“Only a handful of shots made it here. The full chaos and secrets wait inside Backstage Pass.”

Spanning nearly two decades, Backstage Pass is my raw, hilarious, and emotionally charged memoir chronicling the real behind-the-scenes chaos of life in the Hollywood music scene. From 1993 to 2011, I worked my way through every corner of the iconic Roxy Theatre and other legendary Sunset Strip venues—stage manager, production manager, general manager—while moonlighting as a signed rock musician, promoter, and performer…

— JD DeCosta

Bringing in the new year!
Group of people at a concert or party, some smiling and raising their hands, with a woman in a red dress in the center holding a stuffed animal.
Crowd of people at a nightclub or concert with DJ and green laser lights projected on the ceiling with DJ Steve Aoki and Tiësto, David Guetta, Calvin Harris, Avicii, Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, Swedish House Mafia
A female singer lying on the stage floor, holding a microphone, surrounded by a crowd at a concert. The audience is taking photos and watching.
A crowded Snoop Dogg concert or nightclub scene with people dancing and enjoying music. The image is taken from the DJ booth, showing DJ equipment and some balloons hanging from the ceiling. Mike Tyson and Dr. Dre also performed.
A live music concert with a band performing on stage and a large crowd of people watching in a dimly lit indoor venue featuring Slash from Guns and Roses and also featured Axl Rose and Billy Idol
Guitarist Slash with Camp Freddy wearing sunglasses, a black sleeveless shirt, and a black top hat, performing on stage with a guitar in front of a crowd.
A live musical performance with Camp Freddy and Dave Navarro of Janes Addiction with Matt Sorum from Guns N Roses band members on stage, facing a crowded audience in a dimly lit venue with colorful stage lights.
A blonde porn star adult actress woman in a white tank top and gold earrings stands in a crowded party or nightclub, with people in the background holding drinks and talking.
Steel Panther performing on stage with Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine guitarist at a crowded concert venue, with audience members taking photos and enjoying the show.
Brandon Boyd from Incubus singing into a microphone on stage with colorful stage lights and neon signs in the background, surrounded by a few people.
Chino Moreno from the Deftones with dark hair and a beard, smiling with his eyes closed, wearing a black shirt, standing in a dark room with some equipment and cables visible behind him.
A group of well-known adult entertainment performers walking down the backstage stairs at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. A rare glimpse into the crossover between the music world and L.A.’s adult-film scene that shaped the city’s after-hours culture.
Three men are shown in a close-up shot, with two of them engaging in an arm-wrestling match. The man on the left has a beard and mustache, with curly hair, wearing a black t-shirt. The man in the middle has dark hair, a goatee, and is dressed in a bl
Members of Poison, including guitarist C.C. DeVille, and Mötley Crüe captured backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, walking up the narrow stairwell before another wild Sunset Strip night. A rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of glam metal royalty
Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — drink in hand, tongue out, and full of the playful energy that made him a ’90s pop-rock icon. A snapshot of the carefree chaos behind the Sunset Strip’s most legendary stage.
Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, John 5 of Rob Zombie and Mötley Crüe, actress and rocker Juliette Lewis, and Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses backstage on the stairs at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. A rare gathering of rock legends and misfits.
Jack Johnson and special guests the Dirty Heads performing live at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — an intimate, sold-out show with the crowd cheering and singing along. A rare early glimpse of the laid-back surf rocker before he became a sensation.
Jack Black backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, signing his own show poster after a wild night of comedy and rock mayhem. A rare behind-the-scenes look at the actor, musician, and Tenacious D frontman in his natural element.
Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver on stage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, joined by the Camp Freddy dance girls. A high-octane night of rock legends, glam, and pure Sunset Strip spectacle.
A member of the Backstreet Boys backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — a rare crossover moment where A man with tattoos, wearing a black beanie, a sleeveless vest, and a graphic t-shirt, standing in a room with posters and artwork on the walls.
Steve-O from Jackass on stage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, joined by fellow cast members Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, and Jason “Wee Man” Acuña. A wild night of stunts, comedy, and chaos that blurred the line between rock show
Demi Lovato performing live at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — a powerhouse voice commanding the Sunset Strip stage. A night of raw pop-rock energy that bridged her Disney-era roots with the intensity of a true live artist.
Weird Al Yankovic backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, holding his accordion on the stairwell. A rare, candid glimpse of the parody legend offstage — humor, humility, and rock history all in one shot.
Apocalyptica performing live at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — the Finnish cello-metal legends blending classical precision with heavy metal power. A haunting, electrifying night that shook the Sunset Strip with symphonic intensity.
A packed night at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood as indie rock guitarists dive into the crowd — instruments in hand, fans erupting. A pure, electric moment capturing the wild spirit and DIY chaos that defined the rise of 2000s indie music.
Mickey Avalon and Jeffree Star backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — two underground icons colliding at the height of L.A.’s glam-rap and shock-pop scene. A snapshot of the wild, unapologetic energy that defined mid-2000s Sunset Strip culture.
Travis Barker and DJ AM backstage at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood — two icons blending punk rock and turntablism. Captured during the era when Blink-182’s explosive drummer and one of the world’s top DJs redefined live mashups and music culture.
Young man walking down a narrow stairwell decorated with vintage posters and advertisements related to music and pop culture.
Corey Taylor of Slipknot performing live — intense, unmasked energy from one of metal’s most dynamic frontmen. Known for his powerful vocals and raw emotion, Taylor helped define a generation through Slipknot, Stone Sour, and his solo work.
Chris Cornell performing an acoustic set at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood. Best known as the powerhouse frontman of Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog, Cornell delivers a raw, emotional performance that captures the soul of 90s grunge
Travis Barker and DJ AM with tattoos on his neck and arm, wearing a blue cap and a white sleeveless shirt, in a dimly lit indoor setting with posters on the wall.
Four colorful signs with band names: Korn, The Donnas, Ozzy, and Pepper, displayed on a counter at the Sunset Strip Music Festival.
Wall decorated with framed black-and-white photos of people, including a group smiling and a pool scene, along with smaller color photos and posters.
A music office packed with posters and memorabilia from the golden era of nu-metal — Linkin Park, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Papa Roach, and Slipknot. Every wall echoes the raw energy, angst, and heavy riffs that defined early 2000s rock culture.
A creative office filled with rock-and-roll nostalgia — walls covered in collages and posters of legendary 90s and 2000s grunge and alt-rock bands. Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, and more surround the workspace
Collage of photos and tickets on a guitar-shaped surface, including band flyers, concert tickets, photos of people and a Dalmatian dog, with handwritten notes featuring Sublime, Stone Tempe Pilots, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Prince, Sting, Led Zeppelin
Ticket stub from Linkin Park and Jay Z featuring Chester Bennington for The Roxy Theatre with handwritten red and black text on it.
The Suicide Girls in lingerie standing in a nightclub, with one holding a water bottle and another touching her hair, while other people are seen in the background.
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