A brutally honest, no-holds-barred memoir—available now.
backstage pass:
decades of sex, drugs, tragedy and the darker side of rock & roll
disclaimer:
This memoir is a work of nonfiction. It reflects the author’s personal experiences from 1996 to 2011 at the Roxy Theatre, Whisky a Go Go, and other venues, along with earlier insights from 1989 onward in the music industry through his roles as a production, stage, hospitality, and general manager, and as a signed major-label artist and musician.
The events and conversations described are based on the author’s recollections to the best of his memory. Some details—including dates, timelines, and dialogue—have been reconstructed, condensed, or paraphrased for clarity and narrative flow. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, others may remember the same events differently.
The raw truth behind 90’s and 2000’s live music—chaos, fame, and everything in between.
You think you know the live music industry? You’ve seen nothing.
From Amy Winehouse’s haunting U.S. debut to Adele’s soundcheck tantrum, from Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington’s eerily foreshadowed ends to a smoky standoff between Mike Tyson and Snoop Dogg’s bodyguards—and from Prince’s strange uniqueness to Ozzy’s twisted sense of humor to Steve-O’s unhinged stunts—JD DeCosta was the guy running the show. Literally.
A stage manager turned general manager turned signed rock musician, DeCosta spent over two decades in the music business, living in the chaos between spotlight and shadow—where addiction, ego, violence, and fame crashed together nightly. Backstage Pass is his all-access memoir: scene-driven, unfiltered, and brutal in its honesty.
This isn’t another glam-rock fantasy. It’s the dark side of the stage: celebrity meltdowns, industry predators, and even neo-Nazis infiltrating punk and metal crowds. Raw. Messy. Real.
Whether you lived it or just wish you had, Backstage Pass hands you the lanyard—and doesn’t flinch when the house lights come up.
check it out…
Contact Us
For media requests, podcast interviews, or booking information, contact us here.
JD is currently scheduling press and podcast appearances tied to the launch of Backstage Pass.