Robert Hazard
I probably owe more to Robert Hazard than any other “rock star.” In the early ’80s, I moved to the Philadelphia area as a teenager. Even though the drinking age in Pennsylvania was 21, I managed to sneak into quite a few venues with my girlfriend to see Robert Hazard—this was before he was signed to a national label. Robert was one of the first true DIY artists to emerge from Philadelphia, alongside The Hooters.
It didn’t take long before I started finagling my way into his dressing room after shows. Only recently did I realize how special that really was—he wouldn’t even let his own band in there. It was during this time that Robert self-released his debut EP. The attention and sales it generated eventually landed him a recording contract with RCA Records. Although the national release flopped, it led to a connection with Cyndi Lauper, who went on to record his song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
I saw and hung out with Robert at a wide variety of venues, most notably The Ripley on South Street. After shows, we often spent time in his dressing room drinking his “green room” Heinekens—Robert wasn’t much of a drinker, so they were usually up for grabs. One of my most memorable nights was when Robert played St. Agnes Elementary School in downtown West Chester. It was an all-ages show in the gymnasium/auditorium attached to the Catholic church.
That was the only time I ever saw Robert perform “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” live, and the girls I was with absolutely loved it. By then, Robert had started calling me Danny. After the show he said, “Danny, is there anywhere we can go hang out?” I said sure. Along with several dozen other fans, I took him to the Courtyard Inn, a small local bar and restaurant. People kept ordering pitchers of beer, and the place was roaring. I could see Robert starting to look worried as the rounds kept coming. He finally pulled me aside and said, “Danny, are they going to make me pay for all this?” I quickly made an announcement and started collecting money to cover the tab. I’ll never forget the look on his face—just a few months later, Cyndi Lauper released “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Not long after that, the song was placed in a commercial and a movie, and Robert suddenly became a millionaire.
Robert was my real-life introduction to the music business and how the industry actually worked. He inspired me to investigate it seriously, which turned into a lifelong pursuit. Over the next decade, I would interview hundreds of musicians about the business side of music, form my own record company, and become the first to put a record label on the World Wide Web in 1992. Since then, I’ve devoted my life to helping other artists understand how the industry really operates.
After RCA dropped him and his own career stalled, Robert went into semi-seclusion and opened an antique store in Florida. He left us far too early. Robert Hazard died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 59 in August 2008, following surgery for the illness.
Robert Hazard at JFK Stadium, 1982
Robert Hazard played JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on August 21, 1982, alongside Genesis, as part of a massive outdoor festival that also featured Elvis Costello, Blondie, and A Flock of Seagulls. Hazard opened the all-day event. What many people don’t realize is that JFK was one of the largest stadiums in the world at the time—and if you were there, you definitely felt it. You were one of more than 100,000 people, especially if you were a woman trying to use the bathroom.
During this concert there was a long delay before A Flock of Seagulls took the stage. When they finally appeared, they played only three songs. Later I asked Robert what had happened. It turned out that the band’s lead singer had experimented with heroin for the first time the night before and was so sick he could barely perform. In order to satisfy their contract, they came out and played the minimum number of songs required. It was another eye-opening lesson for me about how the music business really works.
Setlist
Escalator of Life
Change Reaction
Hang Around With You
Out of the Blue
Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan cover)
Say Yo
Robert Hazard at Ripley’s, 1984
This was a typical setlist at Ripley’s on South Street from April 24, 1984:
Hang Around With You
You’ll Be My Girl
Red Rocket
Land of Ice
Fire on Fire
She Can’t Say No
Miami Beach
Corner Girl
Escalator of Life
Out of the Blue
Change Reaction
Encore:
Undercover Lover
Blowin’ in the Wind (Bob Dylan cover)