Hustler, the adult pornography magazine and the pinnacle of Larry Flynt's empire have decided to put the rock into porn introducing the Hustler Rocks section. Flynt turned to music publicist diva Nancy B. Sayle, a twenty-year veteran currently representing Zakk Wylde, Great White, Prong, Warrant and many more. Sayle started V.Q. Promotions by recognizing the need for affordable and effective public relations. Hustler Rocks is a new section devoted to rock 'n rollers and their long time tie in to pornography.

She shares her secret to success as a woman in the music business in general. Sayle, whose background includes several rock tours, pyrotechnics, Miss Budweiser, and a stint on the NASCAR circuit, joined me recently over the phone to discuss her new position as music editor for Hustler Rocks. Also, provided in this article is commentary by Bruce David, editorial director of Hustler Magazine.

Rockzone: How did you break into the magazine and music biz?

Nancy B. Sayle: I graduated early out of high school. I was in college doing lights for a lot of local acts. I thought, "Oh, this is kinda fun." I finished college, but I never used my bachelor degree and I have a Masters degree and I still don't use the degrees as such. I liked to work with bands and tour, so I did.

Bruce David: I went to a school called Patterson's State teachers college. I have a degree in Art education. I worked in the welfare department in New York City and fell in with the "Underground Press". The next thing I knew I was putting out the first issues of "Interview" magazine for Andy Warhol.

Rockzone: So what did you do to get your career off the ground? How do you keep yourself sane in this crazy business?

Sayle: I own a couple of companies including VQ Promotions and I write. You just have to want something. You have to really want it. Just go do it. You have one life, how are you going to live it? Do you want to be a grocery clerk all your life? Everybody I believe has a place in this world to be, for other people to make their place. Unfortunately, some people should be somewhere else and they choose not to go there and miss out. In high school I thought "I'm not taking typing courses." I'm not becoming a secretary, because if I know how to type then that's what I'm going to end up doing. There's no way. I really believe it's all what you want. It's your state of mind. I got the opportunity to work on the NASCAR tracks and work the NASCAR circuit. People said, "You are crazy". And I thought why? So what? I have this opportunity. I'm going to do it.

David: I sold stories to Penthouse. Way back when in the early days I did a column for "Screw". Then I started a TV show on cable called "Midnight Blue" and Larry Flynt was a guest on the show. I had written an article for "Screw" reviewing the first edition of "Hustler". I said, "Hustler had just as must interesting material in it as 'Refrigerator Monthly' and was the most boring publication in America." Larry agreed and he offered me a job.

Rockzone: How did you transition from roadie to the full time publicist? Did you ever travel on the tour bus with any of the bands? How did you like being a publicist?

Sayle: I went from working on the road as a tech to working in the production office. At twenty-seven I said, "Oh God, I've got to get the hell out of this it's killing me." I've been working none stop. Back in the day a tour meant a yearlong, not a month or two. Sometimes I was only hired for parts of a tour, that's how I got to go out on so many. So, I was on the road. It didn't even matter where I lived. I didn't have to live anywhere. I've done one hundred two tours. Then I worked for my brother's corporation for four years as the vice president of marketing. I said, "Oh my God, I can't do this. If I can't wear pajamas I can't do this." In '98 I produced a charity biker event. I'm a biker and I have a Harley. After that bike event in '98 I went to NASCAR the same year. From NASCAR I came home and I didn't work for a year. Then I decided to go back to work and I got asked to write for OUI magazine. Doing their music section was the point of my coming back in to the biz. Then I got rear-ended by a truck. That really screwed up my back. The following year I got hit again. I got rear-ended by a blonde in a Ford SUV. She blew out all the discs in my neck. My whole neck has been rebuilt with titanium and cadaver bones, screws and plates. My neck is bionic. My right hand has been rebuilt. When I got called into Hustler I was in a neck brace.

Rockzone: How did you get magazines to take you seriously as far as being a woman in the industry? Like Hustler?

Sayle: They approached me. OUI magazine is the first adult magazine that sought me out. The owner Susan Traub asked me to work for them. She asked me to do a music page and I said "Let's make it rock & porn." Come on. It's a no brainier here. I choose to work with iconic rockstars with names people can relate to.

I would like to think that I had the skills they were looking for, so I don't think being a woman was an issue. I think that being able to push a project in the right direction for success is the key.

David: Nancy is really good at generating publicity. We have Cindy Rakowitz from RakNRoll who does PR for the magazine. Occasionally, I get sucked into doing a function, but for me I'm just an old fat guy that likes to go home and sit on the couch. I go home and sit on the couch with my kids.

Rockzone: How do you like working with Nancy B. Sayle? What decision did you have to make to realize that she was the right fit for Hustler?

David: Nancy is the best. She is terrific. It was instantaneous. In a way it was miraculous because I had met with my editors and we had made this decision. I met with the advertising department literally said what we need ideally is somebody that can do both. Who can handle the rock 'n roll editorial and who can attract advertisers. Nancy popped up like a miracle.

Rockzone: Nancy would you consider yourself a groupie?

Sayle: Hell no. That word is just wrong for me. Not to say I am not a fan of who I work with, but I don't try to sleep with them. Thank god for the groupies though, because without them they wouldn't bring the guys to the concert. Basically, the guys are the one's that are the buyers. Girls buy. Girls are buying more than they ever used to. But let's put it this way; you got Poison, and nobody should take this wrong, but they admit themselves on VH-1 "We are not out to be the greatest musicians, but we want to be rock stars" and they did just that - became rockstars. Hot looking guys that play great and are half naked and sweaty - chicks are going to dig them. I am going guarantee you that a Slayer fan will show to a Poison concert because they know they can get laid.

Rockzone: Are you friends with the people you interview? How do you maintain your professional business approach?

Sayle: Yeah, it's tough. I'm friends with many of the people I represent. I'm really unethical but it's a blast. I also go into the Hustler building in my pajamas bottoms. I am not sure if they notice.

Rockzone: Do you realize that you break the hearts of groupies? They feel their hearts are broken because you are revealing the rock stars TRUE sexual experiences that they don't really want to read the reality. They like the illusion of Bret Michaels or any other star. They imagine having sex with him themselves.

Sayle: They are the ones that help make it happen. Bret Michaels has got stories that you would not believe. I can't print them all. People have to realize that he's got a woman at home that has his baby. As much as he will share he's got to have some form of respect. That goes for Nikki and Donna D'errico and Sebastian Bach, who is coming out in next months issue. Sebastian and his wife had already read the article and it was so raunchy that Bruce David called me up and said, "I need the permission from Sebastian's wife to run the piece." But it's true stuff it's their story they told it and it's wacky.

Rockzone: How is it to work for Larry Flynt?

Sayle: It's interesting. I've only met Larry once. But with the time I've spent with him I think he is amazing. He is the most energetic man in a wheelchair I've ever met. He's smart. People should not be fooled. He's amazing. I can't explain it. You have to experience Larry Flynt. You have to feel his presence. I love listening to him.

I think what he does is great. There is a supply and demand of everything. The women that choose to be in the magazine, choose to be in the magazine. Nobody forces them to pose nude. I think, as a strong woman, I may not choose to be naked in these pages, but that's my choice and it's okay. But if I choose to, it's because I'm seeking out that type of exposure. I was Miss Budweiser. That's exploitive as anything can be. I'm in a tiny little dress with my boobs popping out. The dress was tight across the ass. I used to wear the bikini top and chaps as well, because I did all the Harley events. You know why I did it, because I wanted too, because it made me feel good. I felt like a hot babe. And if I wanted to feel good and I'm seeking that out than that's on me.

This one woman started sending me articles on how women are exploited and how it screws their heads up. I don't believe that it is the exploitation as much as maybe their upbringing, or some tragic episode they lived through. Not saying I am an expert on the human psyche, but I think that other factors are involved and you cannot just say it is one thing. I have friends that are strippers and they are the most gorgeous women. They choose to be in a field that's pretty competitive. Your body is critiqued against another girl's body. That's not like sports where you're running whose faster. You have to think about if you're prettier than that girl over there. Am I ugly? That's like a hard-core competition. If you think about it you are putting up beauty against beauty. If these women are not strong enough to say "Fuck it. It was a blonde day. I'm a brunet. Or fuck it it's a red head day and I'm a blonde." So what? Who cares? Either you know yourself or you don't. I know myself and my mother who is 78 years old knows that if I work for Larry Flynt. She said "Nancy, if you choose to do it, than I know its okay."

David: I've known Larry for twenty-five years. I was with him in the very early days before he was shot. Then I left to write for television. I came back a few years ago. Larry is just terrific. He and I go back so far that some times I feel that I can read his mind. He's my hero. When I get into a tough situation I swear I ask myself "How would Larry handle this?"

Rockzone: What is your next goal or move?

Sayle: I want to take HUSTLER to a more mainstream level. It will take some time for the mainstream folks to recognize our new image, but I feel we have planted a seed that is currently catching on. It is just a matter of time for the foundation to set. We are in the realms of Maxim meets Metal Edge with vaginas. We are definitely a more aggressive magazine and the new look is amazing. We have a great team at Hustler, with very inventive ideas on how we will face the world.

Some women are going to bash me. If you don't like what is on the television channel change then change the fucking channel. I work for a man that got shot for protecting our freedom of choice. You have to respect that. Larry is a defining symbol to us all.

Rockzone: How does Hustler Rocks fit into the theme of the publication?

David: Sex and rock 'n roll. It's a no brainier.

V.Q. Promotions
Hustler Magazine

Susan Salva is a Staff Writer. Contact her at susan@rockzone.com.