max Baker Jr. Story on Here’s The Deal Podcast

#HeresTheDealPodcast #NineInchNails #PrettyHateMachine #TrentReznor #CainsBallroom #IndustrialMusic #90sMusicHistory #LiveMusicStories #ConcertPromotion #RockHistory #BackstageStories #MusicDocumentaryStyle #OKCMusicScene #PodcastClips

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Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace played at the Choctaw Grand Theater on October 12, 2025. This is Breaking Benjamin performing "Failure" from that night in Durant, Oklahoma.

#breakingbenjamin #threedaysgrace #rockband #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #choctawcasino #choctawdurant #livemusic #concertmemories #rockconcerts #concertmemories #liverockconcert

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George Thorogood played the Tunes & Spoons Chili Fest in Claremore, Oklahoma on August 23, 2025. #georgethorogood #tunesandspoons #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #claremoreoklahoma #concertmemories #rockconcert #liverockconcert #classicrock #rockband

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Ace Frehley's 10,000 Volts Tour played the Choctaw Grand Theater in Durant, Oklahoma on August 15, 2025. Ace only played three more shows after this show. This is "Shock Me" from the 1977 Kiss album Love Gun.

#acefrehley #kisstory #heresthedealpodcast #maxbakerjr #jeffbrownen #rockguitarist #concertmemories #rockconcerts #liverockconcert #choctawcasino #choctawdurant #kennedycenterhonors #rockstar #livemusic #concertmemories

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