Billy Mays III sets the record straight about the catchphrase “but wait there’s more” and his father, the legendary pitchman “Hi, Billy Mays here”. Heck I even used “but wait there’s more” my cold open… Find out what his famous catchphrase really was and why he used it on this episode of Relatively Famous.

Pitchman Billy Mays died way too young and at the height of his career. Billy Mays was king of sales when tv infomercials were how new products broke into the mainstream public. Pitchmen were influencers before it was a thing and Billy Mays was the mid 1990s to 2009 top salesman. He even starred in the Discovery Channel show, Pitchmen.

Billy III grew up mostly with his mom as his parents divorced when he was young. At the time his father was traveling full time doing trade shows on the road trying to build his brand and hone his salesmanship. When Billy Mays landed the gig at Home Shopping Network and started doing tv infomercials it allowed more time to get to know his son.

Billy III shares those times together, and how he began to learn so much from his dad. We talk about when he realized his dad was a pop culture icon, about how his dad was instrumental in helping him pursue music. I ask if perhaps there is a career in the footsteps of his father?

We talk about how music helped him grieve and be at peace with his father’s death and the invasive publicity surrounding his father’s death.

I discovered that it’s one thing to be the brother of an American Pop Icon, but to be the son of a Pop Culture Pitchman is another thing. So, to quote the OG infomercial pitchman and mentor of Billy’s, Ronco legend Ron Popeil, “Wait there’s more”… Oh, and check out the photo on the website of the cool Billy Mays and Infinite Third stickers Billy III sent me.

I promise you’ll be intrigued by my conversation with Billy Mays III son of Billy Mays!

https://campsite.bio/billymays

https://infinitethird.com

Growing up in South Carolina in the 60s & 70s ice hockey was not something on my radar. I can’t even remember if we had an ice rink anywhere along The Grand Strand. I did however, play roller hockey at the Crescent Beach Skating Rink almost every Sunday from 11 to 13 yrs old.

So when Philip said Bryan Bicknell’s wife Amanda wants to do the podcast I had to do some research. Chicago Blackhawk, Carolina Hurricanes & Charlotte Checkers fans forgive me, I mean after all, he is a 2 time Stanley Cup winner.

Now, his wife Amanda is a firecracker and an awesome person to have a conversation with. She has so many stories, from being raised by a single mom and girls bullying her in school, to dating Bryan in school and breaking up because of family drama. I may have to do a part 2 to cover the stories we didn’t talk about.

When she and Bryan split up, she ran off to British Columbia to pursue a wild child life, modeled in NYC at 18 and was accepted into the Stella Adlers acting school. However she had to come back to Canada to get her paperwork in order and never returned to to pursue her dreams.

Upon returning home she soon became Bryan’s wife and started living the life of a professional hockey player’s wife. They were young, he was a pro hockey player, parties were wild and crazy, life was fun. That’s when people they thought were friends took them for a lot of Bryan’s hard earned income.

Those are some of the circumstances the led to Amanda’s depression and feeling her life had no purpose. She couldn’t work in the US, the girls were young and she needed something in her life. So they started their foundation, The Bryan & Amanda Bicknell Foundation which helps rescue abused Pit Bulls. Link is below.

After the 2015 Stanley Cup win, Bryan started to not feel well and was diagnosed with MS. She said after he retired there was some dark times with Bryan’s depression and life with beginning stages of MS. She said life was tough for them during those times, so Amanda started acting again and soon wanted to venture into producing. This is when she started feeling life was good and there is a purpose. That helped lift her out of the darkness and she was able to help Bryan see some light in his life.

They bought some property and are building cottages where they will start hosting retreats for people with MS. This is a big dream and huge undertaking and that is why they are always looking for donors and underwriters.

Oh yeah, she and Bryan are also very active and proud parents of 2 beautiful daughters. And if all that is not enough to keep them busy, Amanda convinced Bryan to become part owners of the Durham Hawks Hockey Team in the NPHL league.

You’ll love Amanda Bicknell, wife of Bryan Bicknell. She is honest, raw, full of life, energy and loves her pit bull rescues.

https://www.instagram.com/abickell/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/bickellfoundation/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/bickellspoint/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/durhamhawks_nphl/?hl=en

#nhl #durhamhawks #blackhawks # icehockey #Stanleycup #pitbulls #MS

I was set to meet Robert for the time after a Stryper show in Charlotte, NC on May 11th, 2022 but Covid was still poking around so Meet & Greets were not happening. Well, come August 2023 I now live in San Antonio and Stryper is playing an outdoor show with Vixen as the opening act. A few texts to Michael and Perry and I’ve scored tickets and passes to hang with the band.

The night before the show I went to the hotel to pick up Perry for a night of cigars and catching up on life and Myrtle Beach memories. Before we left to go indulge, the band was in the lobby heading to dinner and stroll down the River Walk. While Perry confirmed Micheal wasn’t coming I chatted with Robert and Oz real quick. Even had a few moments again the next night at the pre-show Meet and Greet. Hard to have a full interview or really get to know someone at a band M & G.

I tell this tale because when Robert I linked up for the podcast interview it was the most he and I had ever talked. To be upfront I did interview Micheal for his episode before I chatted with Robert thus I refer back to Micheal’s episode for certain questions.

Music has always been a big part of my life and as a teen reading the LP liner notes with band bios, lyrics and song info was a must. That is how we learned about the musicians in our favorite bands. Drummers and bass players were members I liked to learn about, even though I can’t play either instrument.

Robert is an amazing drummer. I would say in the Rock & Roll world Robert is way overlooked for his talent and contributions to Rock & Roll. Perhaps because of the fact Stryper is a Christian rock band mainstream music media outlets shy away. Drumming live on stage during a Stryper concert, Robert has so much energy and style it’s difficult to stop watching to see what the rest of the band is doing. I love that he sets his kit up sideways so the audience can see him playing.

As a person who struggles with faith and religion, my conversations with Robert and Micheal were very open and thought provoking. Like Stryper polarizes rock fans I’m sure Micheal and Robert will turn away some of our listeners. Which would be sad. Both Robert and Micheal are awesome guys and have had a wild life as Rock Stars.

From the beginning, to the new Stryper Christmas album, we talk about the bands longevity, their faith, having their equipment stolen, getting to play with KISS and Metallica. Wishing they had played with Van Halen and cars, muscle cars and dream cars.

I hope you enjoy our time with Robert. For me, it was sweet (pun intended).

https://stryper.com
https://www.youtube.com/@StryperChannel
https://www.facebook.com/Stryper/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/161966015164533/
https://www.facebook.com/TheRobertSweet
https://www.patreon.com/Stryper

#robertsweet #stryper #christianmusic #christianrock #electricjesus #heavenandhelltour #jesus #christianmetal #hairband #80srock #glamrock #drummer #rockdrummer #musclecars #michaelsweet