October 1, 2025 – Rob Tonkin has had a long and successful career in the music industry. Whether it’s in radio, music tours or his own companies, Tonkin has used a mix of hard work, dedication and interpersonal skills to not only survive the music business – but thrive.
Rob has released his memoir entitled, ‘Asshole’, that not only discusses his professional journey but his personal one as well. In a super transparent and uninhibited way.
It’s such an interesting read that I found myself unable to put it down. Save for a few moments that actually hit me in an emotional way that I was not expecting. Even in those moments where I decided to maybe get a cup of tea or take a quick stretch I found myself thinking about what I just read.
There are many triumphs in the book such as producing the highly successful Honda Civic Tour that featured many elite performers in the music industry such as the Black Eyed Peas, Blink 182 and One Direction. However, along with the triumphs came the life changing and sometimes devastating events that Tonkin does not sugarcoat. At all.
I recommend giving this one a read, although, I don’t think you’ll need to set aside much time. It’s a book that captured my attention and didn’t let go until I turned the last page.
Rob and I were able to sit down for a few hours and just chat. We talked about the book and many of his experiences that he has faced during his incredibly interesting life. We wound up chatting long after the interview was over. I truly walked away with a sense that he is a genuinely good person and in my opinion is one of the few people in this (music) business that has not only learned from his experiences but also applied positive lessons into his everyday life.
You can hear our conversation wherever you like to listen to podcasts. Here’s a couple to get you started:
–Tommy Marz
IG: https://www.instagram.com/tommymarzband
Tommy is editor of SoundVapors, podcast host, a 5X Billboard Charting Artist and part of a super collaboration of artists from bands including Skid Row, Smashing Pumpkins, Lady A, Wang Chung, Third Eye Blind and Sturgill Simpson called This Wild Darkness.