Why Now?

Starting a online and print magazine was something that I have been contemplating after so many nights at Detroit Metro rock clubs where I have met owners of venues, local bands who bust their behinds to entertain us while looking for a break or at least a few bucks to take home (they deserve more if they ROCK) and the fans. Over the years I have been able to say I have become friends with many interesting and amazing people in the rock scene.

I lived a life fueled with adrenaline. I was a wild kid who barely passed high school. I was busy partying. When I say those years were a party, I can’t overstate it. To this day, I still get stopped by people (I remember some LOL) who comment on my parties on West Parkway in Detroit. This was my outlet back then.

As I grew older, I found adrenaline in a healthier way by working as a Fire Fighter in the City of Novi. I say healthy with a sigh as an injury cut my career short. Following my injury, I was off of work for over a year trying to rehab. During that time, I started to go to shows alot more. I would visit iconic Detroit locations like The Token Lounge, Bullfrogs, US 12, Harpos and more. During this time I started meeting the bands and striking up conversations. I was really impressed with their musicality and drive (at least the really good bands). I was just soaking it in.

Move forward many years, after my kids were grown. I again found that I needed to relieve tension through adrenaline fueled rock and roll. This time I started going to even more shows and spent as much time as I could meeting some of the National Acts that came through town. At this point it was all about those pesky Likes on social media with photos of some of my high school heroes along with adding to my impressive autograph collection. BUT - I discovered the best part of the experience was meeting the Local Acts and National Acts alike. I found that speaking with other musicians was very easy. I have never said the typical “I love your music” that I hear backstage or while signing merch. I always seemed to just chill out and talk to them like any other human being. I enjoyed the jokes and banter. Heck - Some of the “Bad Boy” rock and roll artists that I “partied” to in 1989 turned out to be the coolest people I have ever met.

Ozzy Osbourne - Pine Knob

So WHY NOW? The answer is so simple. I have been blessed to live a life that is at sometimes unbelievable. I have partied with Rock Stars and traveled the world. I have been very lucky and blessed. So at one point I got ill and money became a problem. It was gone. I went through a divorce. Covid nearly destroyed my consulting business. During this time I vowed to rebuild and find a way to turn something I love into a business. I started thinking about the shows I was going to and how they are put together. Also during this time I helped a friend at another magazine grow his brand. I would do interviews with bands and it was an amazing experience. Everything just clicked. Then one day I received a hefty payment from a client and was no longer struggling and it hit me. I knew I could and should start a few businesses. I have enough friends and contacts in so many areas of ROCK that I decided to launch Metro Spotlight - Detroit Area Music Scene and start Bobby Busch’s Rock Shop as a way to bring talent to Detroit and to help get some bands that ROCK but need some help getting on the right bill.

I decided that Metro Spotlight will focus on local bands and venues while The Rock Shop would book bands and promote the shows. This is a perfect adventure. With money to set aside and form an LLC, I put the wheels in motion.

As a person who has literally died and come back to life, I have learned to never give up and never back down. 2024 is an important year as I am currently speaking with booking agents around the country to host my first national show while also working on the release of Metro Spotlight in print and online formats. It is an adrenaline rush when I put my money where my mouth is. And I am doing it simply because I love music and believe the music scene in the Detroit Metro Area (and throughout Michigan) is becoming a force to reckon with once again. This is my chance to be a part of something big that I believe in and I have plans of doing anything other than bringing some amazing music to our town and helping our local music scene be recognized

Cheers and Rock & Roll

Bobby Busch (AKA Bob Carroll)