Cyrus Bolooki on Tour Pranks with Blink 182, New Found Glory, & Success Mindset

In this episode of Loyal to the Craft, host Mike Ciprari sits down with legendary drummer Cyrus Bolooki of New Found Glory. They dive deep into Cyrus' musical journey, from learning piano as a kid and starting his first band in high school to New Found Glory's massive mainstream success.

Cyrus shares amazing stories of the band's early days - playing tiny local shows in Florida, self-releasing their first album, and slowly building a following through relentless touring and grassroots promotion. He stresses the importance of having goals, working hard, and surrounding yourself with supportive, creative people.

They also discuss the realities of being a professional touring musician - crazy onstage mishaps, tour pranks from bands like Blink-182 and Green Day, and learning to keep your cool under pressure. Cyrus offers valuable wisdom on maintaining your passion and drive over decades of playing music.

Whether you're an aspiring young musician or a longtime fan of pop punk, this fun, inspirational chat is full of priceless advice and anecdotes. Mike and Cyrus's contagious enthusiasm is a testament to staying loyal to your craft through all the highs and lows.

🎵 In This Video: 🎵
0:00 - 0:34 - Intro
0:34 - 2:40 - Loyal to the Craft mission
2:40 - 5:20 - Cyrus' musical beginnings & early piano lessons
5:20 - 8:20 - Starting his first band in high school
8:20 - 12:40 - Joining New Found Glory & their relentless hustle
12:40 - 18:20 - Playing shows & grassroots promotion
18:20 - 23:00 - Touring up the East Coast to build their audience
23:00 - 27:40 - Early networking stories & getting big tour opportunities
27:40 - 31:20 - Putting out their debut album early to capitalize on a big tour
31:20 - 37:00 - Adapting their sound and the realities of the music industry
37:00 - 42:20 - Cyrus wearing many hats in the band
42:20 - 49:00 - How Cyrus and Mike first connected
49:00 - 55:00 - Preparing mentally & physically for touring
55:00 - 1:03:00 - Dealing with onstage mishaps and frustrations
1:03:00 - 1:09:20 - Getting pranked by other bands on tour
1:09:20 - 1:11:52 - Learning from mistakes and staying cool under pressure


📲 Stay Connected:
New Found Glory on YouTube: ‪@newfoundglory‬
New Found Glory on X: https://x.com/newfoundglory
New Found Glory on Instagram:   / newfoundglory  

Cyrus Bolooki's on YouTube: ‪@CyrusBolooki‬
Cyrus Bolooki's on X: https://x.com/cyrusbolooki
Cyrus Bolooki's on Instagram:   / cyrusbolooki  

💬 Let's Discuss:
What was your favorite part of the interview? Do you have any questions for Cyrus Bolooki for our next session? Let us know in the comments!

Credits:
Interviewer: Mike Ciprari - SJC Drums
Video Production: ‪@triworkstudios‬
Special Thanks to New Found Glory and Cyrus Bolooki.