Welcome to the fifth installment of our “Big John” Murray interview. What a journey it has been. In this installment we go back to where it all began, rock ‘n roll. We also look at John’s celebration of an accomplishment that he achieved over 30 years ago!! Through it all, we learn that whether it is on a tour bus, in a wrestling ring, on a football field, or in the lives of his friends and fans…”Big John” Murray is the undisputed champ!
TMR: Iād like to shift gears now and go back to the music. I know for a while there when I would go to shows I would see you there hanging out, supporting your friends in the bands. But all of those times you were very much in the background. But then about 2 years ago, Poison came to Riverbend here in Cincinnati. It was Poison and Cheap Trick, and a couple of other bands I think. But you got on stage not only with Poison, but also with Cheap Trick. That was a magical moment for those of us who know you, to see you back on the stage.
JM: Yes it was.
TMR: I donāt know if that was the first time in a long while, but can you tell us what that meant to you to be back up there on stage?
JM: I go out on stage with Poison every night during āSomething to Believe In,ā and āNothing But a Good Timeā without fail. Bret usually introduces me. For years, Bret has dedicated āSomething to Believe Inā not only to military and first responders but also to his cousin Bob who is a Marine from Vietnam. He got the purple heart, twice. He also dedicates it to me. He says, Big John who was in Somalia and Desert Storm. For 20 years now heās done that, and even today it chokes me up. To be in front of that many people and to hear them cheerā¦and a lot of them are military veterans in that crowd. Many people are veteranās spouses. To get recognition from them, and just to be a part of thatā¦Itās so weird, I donāt look at Poisonās fans as fans anymore. I look at them as family. The reason I say that is because even though Iām not a part of the band, I have been with them long enough that people associate me with the band. When you look out and see your friends and the people that youāve gotten to know over the last 20 years cheeringā¦and they are waving to you, it feels really, really good.
Heās done that for 20 years. But Cheap Trick, on the other handā¦Because we had toured with them, I had gotten to become really good friends with Robin Zander, Tom (Petersson), Bunnyā¦who is no longer with them, and Rick (Nielsen.) It was the weirdest thing becauseā¦they were playing, and I always try to be on the side of the stage when they are playing because growing up they were one of my favorite bands. To this day they still are. I got into them because of āDream Policeā and āSurrender,ā and this movie, Over the Edge back in the ā80s. I was like, this is a cool band, who is this? Next thing you know, itās Cheap Trick. Then this many years later, Rick looks at me and he throws guitar picks at me. He tries to hit me (laughs.) Ironically, that nightā¦it was not planned. There was no foreshadowing, he looks at me and goes, get out here. They were getting ready to start the song āSurrender.ā I was like, what? He goes, sing! I said, hell no Iām not singing. He goes, just singā¦youāre here now, just do it. Iāll be damned, I remembered every word. I started singing and I was even singing Robinās parts. Robin turns around and looks like, who the hell? He looks up and Iām singing. He gets this big smile on his face and goes oh, you can sing (laughs.) Iām out on stage with this Hall of Fame band in Cincinnati where everybody I grew up with can see me, and Iām singing with Cheap Trick. It was the coolest damn feeling I ever had in my life.

TMR: I had just gotten done shooting the first 3 songs from Cheap Trick, so we had to walk our stuff back. When I got to the seats my wife, Candy, told me about it. She said, Big John was smiling from ear to ear. My question is, did something get sparked that night?
JM: Yeahā¦you know, hereās the weird thing. Even though I was married at the timeā¦Iāll backtrack a little bit. I got married to my ex-wife in Hawaii back in 2014 or 2013. I told her in the beginning, there was a reason I moved to Salt Lake City. It was because I wanted to disappear. After Rock of Love, drinking problems and everything else, I decided thatā¦I donāt want this life anymore. I want to disappear, and I want to be me. I had gotten into such a deep and dark place that I had to reconnect with myselfā¦if that makes any sense.
So, we moved to Hawaii. God, I love Hawaii. But because of the heart problems, we moved back here. Before I got divorced, things really started to go bad. There was infidelity, on her part. I could see that we just werenāt happy anymore. When that happenedā¦.deep down inside, touring, the road, wrestling, entertainmentā¦the entertainment business was in my blood. To suppress it for that long when I was with herā¦I was just miserable. I was running away from myself is what I was doing. I couldnāt find the answers anywhere because I was still missing something deep down inside. What I was missing was the responsibility. The job that I do in music. The interaction with people and the fans. The comradery. Something was missing, and all of those things put together was that thing. When I saw those guys from Poison, and I saw those guys from Cheap Trick, something sparked inside of me. I was like, this is what you are missing. This is what has been missing for the last 7-9 years. I am so blessed and lucky to be in a position to be able to, after walking awayā¦Not walking away altogether. I still did solo tours with Bret every once in a while and would show up at their shows. But it was never the same. After that happened, the spark reignited. I started showing interest again. I started calling Bret and hanging out with Rikki. The greatest thing about the guys from Poison is, you can be gone for 10 years then see them in 1 day and the minute you reconnect it is like you were never gone. Thatās why I love them so much. Like I said, itās one big family. When I saw those guys, it was almost like a reunion, if you will. It was like, thank Godā¦this is what has been missing. By getting back into it, and by being happyā¦by doing the things I do. The Monsters of Rock Cruise, and being able to be a part of the music business againā¦I think it helped heal me too as far as the heart. The stress of everyday life and everything was gone, finally. Especially after the divorce. I was finally able to do what I wanted to do. For what I had been searching for the past 10 years.
TMR: That is awesome brother! Now you are getting ready toā¦.we are going to put any speculation aside for this. You are getting ready to go out on a major rock nā roll tour with The Stadium Tour. How did you get yourself back in fighting shape? Like you said, you did some one-off shows, but this is a major tour. How do you get ready for that?
JM: It never goes away. Tony, itās the most amazing thing. I went out on a tour with Bret in November called āThe Hometown Heroes Tour.ā It was us, Night Ranger, Lita Ford with special guest, Joe Diffie and Joe Nichols. We went to Military bases around the mid-west and west coast. Iām telling you, the minute that I stepped on that tour bus to the minute I stepped off on that last date, everything fell into place. There was no prepping, no planningā¦it is whatās in your blood. Everything that Poison, Ratt, Larry Morandā¦like I said, he is the director of the Monsters of Rock Cruise. He was my first tour manager that gave me a shot with Ratt. Everything that they taught and instilled in meā¦it can be tucked away in the back of the book, but the minute I stepped on that bus again that book was wide open again. Everything is right there again. People say itās like riding a bike. Itās not even like that. Itās just thereā¦if that makes any sense at all. Especially with Poison. With Bret, there is such a chemistry there. Weāve known each other for so long. C.C., Bobby and Rikkiā¦I know them. At one point, it was me taking care of all four of them. So, I know what they want and what they need. Iād like to think that I can think ahead of them so I can head the problem off before it even happens. If I canāt, then I go to the people who can.

TMR: I know guys trust you after all this time. I remember when Faster Pussycat played here a while back. Taime Downeā¦you were the guy he wanted to walk him to the stage and then back to the bus when the show was over.
JM: I love Taime. Itās funny because a lot of these guys remember me from the Sunset Strip days, which I never thought would happen because I was stationed out in Camp Pendleton and then hanging out in Hollywood when I was off.
TMR: I know I was listening to Riki Rachtmanās podcast about The Cat House and he was talking about you. I remember texting you and you were up on a roof. You were like, how in the hell did you know about that???
JM: (laughs) Thatās right, it was you who told me about it. I went back and listened to it. It was David Ellefson from Megadeth. I was like, how in the hell do they remember that?
TMR: Thatās pretty good because this business has a tendency to forget pretty quickly.
JM: Yes, it does. Waaay before I got into the business, and worked with the crews and bands, I heard a quote from Ozzy Osbourne. Years and years ago. He said something to the effect that no matter what business you are in, donāt piss people off on the way up because you are going to see them on the way back down. I will be damned if during that 8-9 year hiatus I didnāt run into more people that I met in the beginning said they would say, I wish you were still here. I was like whoa, did I make that much of an impression? Even higher up guys like Howard Kaufman and John Kalodner. The first time I met John Kalodner was in Dallas, TX. I was with Ratt at this huge venue down there. This guy comes around the corner looking like Jesus in a John Lennon suit. He said, I would like to see Warren Demartini. I said yeah so would a lot of other peopleā¦you can see him at the meet & greet. Then Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie and all the guys from Pantera are there with me and theyāre like, holy sh!t! Do you know who you just blew off? I had no idea. They told me it was John Kalodner and I was like, oh man!!! Later on that evening, John comes up and in his little raspy voice says, I just want to introduce myself. I said, Mr. Kalodner, I am sorry. He said, donāt you ever apologize. At least I know youāre doing your job.
TMR: Iām a huge Aerosmith mark, so I love that story. That is great. You could take me down a rabbit hole talking about being at a Ratt show with Dimebag and Vinnie, but weāll save that for another conversation.
JM: Yeah, I miss those guys so much.
TMR: I guess it would be fitting to end where we began with the first interview, and that is here in Cincinnati. I saw a little bit about this, but Iād like for you to go into more detail if you would. Itās a story about the guys from your high school football team presenting you with your championship ring. Can you tell us that story?

JM: Absolutely! Itā¦itās one of the hardest times in my life and I still get choked up over it. In 1986 I was a part of the Purcell Marian championship football team. We went 14-0 and were the #2 high school team in the nation. After the regular season, and into the playoffs we found out that my grade point average was not good enough to play. I never got to finish out the season, even though I stayed with the team. I was a starting offensive tackle. It killed me because I was up at Ohio State watching these guys play. The clock is ticking down 3ā¦2ā¦1 Purcell Marion wins the state championship. There was all this celebration and everything, but it felt like I didnāt belong. There were a few of the team membersā¦you watch the guys you bleed and sweat with celebrate and you canāt be a part of it. The coach at the time decided that even though I helped get them into the playoffs and into the state championship game, I didnāt deserve a ring. He made it very clear. Very clearā¦youāre not getting a ring. You let me down, blah, blah, blah. I donāt think anyone on the team was aware of what he did. I donāt think some of the administration knew what he did either. They all just assumed that I got it because I still did all the pep rallies and stuff.
So, 30 years later I keep getting all of these letters from Purcell Marion high school and their alumni association asking me to donate. For 30 years I kept writing back letters saying they werenāt getting a dime until I get whatās rightfully mine. I want my ring. Well, someone got wind of it. It went to the school and they found out it was never given to me. Tony Adkins, who was our team captain and Steve Misleh presented it to me. But it wasnāt just those two who got the ring for me, it was done collectively through a lot of the team members who never knew that this happened. I donāt know what those rings cost, but several guys from that team chipped in. There were people who went out of their way, 30 years later, to make sure that I got this. They presented me with this ring and I completely lost it. I choked up and started crying. For a very long time in my life, from 1987 to the day they gave me that ringā¦I hoped and prayed that the day would come when I would get it. Putting that thing on for the first time after 33 yearsā¦.it was pretty damn cool. I am living proof. If any athlete thinks they are going to coast through because they can play footballā¦Iāll warn you. I was recruited by some of the highest colleges in the nation, but if you donāt have the grades, youāre done. Study, thatās all I can say. Because if you donāt, youāre going to regret it. I regretted it for 30 plus years, but finally, my dream came true.

TMR: I love it, man. It seems like things are starting to fall back into place for you. I am happy for you brother.
Catch up on the 5 Most Wanted Big John interviews!!!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

Great interview John. Just saw the last part a short time ago. So glad you followed your dream. I was always rooting for you ? Hon whether you knew it or or not. Love you ?, as always. Aunt Ruth ?ā¤ļø