Have you ever met a Rock Star? (and under what circumstance?)

[rippingrudy]

I pissed next to Pat Badger of Extreme at Rock n' Roll Heaven in Toronto on their Pornografitti tour... before they made it really big.

I've met Sebastian Bach a number of times - He told me once that I should join Skid Row cause I can scream really high.

I sang in Springsteen's mic and hugged him in Pittsburgh on his Workin' On A Dream tour. That was the greatest man I will ever touch. haha

Met a load of famous Canadian acts as well as a bunch of metal/hard rock guys through the years. I gotta say I've only ever met one guy who kind of a douche bag and I'm not sure if that is cause I was drunk... hahaha

[picnic]

My sister is at the White House this week for the Red White and Blues concert. Jagger, Beck, BBKing and a bunch of others hanging out with her, a former french horn player. 8^)

The son of my band's keyboard player is also attending with a bunch of HS musicians from NJ.

I get to live vicariously through them. I couldn't get passed WH security.

[JDW3]

Just finished this thread, great posts from everyone! All I have to offer is I used to go camping at Ludington, MI every summer with my Dad. One year Dave Gilbert of the Rockets was shacking up with the daughter of a regular at our yearly camping/party fest. He was cool, he wore an eye patch on one eye because he was in a celeb softball game with Detroit's 101 the Riff (WRIF Baby!) and the pitcher nailed him while wearing sunglasses. He jammed an acoustic and sang at the camp fire every night with some dude that came with him. Plenty of beers and weed to go around, great times were had during our visits to Ludington state park! :drink :bong

Love it up there.

There's so many stories of Dave in just that type of situation. Singing around a campfire, maybe in someones back yard.

We talked on the phone for a bit; I was supposed to audition for his last band he formed. He was in rough shape and I turned it down. Wish I hadn't.

[Fred McMurray]

I ran into Steve Winwood at a restaurant not too long ago. I was waiting for someone while I was leaving, and he was on his way in waiting for a table, and we exchanged pleasantries and was about 10 seconds into it before it hit me who I was talking to. Let's just say that bricks were shat.

[MrTAteMyBalls]

I might have shared these before, I cant remember.

1995 or so I met Dusty and Billy from ZZ Top backstage at a show they played in Shreveport, LA at the Hirsch coloseum. My best friends dad knows a band wife somehow and she got us all backstage passes. Honestly, I was about 15 and really only knew them from "sharped dressed man" and "shes got legs." I really enjoyed the show as a budding young guitar player. Us younguns all went home saying we couldn't believe how hard they rocked....lol. They were very gracious and nice to us. Shaking hands, chatting, joking. My dad mentioned that me and my 2 friends were starting a band, and they offered encouragement, then told drummer jokes for a minute before moving on. I'd love to meet them again, now that I know what they are about. Great experience.


I also met Brian from Weezer outside of a show RIGHT before the green album came out and they became famous again. There were about 15 or 20 folks waiting and he made a point to shake hands and exchange pleasantries with everyone. I did get to tell him how much I loved the band and that the show was great. He thanked me, and signed my tour poster which I still have. Rivers came out but went to the bus. He stood at the front window waving to us as they drove off....lol.


hmmmm.....I sold guitars for a while at a shop and one of those "classic rock all stars" tours came through. One day 2 old guys came in that were obviously not locals and wanted to check out the inventory. The were nice, but mostly ignored me. I have no idea who they were, but the shorter one grabbed a guitar off the shelf and started WAILING on some really tasty licks. I know they had to be part of the tour because no one in that podunk town can play like that....I'd have known them if they were locals.



i'm trying to think here......hmmmm.


OH!!! I LOOVE this band called Stavesacre. I saw them at a festival in 1997 or 1998 and I bought their current CD at their booth from the guitar player. Looking back, he ended up being a pretty big influence on the way I write riffs and I wish I had a do over on this meeting. That album "absolutes" is also one of my desert island records. Still have it.

[DB Cooper]

I waited on Eric Carr from KISS (replaced Peter Criss) while waiting tables at Denny's back in the 80s. It was after their show in my town.

Does he count as a Rock Star?

[gtrdave]

Yes.
I played a few rehearsals and shows w/ Vivian Campbell back in '91, pre-Def Lep.
I've recorded a song w/ Ronnie Montrose.
Met Tom Petty @ Sound City while recording w/ another band.
Met Corey Glover (Living Colour) after a concert in Hollyweird.
Hung out w/ Vinnie Moore on a few different occasions. He's a high school friend and neighbor.
Met and played w/ the guys in Lynyrd Skynyrd a couple times.
Met Dave Mustaine, Dave Ellefson and Chris Poland while working on the DVD-A release of "Peace Sells..." and have worked with Mustaine a few times since.
Met Paul Gilbert several times. Worked on his Aligator Farm DVD-A.
Met and worked with Graham Nash multiple times. Worked on a couple of his surround discs.
Met Steve Lukather a few times and worked on his surround CD "Candyman".
Worked w/ Dweezil Zappa on some of his dad's recordings that were released on DVD-A.
There's probably a few more that I'm forgetting...
Oh yeah, and met Steven Wilson and Richard Barbieri of Porcupine Tree while promoting the "In Absentia" DVD-A a few years back. I'm a HUGE PT fan and even dig a lot of the side-work that Steve's done. He's surprisingly 'normal' and quite funny.

[Omega]

I waited on Eric Carr from KISS (replaced Peter Criss) while waiting tables at Denny's back in the 80s. It was after their show in my town.

Does he count as a Rock Star?

He does for me. I met him 2 times. Both times he was just a great person to hang out with. Made you feel like he was one of your friends, with not a shred of rock star attitude. I've read many instances of people meeting him and never, not once, does anybody have anything negative to say about him at all. That is really the way you want to be remembered. Oh and he also was an outstanding drummer and musician overall. RIP Eric, you went way too soon.

[ErikR]

Brad Delp - Met and chatted a couple times when he played with his Beatles cover band. Just the nicest, most down-to-earth guy around. Made everyone feel like it was his pleasure to be chatting. RIP Brad...

Steve Vai - At a "guitar karaoke" event. Has ridiculously long fingers. Oh, he plays pretty well too!

John Petrucci - At another "guitar karaoke" event. Seemed like a great guy.

Gary Cherone and Pat Badger - Hanging out after a Tribe of Judah show. Both were very accommodating regarding pics and autographs.

Armando Peraza (one of Santana's long time percussionists) - Before a Santana show in Germany. I think he was just happy to chat with someone who spoke English. Maybe not so much a "rock star", but well-respected in his field.

Steven Wilson, Gavin Harrison, Colin Edwin, Richard Barbieri, John Wesley (Porcupine Tree) - Way too many times to count. Always a pleasure and appreciative of their fans. Nice to see their popularity increasing with each release and tour.

Marillion - so cool to finally meet them all a few years back!

[fretless]

My band played with a whole crapload of rock and metal bands. Most memorable would be Gwar. Those guys are some serious partiers. Biggest would be Slipknot, fear factory, kid rock, coal chamber, powerman 5000, sevendust, avenged7fold, crowbar, propain, machinehead, devil driver. All I can remember off the top of my head.

It's funny how the metalheads are usually the nicest and down to earth while pop bands who sing about happy stuff are always the douchebags.

My band back in the day opened fot gwar a few times. Summer of 87 i think. Really cool guys!

[clay49]

Met Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter (aka: KISS) - 1976, backstage at an outdoor concert at historic Rickwood field in Birmingham, AL. My childhood best friend's father was a Sergeant in the Birmingham Police department at the time and pulled concert duty that night...we (my friend and I) were the lucky benefactors of his misfortune! We were kids...I was 8th grade, he was 7th, so these guys were larger than life (literally in their 8-inch heels and full-out makeup and costumes). What was funny was that they were actually the "warm-up" act for the two headliners - Bob Seger and Kansas. The only problem was that the two mainline acts soon realized that there was no way they could come on after the show KISS presented, and have any prayer of keeping the attention and interest of the audience, so KISS ended up performing last. I understand that happened a lot as they began to emerge in the mid-late 70's!

[Jon_L]

Met Todd Rundgren recently backstage after a really bizarre gig at the Iridium in NYC where Les Paul used to play every Tuesday. Todd played with the Les Paul Trio. Also met Lou Pallo, from the Les Paul Trio that night. Everyone was hammered, Gibson Guitars sponsored an open bar for an hour or so after the show as it was sort of a party for the release of the "Lou Pallo Signature" Les Paul guitar. Pic attached. Todd was more interested in my date, for obvious reasons.

Met Mickey Hart backstage at a Dead concert at Red Rocks in '77.

There used to be a club on Long Island called "My Father's Place," that got lots of top acts. The girl who managed it was a friend who also cut my hair (back when I had hair... this must've been around '81.) I was sitting in the office getting my hair cut, flipping through the roledex (saw John Lennon's home phone number...) when Jorma walked in and had a conversation with Barbara, the manager, while she was cutting my hair. I was a huge Jorma fan, and felt just a bit tongue tied.
Spoke briefly with Dicky Betts prior to his gig at the Bottom Line, c. 1980.

http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt219/JonL58/ToddLanieJon.jpg

[MartinC]

While I was back packing in Australia in 1988 I visited a small, touristy but fairly quiet town in South Australia called Victor Harbour. I went into a tiny shop (room for about 4 customers at a time) to buy a snack. While I was in there, in walked Mick Jagger and a little girl (who I assume was his daughter). Didn't say anything to him ... but I was quite taken aback by how tiny he is ... he's like a living caricature of himself ... only in miniature ... full size head with a disproportionatley small body.


No disrespect intended to the great man!

[Jet Age Eric]

Met Ray Davies at LAX two weeks ago. I was heading home from our West Coast tour so I handed him a couple of CDs; I kept it brief, and he was super cool. -E

[FenderBigot]

Met several through the years... Coolest "rockstar" guy I have ever met was Darius Rucker before he became a country star. Very down to earth and extremely humble. Funny guy too... He made fun of Michael Strahan in front of me. It was on the sideline of a Monday Night game.

[DavidS]

During the 70s, the management company for my band also promoted concerts. So if my band wasn't playing and there was a concert scheduled, I worked for the mgmt co and was responsible for driving and taking care of the bands at the concert. I basically hung with the band from the time they arrived until they left town wherever the show was. So I drove and met most of the big bands touring in the early - mid 70s: Allman Bros, Marshall Tucker, Rod Stewart and Faces, Doobie Bros, Chicago, David Bowie, Eagles, Joe Walsh, Aerosmith, REO, Peter Frampton, on and on.....

[jazzgtrl4]

7/9/2000
Temecula, CA
Pechanga Entertainment Center


Hung out with Warren Haynes and Allen Woody on their bus after they opened for Steve Miller..very cool guys. We sat and listened to a tape of mule jamming with John Scofield.
About a month later Woody passed away:cry:

[Marc Roy]

7/9/2000
Temecula, CA
Pechanga Entertainment Center


Hung out with Warren Haynes and Allen Woody on their bus after they opened for Steve Miller..very cool guys. We sat and listened to a tape of mule jamming with John Scofield.
About a month later Woody passed away:cry:

Very cool. I would've loved to have heard that tape.

[Floyd Eye]

Ace Frehley. Twice.
The guys from The Little River Band came in to a well known luthier's that I use, to get their guitars which were being set up for a show that night and I happened to be there. Got to play a few of their guitars.

Ted Nugent.

All of them were very cool.

[firefitz65]

Met Eric Johnson after a gig a couple years ago at the Ark in Ann Arbor Mi. He signed a poster for me. Cool and mellow dude.

[Tuck]

I met Dan Hartman when delivering a bunch of AC units to his house. He was a nice guy and a good tipper.
We used to work on Michael Bolton's Porsche, yeah, I know. The first time we worked on his car was kinda cool though. It was the first time he had heard his first hit on the radio. He went running into the shop with his funky cowboy boots on. He almost went for a shitter when those boots hit the concrete floor. I wish I had a snapshot of the look on his face as he almost went arse over teakettle. :omg
He started off pretty cool but eventually turned pretty douchey.

[Forgotten]

Coolest "rockstar" guy I have ever met was Darius Rucker before he became a country star.

I met Darius (sort of) once back in the 90's. The band (hootie) was at Dorney Park, an amusement park here in eastern PA, and they were filming a video. There was talk all night about them being there but I didn't see them at all. I really didn't care about that band, but I was there with friends and waiting in an endless line to get on a roller coaster called "Hercules" (now gone). I'm next up for the front seat in the train, and some security guards come walking up the exit side with Darius Rucker, and another band member (I'm guessing), and sit him in my seat. I was pissed because I waited a good hour, and I started asking him things like, what makes you so special that you could cut in line. He was very apologetic, and continued to apologize as the train was pulling away.

I completly forgot about this until I saw your post. I wonder if he remembers some cocky teenager heckling him at the amusement park.:p

[pickaguitar]

He was very apologetic, and continued to apologize as the train was pulling away.
I doubt he was sorry if he went ahead with it

[Forgotten]

I doubt he was sorry if he went ahead with it

That's true. But I sure as hell didn't back down, and if I remember correctly the crowd was behind me. I had a pretty good laugh when he was doing burger king commercials years later.

[ronmail65]

I met Pat Travers and Joe Lynn Turner after one of Pat's gigs around 2000. I'm a big fan of Pat's.

I felt bad for Pat because the place was damn near empty. Pat signed an autograph, didn't hardly say a word or make any eye contact. He hung out at the bar for a while. I didn't know what to say to the guy -- I didn't want to make gear chit chat, etc... How do you strike up a conversation with somebody like that?

Joe Lynn Turner was very outgoing and upbeat -- bopping around making conversation and shaking hands. Just hanging out having a good time. He came up and sang a few songs with Pat -- they did Stone Cold (Rainbow), Smoke on the Water, and a couple of others.

[danonbass]

I met Todd Sucherman, the current drummer for STYX, just last week!

The music store I manage just hosted his drum clinic last Wednesday. The store owner, the regional Pearl Drum Rep, and myself all went out for drinks with him afterwards. It was pretty surreal. The cool thing: he's a really down to earth dude. He was just a normal dude full of awesome stories who just happened to play for an Arena rock band. :dude

[chequepoint]

I met Todd Sucherman, the current drummer for STYX, just last week!

The music store I manage just hosted his drum clinic last Wednesday. The store owner, the regional Pearl Drum Rep, and myself all went out for drinks with him afterwards. It was pretty surreal. The cool thing: he's a really down to earth dude. He was just a normal dude full of awesome stories who just happened to play for an Arena rock band. :dude

Todd is a class act! As is Tommy Shaw. Two of the best dudes in the business.

[ronmail65]

SRV... almost

In 1986 SRV played at my college. At the time, I hardly knew who he was and had very little interest in any music that wasn't hard rock. The concert hall (basketball gymnasium) was part of the same building with indoor racquet ball and squash courts. After a game of racquet ball in the late afternoon I heard some random guitar riffs coming from the hall, so I wandered in. There was SRV on stage by himself amongst a bunch of Strats just sound checking them through the PA. I forgot about the concert that night. No drums or anything else on stage at that point. Just a few dudes setting up chairs, a couple sound techs, and SRV. It was very low key. No talking going on. No other musicians or roadies in sight. They didn't even acknowledge my presence. I listened for about 10 minutes and then split.

Since then I have become a great fan of his music. I wish I could have had the foresight to at least shake his hand or say hello on that day.

[SG_Growler]

Met Hank III at the sidebar after a gig. Super cool guy. Signed my brother's CD and shook our hands talked for a few minutes and then we moved on so he could guzzle Jack Daniels (I assume).

Met both Jimbo and the Reverend Horton Heat at shows. Both guys were very cool.

I didn't know who he was at the time, and had never heard his music. In retrospect I kick myself. I'm standing on a street corner with my buddy Rob waiting to meet up with our friend Sylvia. The whole time these roadies are unloading amps out of a tour bus in front of us. It's no big deal, because the nearby bar always had someone playing live music.
Anyway this guy that barely breaks 5 feet comes walking up to see how the unload is going. My buddy Rob just freaks out and starts pointing at the guy and in one word says the sentence "OH My God! You're Ronnie James Dio! I love you guys I grew up on you guys!" Starts singing "Like a Rainbow in the NIiiii-yiiiiggght!" And then pushing his pecs together says "Sign my T*ts!".
Ronnie's reply? "Aw, cool. Come back later and We'll smoke you up."

[fulltone1989]

BB King, Buddy Guy, and Derek Trucks when they played on Cape Cod a few summers ago. Although not a rock star, Rob Compa from Dopapod (check 'em out!) was super friendly and cool to talk to.

[wharris]

Met and talked to Brad Delp after a RTZ show 20 years ago.
Hung out with Johnny and June Carter Cash for about 20 minutes at the Cincinnati airport years ago. My mom was with me, she thought that Mrs. Cash was Loretta Lynn. They laughed it off.

[DrumBob]

Too may to list.

Here's one: I literally bumped into Frank Sinatra one day in '67 while coming out of Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, NYC. We collided right on the sidewalk. He said "Excuse me," and I said, "Frank Zappa! I love the Freakout album. Can I have your autograph?" He said sure, and signed the bag I was carrying.

Here's another: My friend and I went io a club in Manhattan called Trax to see Mink DeVille. We walk in and I immediately notice a guy in front of us having an animated conversation with friends. It was Mick Jagger. He liked the band, and we could see him dancing by himself throughout the show. After the first set, we went backstage, and there must have been seven or eight joints being passed around. Jagger and his entourage come in. I'm standing there holding a joint, when I feel this body on top of mine in the back. I turn around, and it's Jagger, I said, "Hey Mick. Do you want a hit?" he says, "Yeah! yeah!", so I handed it over and he said thanks. Then, Steve Stills and his entourage walked in. I offered him a hit on another joint and he refuses it. I was shocked and stoned out of my gourd.

When you meet rock stars in NYC, you have to be cool. The last thing you want to do is slobber like a rabid fan type.

[Flogger59]

Too may to list.

Here's one: I literally bumped into Frank Sinatra one day in '67 while coming out of Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, NYC. We collided right on the sidewalk. He said "Excuse me," and I said, "Frank Zappa! I love the Freakout album. Can I have your autograph?" He said sure, and signed the bag I was carrying.



I'm so confused.

[pickaguitar]

Here's one: I literally bumped into Frank Sinatra one day in '67 while coming out of Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, NYC. We collided right on the sidewalk. He said "Excuse me," and I said, "Frank Zappa! I love the Freakout album. Can I have your autograph?" He said sure, and signed the bag I was carrying.
Sinatra or Zappa?

[67blackcherry]

Sinatra or Zappa?

If he would've bumped into ol' blue eyes....Frankie would've kicked his ass.

[AJ Love]

I met a Rock Star at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting before. He was very kind hearted and was on a major tour. Due to the nature of AA, I can't disclose who it was...

[JTM100]

Met Gene, Paul, Ace and Peter (aka: KISS) - 1976, backstage at an outdoor concert at historic Rickwood field in Birmingham, AL. My childhood best friend's father was a Sergeant in the Birmingham Police department at the time and pulled concert duty that night...we (my friend and I) were the lucky benefactors of his misfortune! We were kids...I was 8th grade, he was 7th, so these guys were larger than life (literally in their 8-inch heels and full-out makeup and costumes). What was funny was that they were actually the "warm-up" act for the two headliners - Bob Seger and Kansas. The only problem was that the two mainline acts soon realized that there was no way they could come on after the show KISS presented, and have any prayer of keeping the attention and interest of the audience, so KISS ended up performing last. I understand that happened a lot as they began to emerge in the mid-late 70's!

Was this at Boutwell?

[Siri]

A friend and I caught two of the three shows by Further in Eugene, Oregon August 2011. Small venue, and two different but great shows. Very tight band. Great music in a very loyal Deadhead town. Anyway, we went into Eugene for breakfast and sat outside. Up the side walk comes Phil Lesh and his wife. We had a nice chat about the two shows, the improv sections, how did it sound to him, etc. Very cool and gracious guy. We didn't mob him either, he did get to eat!

[Milo H]

I may be only 17, but I've met Chick Corea with my father and that's about it as far as people go.

[Jack_TheGuitarMan]

Met Jack White at a Raconteurs show at the Tabernacle in Atl....he signed my big muff
I also met Artimis, the old drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd becuase my grandpa was the person called to get his wife a flight when Skynyrds plane crashed.

[chucke99]

Now I have. Two weeks ago in Seattle, my favorite guitarist of all time, Uli Jon Roth:

http://www.chucke.com/pics/ulrich-2-15-2012.jpg

[Bodhisattva]

Billy Cox, Mitch Mitchell and George Lynch outside a hendrix tribute thing at the Exit/In in Nashville. Just hung out smoking cigarettes and BS'ing for a bit.

Just kept looking at Mitch thinking.. man you played Woodstock with Jimi Hendrix... was so cool. I know Billy did too, but I got to meet Billy a few times around town so it was a unique experience to see Mitch.

[Hetfieldinn]

Met Jack White at a Raconteurs show at the Tabernacle in Atl....he signed my big muff


:rimshot

[mcknigs]

I met a Rock Star at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting before. He was very kind hearted and was on a major tour. Due to the nature of AA, I can't disclose who it was...

I have a friend who attended AA meetings in LA. He told me he met many people I would know and be impressed by, but that he couldn't tell me who. He said that there are so many famous/powerful people at AA meetings in LA that there's a running joke about non-alcoholic people attending meetings just to network.

[bilbal]

Tried to meet Jack Bruce after a show he played here in CT with Todd Rundgren.

I watched the show about 10 feet from him. After the show Todd Rundgren was hanging out, talking and signing autographs. I spoke to him for a bit and asked if JB was going to be coming out as well. One of the roadie guys said "Hes on his way out actually"

I was so excited to meet him. So after about 30 mins or so, here he comes. He walked right up to me. I extended my hand as he approached and said "Mr. Bruce, it's an honor to meet you. In the rudest manner Ive ever heard, he said "I'm not Mr. Bruce and Im sick of you people pestering me."

I know who and what Jack Bruce looks like. For G** sake, I just watched the dude play a show and have been a fan for as long as I can recall. There were others with him of course so I very respectfully asked a younger guy in the group what was up. He didn't reply but looked at me and rolled his eyes and put his hands up as if to say he didn't know why he denied it. About 20 seconds later, JB looked at me and winked with a sh** eating grin on his face while he and others laughed to each other.

He and I had a few more words for each other which I don't care to get into but suffice it to say it wasn't cordial and I left thinking he was the rudest jacka** I've ever been in the company of.

[John Vasco]

Pete Best of the Beatles. Does he count?

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/9351/petebestme.jpg (http://img843.imageshack.us/i/petebestme.jpg/)


And although not rock, I see mention of this guy's genre in the thread, so I'll mention him also. Hubert Sumlin. Truly a legend in his own lifetime.

http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/2384/sumlin31.jpg (http://img708.imageshack.us/i/sumlin31.jpg/)

[glennscottharris]

GG Shinn (Chase)



Play his club all the time. 2-Faced douchebag.

I do stage hand work for big shows and do some film work so I see famous people all the time. We don't talk to them. I'd say about half, at least, are dicks and don't deserve my time. Some are really cool.

The ones I've actually had convos with aren't that famous:

Opened for The Toadies. Talked to the guitar player. He was polite.

Opened for Nashville *****. Hung out and partied with the whole band and the guys from Honky (Pinkus from Butthole Surfers). Awesome, totally cool people. Especially the bass player chick. I admire the shit out of these people but they're not that famous. I consider them rockstars because they fit the part.

I think most famous people suck ass just like regular people. :)

[glennscottharris]

Oh yea.. I gave this stripper a ride to a GWAR video shoot last year. Got to hang around for that. Talked to a couple of those dudes. They were in full make-up, which made it kid of weird to be chatting and drinking a beer with a guy with a giant steel trap face.

[glennscottharris]

They were real nice and didn't seem to take anything seriously besides their outfits. (:

[Dr Git]

Only met the bands i opened for in the early 80's...F Marino, Joe Perry project, Raven, Billy idol, Twisted Sister, Krokus, Thor, etc

[dogbone94]

Only met the bands i opened for in the early 80's...F Marino, Joe Perry project, Raven, Billy idol, Twisted Sister, Krokus, Thor, etc
you rock...

[Dr Git]

I was just in the right place at the right time Dave. My band was playing all original material in clubs thru out the tri state NY area and lucked out when a guy took a liking to our band. Thats all it was. The next 2 years i was an opening act. Sadly i'm the last guy thats a groupie, so out of all the bands i opened for, i probably only talked to 10 rockstars. I didn't knock on their doors and say i'm the opening act...lol


you rock...

[bearbike137]

Here's one: I literally bumped into Frank Sinatra one day in '67 while coming out of Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, NYC. We collided right on the sidewalk. He said "Excuse me," and I said, "Frank Zappa! I love the Freakout album. Can I have your autograph?" He said sure, and signed the bag I was carrying.


If this truly is a story about Frank Sinatra, it is just about the funniest thing I have ever heard...

[donb720]

Opened for few big San Francisco bands back in the late 60s.

When I lived in LA met all the original Beach Boys (except Brian Wilson) individually at the movies. Go figure. Only talked to Brian once at a crosswalk in West LA. Told the Wilson Brothers that one of the first things I did in LA was to go looking for the house they grew up in and where they had their first rehearsals. They all laughed and told me it had been torn down for a freeway or something.

I worked near a big recording studio in West LA (Village Recorders?) son lots of rockers were around.

Biggest thrills: Ringo Starr and Chuck Berry.

[supergenius365]

Met Soul Asylum getting out of cab in front of theatre where they were opening for Keef.
Met Wilco version 1 as they were waiting for a soundcheck.
Met Buddy Guy lurking in shadows of his own club while GE Smith played on stage.

I keep having a dream where I meet George Harrison when I return his stolen Les Paul that I bought at Guitar Center. Does that count? The dream always seems so real.

[supergenius365]

Too may to list.

Here's one: I literally bumped into Frank Sinatra one day in '67 while coming out of Village Oldies in Greenwich Village, NYC. We collided right on the sidewalk. He said "Excuse me," and I said, "Frank Zappa! I love the Freakout album. Can I have your autograph?" He said sure, and signed the bag I was carrying.



Just had lunch with a friend who had a slightly different experience. She played violin in the orchestra for Sinatra for the last 5 years he played live. One night she was running backstage towards Frank's dressing room right as Frank was coming out. Before she got near him, three large body guards formed a human shield around Frank.

[Dipintoplayer]

Pretty long list most where meet through promoters and then some where meet back in the 80's when i was with (Stray dog lies)...

Alice cooper - I went to high school with two of his nephews..

Stevie Nicks - Promoters Party...

Judas Priest Several Members - I dated there sound mans ex wife ...

Chuck Berry - Any and every blues man that lives in North St Louis that played the Rainbow knows Chuck...

Geezer Butler Black Sabbath bass player- He lives in a suburb of St Louis called Chesterfield and use to frequent a music store called Dale's music he was friends with the owner...

Richard Fortus of Gun's and Roses...He played in a band called Pale Devine/The eyes and our bands often played together...

Ted Nugent....A friend of mine is a close friend of his and i was invited to shot bow and arrows with them at a archery range after on of his local concerts...

Alice in Chains -Meet through promoter..Partied back at the hotel ..Facelift tour

Screaming Trees - Same night as Alice in Chains..

Gruntruk - Same night as Alice in Chains

Danny Liston of Mama's Pride...Have performed with...

Dave Mason...Have performed with..

Mike Messey (Head east)..Have performed with..

Mike Somerville (Headeast)...Have performed with...

Bobby Ingram (Molly Hatchet)..Have performed with..

Dave Hlubek (Molly Hatchet)..Have performed with..

Lane Turner (Missouri)..Have performed with..

Alan Cohen (Missouri)..Have performed with..

Some ive meet through playing the same venue as a opener..
Robin Trower
Buddy Guy
B.B. King
Eric Burden
Gator Country
Mark Farmer...

[Mule]

I met John Entwistle......Under what circumstance.....After a gig and I believe he was drunk.....

[gregm99]

Have met Dave Mason, Rick Derringer, Johnny Winter(my idol), Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Angus Young... I'll rate them based on my experiences:

Dave Mason - Cordial

Rick Derringer - Talked gear and riffs, very cool.

Johnny Winter - Most Drunk (1985)

Derek Trucks - Very Shy

Warren Haynes - Most friendly and down to earth

Angus Young - Polite and drinking tea backstage after show

[Top10GuitarDeals]

Check this out. Unfortunately it wasn't me, but here's a recent story by Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom, one of my favorite bands:

http://blogs.bostonmagazine.com/boston_daily/2012/03/01/chuck-berry-leonard-cohen-honored-at-jfk-library/

Hard to beat the bang for the buck at this event...

[Jack_TheGuitarMan]

:rimshot

I dont get it.

[succor]

Met Jack White at a Raconteurs show at the Tabernacle in Atl....he signed my big muff

:rimshot

I dont get it.


Can't tell if serious...

[Igneous]

Warp tour 94-ish . Helping my buddy load up -he was working security detail. All the buses were lined up out back and we were back there. Sold some herb to Angelo from Fishbone on the bus, he was having a huge fight with his ole lady. Next we go on to Fred Dursts bus-outside- to hang and party, Fred comes out with a 3 dolla bill ya ass disc and gives it to me like I cared. Kinda pompus about it. OK. We hung out a bit though.

[Jack_TheGuitarMan]

Can't tell if serious...

I seriously dont get it...explain

are you being a perv?

[succor]

are you being a perv?

Sure, why not.

[Jack_TheGuitarMan]

Sure, why not.
My mommy says not to talk to pervs

[RockHardGuitars]

I met Elvis at a 711 once!

[johnnytuinals]

Hummm it would be alot more easy to name people I have not met?
I have been backstage from Aerosmith (about 8 time)------- ZZ Top (once}
I can name the Stones,Santana whitesnake and I can goooo on and on.
Tickets and backstage are easy to get if yeaaaa know the right folks...JT

[Custom Deluxe]

The guys from Styx. At the time, my uncle was playing guitar for them on a few of their world tours back in the '90's.
The guitar playing DeYoung (I forget his first name) was cool.
Lenny Kaye-He was a New Brunswick bar scene (Melody, Bowl-a-drome, Roxy, etc.) regular

Meatloaf at party same uncle had.
A bunch of NJ-based/New Brunswick area "rock stars"

[BaldPaul]

I used to run a Tattoo studio on Beale street in Memphis, Lots of music folks come down.
I Tattooed Mike McCready from Pearl Jam the day after they played the pyramid in Memphis.

I was a fan then but did not know he had cut and dyed his hair all Emenim like. When he walked in I said "Whats up slim shady?" he laughed and asked how I was doing, I said (recognizing an out-of-towner) "what brings ya to Memphis?" he said "The show last night at the pyramid." I said "Was it good?" He said "I sure hope so!" At which point I recognized him and turned a bit red in the face!
Super nice fella, we talked tone the whole time. He tipped $250 on a $180 dollar job. I used it to pay off a Mesa 4x12 I had on layaway at a local music store.

I've met Henry Rollins, big fan but underwhelmed by the guy I met.
Talked with Rufus Thomas for several minutes one afternoon. Not rock but a star for sure. If you ever watch Wattstax check out his crowd control skills.

Met my hero Billy Gibbons in the Peabody hotel lobby. Big fanboy moment there.

Lots of lesser celebs, Met the guys in Godsmack, that singer was tiny and arrogant. The roadies at the Daisy would respond to his gripes the same way everytime, "I'm doing the best I can man."

Passed Slash in the hallway of the Peabody way back on the Appetite tour, smelled like three day old death on sunday Christmas morning. Still a fan though.
Can't smell a recording!

[Papa Van Smack]

I currently work with Eric Wood, guitarist for Five Point O


y5xoYrgX9rE

[Papa Van Smack]

Oh....I forgot, I once meg Ted Nugent at a BP in Schaumburg, IL.....I was gassing up on my lunch break. He denied his identity.....and I understand why......but it was definately him, and his car would agree. Though.......I am disappointed he I couldn't talk for a minute......I'd like that chance back....

[Papa Van Smack]

Awesome - thanks! Swindon is a lovely spot. Please give my thanks to Dave for all the great lessons I learned from the XTC Black Sea book. One of the few books where the musicians wrote out the real notes/chords they played on the album.

Oh, add to my list: Ozzy Osborne, in the late '80's. A very nice, gracious old Englishman. What amazed me was that offstage he was walking with a cane and looked to be about 60 years old. Later that evening, on stage, he was agile and looked 30. The power of adrenalin?


or cocaine......

[thedroid]

Sorry if I've posted in this thread before. I really can't remember.

I've talked to Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE) at shows several times. Shot pool with him and George Hurley once. Nicest "rock stars" ever.

I bought a painting from Dexter Romweber (Flat Duo Jets). He had them hanging at a local restaurant. My wife went to high school with him.

I got to meet Modern English "backstage" when they played at Duke University in the mid eighties at the peak of their one-hit wonderdom. Very pleasant and British. The lead singer wanted to trade T-shirts with me; I had one of those old REM shirts with the bicycle logo on it. I said no.

Played a gig once with Peter Holsapple (the dB's). He had some funny stories about touring with REM and Hootie.

Talked to Ice-T as he was wandering around the crowd at the first Lollapalooza. For some reason I had a business card from an editor at GQ in my wallet, and my friend and I tried to convince him we were with GQ so we could get backstage. Somehow he saw through the ruse.

Was in the bathroom at Greensboro Coliseum in the 80s at a metal show. A friend and I were wondering aloud whether opening band Rose Tattoo were any good, and this short, bald, Australian guy at the urinal says, "They kick ass." Of course he was the singer of Rose Tattoo.

[fulltone1989]

I shook B.B King and Derek Trucks' hand at the Melody Tent on Cape Cod a few summers ago and talked to Buddy Guy's guitar player for awhile at the same venue

[huntdmh]

Met many along the way, (all of Aerosmith, the Cars, Boston, Extreme, EVH, and his band including Dave a bit radical but funny, Joan Jett (used my amp a Hiwatt 50 talked to her while she jammed thru it at soundcheck, The Tubes, Elvira!, Amy Mann, Peter Wolf, J Geils, Ian Astbury Billy Duffy, Slash, David Johansen, Ramones, Greg Kihn, Bebe Buell, Dale Bozio, Wendy O Williams, Night Ranger, Andre the Giant, very surprised at how normal and cool most of them are especially away from the Stage!

[evhtone]

Hung out with Angelo and Fish of Fishbone before a show once. Fish is one of my drumming heros...was a little stand-offish. Angelo was one of the coolest people you could meet.

Met Brad Gillis and Jeff Watson from Night Ranger. Cool guys.

Met all of Cheap Trick...Tom Petersson RULES.

Stood in a urinal taking a leak next to Warren DeMartini...afterward, while washing our hands I told him I was a big fan. Really cool guy.

I used to date Miranda Lambert........ok, just kidding but a man can dream. LOL

[smcgov]

I recently met Tommy Stinson and DJ Ashba at the Atlantic City HOB's.."Met" Mick Jagger in an alleyway the night before Live Aid (he was traveling between hotels) and U2 in 1985.

[guitarz1972]

Not sure if I've posted in this thread already, if so I apologize. Never met any "Rock Stars" at least not in the positive sense of the words, but I've often wondered what those folks would be like in Real Life. Some entertaining posts here; some Rock Stars must truly be good people, because circumstances under which some of you are describing having "met" them, I wonder if I'd be a very good sport or not were I in their shoes. lol

[Headshok]

I worked with Stephen Hayman of Heavy Pett'n when he was selling cars in Alabama long after the bell had tolled on his music. He was and is an awesome guy, still selling cars in Alabama from what I understand.

Kiss in 1977. They were rumored to be staying at one hotel when in fact they were staying at another one. One of my friends Mom was working at the one they were actually staying at and got us in to see them when they were in the bar just chilling out (Stanley and Simmons were not drinking but the other two were)

Peter Steele and Kenneth Hickey from Type O Negative. Went to see Queensryche and TON were the warm-up. After their set, me and a buddy were in line to get beer and Peter and Kenneth were in line next to us asking us if we liked their music and telling us how great the Queensryche show would be. They were right

Sammy Hagar got on my shoulders one time when I was working security at Van Halens last concert in Birmingham (he did it to get a beer from a girl in the front row). For the rest of the concert, I was about two feet from Eddie and just watched his fingers the entire time.

[evhtone]

Almost forgot...

I met Chris Scruggs this summer during the CMA Music Festival. He was playing with Brazil Billy at Roberts Western World. Wow....what a phenomenal musician he is!!

[vapor]

I have met a few, usually at shows. The two that stick out as being very patient with my gear questions and just being very appreciative of their fans would have to be Dweezil Zappa and Jack Pearson.

peace

[DrumBob]

Being a music journalist, far too many to list, but here's a few:

Mick Jagger-Met Mick at a Mink DeVille show at the club Trax in NYC. We hung out backstage and smoked a J together. Must have been around 1977.

Steve Stills-Was interviewing Poco at a hotel in Long Island when they were the opening act for the Stills-Young Band. Steve was sitting on the floor in front of his hotel room, dressed in his underwear, smoking a cigar, and reading a newspaper, waiting for someone from the staff to let him into his hotel room. He was locked out and in a foul mood. I didn't hang around long.

Frank Zappa-I was leaving the House of Oldies record shop on 4th Street in Greenwich Village in the winter of 1967 and almost knocked Frank on the ground when we bumped into each other. I recognized him immediately, got an autograph, shook his hand and told him how much I liked Freak Out.

[Wild Turkey]

Met Phil Lynott Years ago

On Grafton St Dublin In his black cromby coat
He was making the old town video
Chatted to him for about 5 mins, very relaxed & down to earth
Even tried his luck with my woman at the time

Every time i see that video it brings it all back !

Also Ozzy & Bono ( Built a house across the road from him)

[aliensporebomb]

Forgot: Kelly Ogden of the Dollyrots was like the ultimate rock and roll sweetheart/girl next door/rockstar type - gave both me and my flabbergasted friend hugs for coming out to see them play and signed his discs and shirts and acted like we were the most interesting people in the world when we talked with her. My friend has a huge crush on her so he could barely speak but she was easy to talk to.

Luis Cabezas, the lead guitarist was a lot more subdued and quiet. Ms. Ogden has about ten million watt energy.

James Carman their hired hand temporary drummer was also a bit subdued but nice too.

[RockaBill]

I've met a handful of famous/semi-famous people, but the funniest would have been my encounter with Sara McLachlan. This must have been in the mid-late 90s when the Lilith Fest. was pretty big. I was a snotty little punk rock kid at the time and I had a summer job cleaning hotel rooms. I just happened to work at the hotel adjacent to where the Lilith Fest. was being held. Her room was on my list and this is how our encounter went:

Me: [knock knock] "housekeeping"
Sarah McLachlan: [opened the door] "Hi, I think my room's fine"
Me: "Hey, you look familiar. Do I know you?"
SM: [laughing] "You've probably seen me before"
Me: [pausing to think about it] "Really!? Did you go to school around here?"
SM: "No, I'm Sarah McLachlan"
Me: "Oh yeah, I knew I've seen you before!"

I really didn't know much about her or her music, but we probably talked for 5-10 minutes about the tour and music. I was really impressed by how down to earth she was. I was just a creepy kid with an orange mohawk and she was super friendly and very gracious. I still never followed her music or her career, but I'll always have a little respect for her just because of this.

[vchizzle]

Slash is probably the biggest I've met. Very brief, but he was very nice and laid back. Was a big deal for me as I've been a big fan since '87.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7231/7222462576_21d44d6f85_b.jpg

Sevendust. My favorite metal band. Have met all of them a few times. Down to earth, very real and nice dudes.
Clint
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7996685589_b02827f749_b.jpg
Mark Tremonti
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/7996666120_948048edbb_b.jpg
John McLaughlin - super nice, awesome listening to him speak.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/7996707984_c82e20e32d_b.jpg

I've also met a bunch of other bands that I've opened shows for - Shannon Larkin, Godsmack, Clutch, and a pile of others.

[lespaullover]

I go to college with Steve Cropper's daughter and dated her for a month or so. Does that count lol?

[lofgren]

My wife's sister is a Goo Goo dolls fan. She got tickets to a showcase. Met the band. Actually very nice guys. That's me 2nd from right talking to the bass player.

http://i27.tinypic.com/1zxuyh5.jpg

Robby takac, the bass player? is he still a smelly filty hog? my buddy used to live in an apartement house with rob, my buddy clint lived on the first floor and rob on the 2nd, he was a filthy bastard who never showered and stunk like BO to hi heaven, filth, refused to bathe and change clothes. then he hit it big and moved out of the apartment house. I remember how smelly he was though. Peeee Yeeewww!

[dogbone94]

Sevendust. My favorite metal band. Have met all of them a few times. Down to earth, very real and nice dudes.
Clint
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/7996685589_b02827f749_b.jpg
Mark Tremonti
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8173/7996666120_948048edbb_b.jpg

2 of my faves too....

[Magicpad]

Gin Blossoms

Duncan Sheik

Trace Bundy

Matt Greiner (from August Burns Red)

Adam D. (Killswitch)

Stephen Pearcy (ratt)

probably more I can't think of....

[tsar nicholas]

I spotted George Benson in his white Rolls again yesterday!

[FlyinLow]

My trio opened for Joe Bonamassa in January of '05. It was at Piere's in Ft Wayne. The same stage VH1 recorded his New Day Yesterday. Those Marshall Silver Jubilees are Joe's...
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/223486_1510792830400_7926059_n.jpg

[the fat one]

I once advised Night Ranger to rock on. They did not.

[splatt]

I once advised Night Ranger to rock on. They did not.
ha!

[Burst59]

I worked for Stevie Ray Vaughn back in 82. He was a great to work for he let me play all his guitars and spent a lot of time just hanging out with him and his road crew. I was 19 at the time so that was pretty cool.

Ray Charles met him around the same time in a Jazz club off Columbus & Broadway in SF.

Paul Kantner complete dick but his publicist thought I was humorous and let us come over to the Starship house which used to be the Grateful Dead house and hang out and listen to my demo tape which sucked.

Matt Scholfield not a big star but a nice guy.

Sammy Hagar worked for him when I worked for Bill Graham.

Peter Gabriel worked for him

Tony Levin worked for him when he was on tour with Peter Gabriel

John Mayall I used to work at the Keystone in SF he came to town on the Blues Breakers reunion tour with Mick Taylor. he did 2 shows I worked them both and hung out after with him and Mick eating chicken wings in back kitchen area.

Jerry Garcia worked for him when he was out doing some shows with his own band at the Keystone.

Albert King met him when he was second on the bill to Mayall

John Lee Hooker same show he was the opening act..it was a great night!

Bill Graham met him on the street asked him for a job and I got one.

[guitarjazz]

Jeez...this will be a trip down memory lane: I played at two NAMM shows in the 80's so I met a bunch of folks. Also, attended many NAMM shows starting about '73. I met Eric Johnson, before his first album was out. Met Albert Lee at a friends music shop. Hung out with Joe Pass(ok, he wasn't a rock star but a guitar star certainly) at his house. Talked to Danny Gatton face to face twice in DC. Met Howard Roberts (ok, not a rock star) at the Polytone booth while watching Ray Brown jam with the owner of Polytone. Met Aaron Copeland (yeah, not a rock star) when I was a kid, and got autograph. Hung with Jaco face to face after a Weather Report show. Met Metheny. Sco put his arm around my shoulder when reminiscing about the old days. Nancy Wilson walked so close to me backstage I could have pinched... Got to play with a bunch of rock star folks in the 80's and 90's but got married, settled down and don't get around much anymore!
When I went to the NAMM show a few summers ago in Nashville the only person I saw that I wanted to meet was James Burton, but I left the man alone.

[Burst59]

That's cool you met Danny Gatton I bet he was a nice guy.

[guitarjazz]

That's cool you met Danny Gatton I bet he was a nice guy.

A sweetheart. I heard that the bar where I heard him in DC fired him 'cause he was too popular. The waitresses couldn't get around to serve people because of all the guitar geeks.

[Trobbins3]

Eddie Van Halen, Duff McKagen, Chris Robinson, Huey Lewis, Stephen Stills, Laurence Taylor, Joe Theisman and OJ Simpson, all at Grand Cypress Resort when I worked their in the early 90s.

I either played golf with them, asked them to wear a collared shirt, joined them in their festivities , or all of the above for each.

Loved my time with all of them, except Theisman. He was an a$$puck.

[quinnster]

John McCuen, Jeff Hanna and Jim Ibbotson of NGDB when I was like 12. They were playing at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA and they were surprised that someone so young wanted their autograph.

Carlos Barbosa-Lima at the Childe Harold in Washington, DC. He was recording something in MD and said he liked to come there to drink. Very cool and Friendly. Got an autograph.

Ron Miles (trumpet) at a Bill Frisell Quartet show at the Village Vanguard between sets. I originally wanted to talk to Frisell, but someone else was hogging his attention. Ron was awesome and very friendly. Got Bill's autograph.

Curtis Folkes (trombone), the day after the Frisell show (he was playing with him) at a music store in NYC. Very friendly guy.

Paul Bollenback (jazz guitar) used to study with him off and on. He got me into a couple of private shows because I was such a big fan of his. Also very friendly.

Gary Thomas (sax) and Jeff Ballard (drums) talked to them a bit after a show in Italy. Very cool guys.

Sonny Landreth had a meet and greet after one of his shows at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Very Cool.

Kenny Gradney and Billy Cobham after a Bobby and the Midnites show at the Boathouse in Norfolk, VA. I was 13 years old and brought some records hoping Bob Weir would sign them. Someone took them backstage and got him to sign them, but I never met Bob. Kenny and Billy signed my Bobby and the midnites records in person, though.

I did a master class with David Russell (classical guitarist) when I was in college. Totally bombed my piece, but he was very nice about it.

[guitarrhinoceros]

I've met Pennywise, Lit, Tom Delonge, Mark Hoppus, Mike Herrera, Matt Soren, and Slash. Slash was a wicked asshole through and through. I'm sure he was just having an off day or something, but the guy was a wicked dick. If you had tits, you had his attention. Otherwise ...

[Victory Custom Cabinets]

I got to meet Widespread Panic when I was a kid. My parents were friends with (I believe) their manager, and they all came over to our house one night to hang out. I had no idea who they were--it was still a few years before they became well known, but they were all really nice.

[jo2012]

I've met a few... Joe Bonamassa, Bruce Kulick, JR Richards, Chris Schifflett, Zach Gill, and all the members of Los Lobos.

[FrankHendrix]

Mama told me never to kiss and tell, but the boss has eaten more than one meal in my house. Of all the rockers I've known and know, only one was less than cool and friendly and that one is a pretty well washed up, obesely overweight female country singer I had the displeasure to have lunch with one day in Studio City, CA.

[Ed56m]

yngwie malmsteen lives down the street from me and I see around town and at the grocery store from time to time.

[Rick Lee]

I hung out with Living Colour in their heydey, got them all to sign a setlist after a show and pose for photos. Met the Stones when I worked security on Steel Wheels. Hung out with Nicko McBrain and Dave Murray after a show long ago. Met Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, great photos of that, gave Alex a demo tape of my band. I knew Greg Howe when I was a kid and hope to reconnect with him at NAMM this year. Met countless stars at NAMM - Rikki Rockett, Slash, Warren DeMartini, Billy Sheehan, too many to list. Most recent rock star encounter was meeting Lemmy and Chris Squire at the Rainbow in October.

[Jp2558]

George Benson while working a local jazz festival
Mike Stern while working a local jazz festival
Lou Graham on some street in Manhattan
Larry Carlton after a show at Joes bar in Chicago
Robben Ford after a show in Toledo
GE Smith Fur Peace Ranch
Jorma Kaukonen Fur Peace Ranch
Jack Cassidy Fur Peace Ranch
Buddy Guy at Legends

[db9091]

Does Tony Bennet count?

[htm62]

Worked a large music show as security and got the pleasure of working Jon Bon Jovi's bus. He, and especially his entourage were total douchebags. Have met several country starts while knocking around Nashville, most were very nice. Met one of my favorite guitar slingers at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta a few years back, Mr. John Mayer himself. Gotta say, he was a hell of a nice guy.

[armadillo66]

Clarence Gatemouth Brown
Michael Martin Murphy
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (I interviewed them when I was active on the FDP)
Oteil and Kofi Burbridge(Namm in Nashville)
Bootsy Collins(NAMM in Nashville)
Jr Brown
Kinky Friedman(I took guitar lessons from his guitar player Tom Culpepper in Arkansas)
Nancy Griffith and Guy Clark
Doug Sahm, Augie Meyers, Flaco Jiminez & Louis Ortega from the Texas Tornadoes (I roadied for Louis Ortega's band in Salinas and Doug Sahm was our landlord in Prunedale)
Partied with Hank Williams Jr on his bus twice, serious fun, we had a blast
Delany & Bonnie Bramlett, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle and Don Preston from Mad Dogs and Englishmen playing frisbee in Tulsa's Woodland Park while rehearsals for the Joe Cocker tour was going on. Delany & Bonnie Bramlett were really nice people to talk to

The members of Zappa plays Zappa band, drank beers with them after the first tour show here in KC at Ameristar Casino

[ggwwbb]

Delany & Bonnie Bramlett, Rita Coolidge, Carl Radle and Don Preston from Mad Dogs and Englishmen playing frisbee in Tulsa's Woodland Park while rehearsals for the Joe Cocker tour was going on. Delany & Bonnie Bramlett were really nice people to talk to


Don't you mean Woodward Park? Right down the street from where Leon used to live......

[Onioner]

Blixa Bargeld once thanked me. That's easily my favorite celebrity interaction, and working in the high end food biz I've had more than a few.

(I made old world Italian Salumi at the time, and he was a big fan of it.)

[Seraphine]

Sometimes you know who you are talking to... all other times I chalk it up to ... You never know who you are talking to.

I've loved YES from the beginning and Steve Howe for gtr... by the late 70s I had a very vivid dream in which I found myself at a nice place in the country and met Jon Anderson's wife ( Jenny? ) and his kids. Jon wasn't there, but Jenny and I were talking about him and I asked if he liked to be called Jon or John and she said "He wants to be called Father"... I questioned her about that and she repeated it.. "He wants to be called Father"...

I woke up.... I could FEEL what happened.. The adoration or liking or love of Jon and the music was misplaced.. I was told by Jenny it is for GOD and not Jon....

Yes I've met and know "Rock Stars" ( and 'famous people' and Icons etc ) but we're all just people. It's still brilliant for us all to love one another.

[db9091]

I once rode in a service elevator an got to gaze on Anita Baker's breakfast. She didn't eat her banana and the waiter-dude gave it to me. Anita paid $55 bucks for that breakfast. Back in around 1987, NYC.

To this day I am star-struck.

[big mike]

Go to enough NAMM show's and you'll usually get a chance to meet some folks.

Nice part is, as long as you're pleasant and respectful, most will be with you as well.
People are people...they just have a job some of us covet. :)

[RichM7564]

around 1986 saw Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson get out of an older dark green Jaguar and walk into a liquor store on Sunset Blvd in West Hollywood. No interaction but he was a lot shorter than I expected.

Saw Black Sabbath's Bill Ward at a rehearsal studion in Costa Mesa California around 1986 also. Spoke briefly, Super nice guy talking about his new band, heavy English accent. Was a lot older than all of us musicians crowding him in the hallway.

Also 1986-7 remember using adjacent urinal at The Country Club in Reseda California next to Bobby Dall of Poison. No conversation. He had the big hair thing going right around the time Motley Crue emerged. I didn't know who he was till after I left and my friends told me.

[lofgren]

yngwie malmsteen lives down the street from me and I see around town and at the grocery store from time to time.
from how fat he is I bet he gets a lot at the grocery store huh?

[Chris Martins]

Got to meet Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa back in the "Confessions" album days. Both totally cool folks. Met Blues Saraceno on the same day, same attitude. Nice guy, really into music.
Met Jeff Buckley and helped buy strings in a french shop where no one spoke english just around the time "Grace" was released. Super cool dude, I didn't know who he was at the time. Met Michael Romeo of Symphony X at a metal award show, super nice guy too, we spent quite a bit of time talking gear. :)

[Russian Hammer]

I met Les Claypool after a Frog Brigade show. He passed me a joint but I declined. I did get him to sign a setlist that I grabbed off a monitor. That was pretty cool.

[guitarz1972]

from how fat he is I bet he gets a lot at the grocery store huh?

1. :facepalm

2. :spit

[Igneous]

Saw Lemmy walking the streets of providence before a Lupo's show back in the day(10 yrs)- waved.

Smoked a bowl with Fred Durst and the drummer outside his bus at one of the warp tours-way back in the day. Dude handed me a disc of 3 $ bill. I promptly donated it to a friend.

Same show(we were hanging out with all the buses because a friend of mine was working the event) hung out on Fishbones bus and my friend sold some herb to Angelo. He got into a huge fight with his old lady that night.

had Stanley Jordan sign a disc at the Iridium- that was cool. It was the First night Les paul couldnt play the show because he JUST got sick. Me were soooo close to seeing him

Met David Lee Roth in the lobby of the hotel that I run audio visual productions for. Great guy(hotel frowns on it but i just had to- Ed of course stayed in Boston, not worcester) - Dave had given his leather pants to the front desk to get dry cleaned lol

Supposed to meet the boss when I was like 16. my sister won tix on a radio show and we got to go backstage and drink Heineken and eat but the boss never showed up. Instead they gave us all tonnes of t shirts and programs. lol

[IronChefChris]

I met Chris Thile once after a show, Eric McFadden after a P-Funk show by the stage, Derek Trucks in a record store in Norfolk, Dave Schools after a show in Richmond, Victor Wooten was hanging out on field by Charlottesville High School before a show and we spoke to him for a while and then I met all of the Flecktones after the show, Jimmy Herring back when we played with the Codetalkers at show in Richmond (they ate at a table next to us), Luther Dickinson was watching their opener at a show next to me once. George Clinton stood next to me during some crazy show at the Lincoln Theatre once but I didn't realize it was him till he left (he had a hoodie on...no crazy hair to see...he seemed short too). Might be a few more, none of those guys are what I would call "rockstars" but theyre sort of legendary to me. I never really say much, just pleasantries, I'm not a talker haha. I did shake Les Claypool's hand and he gave me a pamphlet on Lurray Caverns during a Primus show, I kind of count that since I actually shook his hand haha

[db9091]

I met the King of Leon getting off the bus to warmup in the back of the event in Atlanta what must be almost a bit less than decade ago. They were promoting their first album back from a long tour of England.

Nice guys.

[sega]

Saw Lemmy walking the streets of providence before a Lupo's show back in the day(10 yrs)- waved.


Met David Lee Roth in the lobby of the hotel that I run audio visual productions for. Great guy(hotel frowns on it but i just had to- Ed of course stayed in Boston, not worcester) - Dave had given his leather pants to the front desk to get dry cleaned lol






Gee, one would think that they have people to take care of their clothes!

[armadillo66]

Lucky enough to interview Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi a few weeks after their kid was born. Very nice people I really admire.

Interviewed Ike Willis at a Project Object show, he was cool and when I mentioned seeing him with Frank and Vai perform Whipping Post at The Brady Theatre in Tulsa years before. He smiled and siad "we were ****ing awsome that night, I remember that show well"

[evhtone]

Mama told me never to kiss and tell, but the boss has eaten more than one meal in my house. Of all the rockers I've known and know, only one was less than cool and friendly and that one is a pretty well washed up, obesely overweight female country singer I had the displeasure to have lunch with one day in Studio City, CA.


Wynonna.


lololol

[gearlovin]

I've met John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, Green Day, Phil X, Rusty Anderson, Warren Haynes, Matt Schoefield, Leonard Cohen, Guthrie Govan, Peter Stroud

All great people, nothing wrong to say about any of them all down to earth people to talk too.

[Bunky]

I've met John Mayer, Joe Bonamassa, Green Day, Phil X, Rusty Anderson, Warren Haynes, Matt Schoefield, Leonard Cohen, Guthrie Govan, Peter Stroud

All great people, nothing wrong to say about any of them all down to earth people to talk too.
What was Cohen like?

[TNJ]

I passed John Mellencamp in the lobby of a Hotel in Chicago once.
Met Steve Smith in a Colorado Hotel Lobby once.
Met Dominic Miller and Manu Katche in a Chicago Hotel Lobby once. Their bassist/vocalist wasnt around. :)
Met and chatted with Brent Mason at 2012 Winter NAMM.
Met and chatted with Matt Schofield at the same NAMM.
Took care of Harry Connick Jr. in the E.R. once...sore throat.
Met the Heartbreakers backstage before a show. TP was in his private dressing room.
:cool:

S.
j

[Bunky]

I met the Grapes of Wrath. ...I think that is all.

[crambone]

I've met a bunch of Christian bands back in the day. The biggest names were The OC Supertones and Switchfoot (back before they went big in the mainstream).

[gearlovin]

He is amazing, really smooth down to earth. I would say just like he is onstage.

One of the nicest person.

What was Cohen like?

[Hwoltage]

Took care of Harry Connick Jr. in the E.R. once...sore throat.


:beer

Cool stuff. :)

[deanmass]

The Dead Milkmen ( came into the store I worked in)

Eddie Money ( as above, got to go to radio station with and watch him play live on a talk show, then the show for free and after event. Nice dude, great show)

Jaco, and 2 weeks before he was beaten to death. Watched the whole show kneeling in front of the stage in a pub ( Hawks Cay, Marathon Key, FLA) then talked to him after the show one on one for about 30 minutes. He was dead less than 2 weeks later. Very sad. He was also beat to hell when I talked to him. He was on the shit list of some bad people.

Badfinger, two main guys, came into the store I worked at.

Chick Corea, Frank Gambale and his bass player, who stupidly escapes me. All very nice. Hung out, ate snacks. Very nice guys.

Jack White. Good friend is a close friend of his family. They are local to me, know his niece, brother, etc. Nice guy. Met all the Dead Weather gang, and also the Greenhornes , Meg and Jackson Smith when they came to town. I was sitting at a table with Jack White, his mom, my friend and Jack Lawrence for like 1/2 an hour. Talking gear, cell phones ( he hates them), and other bs. I am still geeked about it. It was surreal.

[devideva]

Jimmy Page - in a music store - he was buying an 'Autograph' cd
George Harrison - he was pushing a broom doing a cameo scene in a movie he was producing and which I was an extra - I started talking to him about meditation, mantras, and Maharishi
Jinx Dawson - chatted her up on Facebook - she's a swell Satanic gal.
Chuck Dukowski - interviewed him when I was 12 for a punk rag (Black Flag)
Steven Severin - he made fun of me on Facebook for wearing a baseball cap
Keith Morris - knew him when I was a kid (Circlejerks)
Don Bolles - knew him when I was a kid (Germs)
DeeDee Troit - interviewed her for my punk rag (UXA)
The Chiefs - they lived in the studio across the hall from my punk friends

[jo2012]

i met Switchfoot at a Meet and Greet

[ANALOG GUY]

Spencer Davis
Willy DeVille
Wally Bryson
Micheal McBride
Tom King
Meatloaf
Neil Geraldo
Myron Glombacher(sp)
Andy Gerome
Neil Young



Worked with, opened up for, or they sat in for a set.

[iaresee]

I stood in line next to Geddy Lee once waiting for a movie at the Cumberland Cinema in Toronto. I think we were going to see Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. He was super cool and easy going, I tried to not gush too much.

I've run in to a number of rock stars over the year just hanging around the Yorkville area. Sarah McLachlan was another nice encounter. She was also super nice and didn't mind chatting. We were all in line for tables at Sassafrazz. They let her jump the line.

I've opened for the current Honeymoon Suite line up. And I used to play in a band with ex-members from The Pursuit of Happiness (Universal Honey).

[Marc Roy]

Jimmy Page - in a music store - he was buying an 'Autograph' cd


You mean Autograph the band? WTF?

[Graffiti Rover]

I met The Sugarhill Gang on a flight to Vail, Co. I was talking to Big Man Hank and Wonder Mike. Some kid asked why they were wearing all of this SHG gear. Mellie Mel sneered, we are the SHG. They were playing a show there and invited us down. We were staying at Keystone and never went to the show.

[baddmann28]

Stephen Pearcy at a house party in Hollywood when Ratt was recording Detonator.

Vince Neil in the garage area at the Long Beach Grand Prix in 1992.

Nikki Sixx passed out on a couch when he was allegedly clean. Does that one count? LOL.

Met several "B" actors in my Hollywood days as well. My favorite? The mechanic from Chips. Very nice guy.

[deanmass]

^^ George Harrison FTW.

[CPower]

Tesla at a meet and sign. Cool bunch of fellas. The local music store had there latest release playing on the sound system and Jeff Kieth(lead singer) was singing his heart out right along with it.
I worked airport security in Pittsburgh the summer after I graduated high school and met a ton of people:
Kiss- cool
Bon Jovi- cool
Clarence Clemons- Very Cool. My moms name is Rosalee and he wrote out some lyrics to Rosalita and signed it.

Off topic but I will say that Dr. J is an A hole

[mhz88]

Ozzy Osborne, sat next to us with his daughter at the koo koo roo... Nice guy

[Porrig]

Van Morrison told me to "F**k Off"
Got drunk in Tokyo with The Georgia Satellites.

[Bunky]

We need more details on some of these encounters!

[AudioEcstasy]

I've met Slash and John5 through a band I was teching for. Both were incredible friendly.

[dmargo1045]

I met Frank Zappa after a Mothers gig. And I interviewed the Yardbirds with Jimmy Page for a local newspaper (Little Games era). Many well-known musicians used to stop by a store where I worked: James Taylor, Jorma Kaukonen, John Mayer (before he became famous), Wilco, Jesse Colin Young (Youngbloods), Fred Eaglesmith, and so on. I realize that most of these folks are not "famous" like the Stones or the Beatles, but they've all made their mark. I used to work as a runner for shows and I drove Ani Difranco around, some of the guys from Blues Traveller (who were fun), and others I can't remember. Generally the people I've met have been pretty nice.

Richard Thompson, too. He wrote out the tuning for "Vincent Black Lightning" on a napkin, which I still have.

[Geetar_Will]

Met and talked with Vicktor Wooten years ago after a MLK day show, took time to meet and talk with people sitting on the stage - made an impact on a young musician. Met Pam Tillis with my dad when I was real young - my dad had back stage passes. Met Nels Cline after a show. He was just a dude - talked gear, handed me his pedals to check out and answered all my questions.

The one that sticks out though - My wife and I were walking into the venue, passed Ryan Adam's bus on his most recent acoustic tour when she blurts out "HEY! That's him!"... I turn around to see a startled Mr Adams with wide eyes turn and rush through a door. She totally scared him away. I had to laugh (pretty hard actually) and cry just a little inside as I just wanted to tell him how much I've enjoyed his music.

[Lanopy]

Worked at health club in the 80's. Damn Yankees were in town for a show. Tommy Shaw came in to work out. My co worker behind the counter started to scream when he walked in. He looked at me so much as to say help. I signaled him off to the side into the sales office, and got a trainer to stay with him so he could get his routine in. Afterwards he came looking for me and asked if I could call him a cab to get back to the hotel. We sat in the sales office for forty five minutes shooting the breeze waiting for the cab. It never showed so I said **** it and gave him a ride. He was super polite and very gracious. We talked a ton about guitar and at the time he had the utmost in respect for George Lynch's newest record. He told me he would leave tickets at will call for me. I called a buddy, we went to the show and no one could find our seats. Finally one guy said we needed to go back stage. Turned out he set up two chairs on the side of the stage for us. We sat with his wife and someone else whom I do not remember. I am talking, literally on the stage, just off to the side. After the show he walk up to us and said come back and meet the band. Got to meet Ted Nugent and also Paul Rodgers. Pretty cool night.

In another story . . . .
Bought a nice boutique pedal off eBay but the color was different than all the others out there. I emailed the manufacturer to inquire about it and they asked where I got it as only two were ever made and they were for a celeb player. (Don't want to name him and get him in hot water for offing his endorsement gear). I emailed the seller afterwards with a question and ended up going back and forth with him for months on gear stuff. Very cool guy, had lots of neat stuff available, all which was way over my needs and abilities. I finally asked why he was selling the gear, not like he needed the money. Said he just likes the fun aspect of Ebay, and remembered how cool it would have been to get that kind of gear when he was a kid. Kind of an easy way to give back. He donated the proceeds to a local music program for unprivileged kids.

Scott Wiend showed up at the bar next door to an STP gig after a show on a lake where I had a boat. My buds were playing the club, Weind hung in the pit all night, dove off the stage, had a ball being a regular joe. Afterwards we all went down to where my boat was docked and hung until sun up shooting the breeze and swimming. Another pretty cool night.

[macatt]

Aurthur Brown, Elvin Bishop, Buddy Knox, Al Kooper, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Steve Marriott, Bob Tench, Bonney Bramlett others...
Shared the stage with them and in some cases, played in the same band together.

Lots of country guys as well:
Willie, Waylon, David Allen Coe, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Gail Davies, BR549's Chris Scruggs and Chuck Mead, George Jones, Gatlin Bros, Tex Williams, Sons of the Pioneers, others I can't recall at the moment.

S Mac

[drugdetox]

Lucky enough to have become actual friends with Howard Leese of Heart. Howie will be inducted into the R&R HOF in a couple months. Shameless plug for the PRS "Heart" guitar I'm currently selling :-) I have thousands of photos of him in concert, as I always get either backstage or right in front....the one below is from this past Summer when he performed at a private "invitation only" show in NJ with Paul Rogers being his frontman.


http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab271/drugdetox/Howie%20at%20monmouth%20beach/2012-07-07_15-22-32_975.jpg


Also, was lucky enough to have been able to spend time with, and hang out, with Albert Bouchard of "Blue Oyster Cult". A simple transaction on eBay resulted in his coming over to my office, spending a few hours discussing music, sharing anecdotes, and developing an email correspondence and a virtual "internet" friendship. This is the only photo of us together that came out...blurry, but recognizable nonetheless.


http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab271/drugdetox/albert%20bouchard/100_3425.jpg

http://i871.photobucket.com/albums/ab271/drugdetox/albert%20bouchard/100_3423.jpg

[Gordon Branch]

I met Joe Perry in the late 1980's ? when he was doing the Joe Perry project. I am a luthier and back then he was playing smaller clubs and access was fairly easy during sound checks.I brought a handmade "V" for him to check out. I ran into his road manager first who was actually cool and we walk into the dressing room area where Joe was crashed out on a couch.Joe looked up bleary eyed, saw me with his manager and his first words were, "anybody got some blow " , Apparently thinking his manager brought him a local drug dealer. Classic rock and roll moment.Anyway, Joe rocked out on the V during soundcheck and was a nice guy and quite coherent, though possibly disappointed I could'nt help with white lines

[Richeray]

I saw Warren Haynes in my local A&P the other night. Not the usual setting to see rock star. lol

[bgood]

met Tommy Shaw once at Sam Ash in NYC. we were demoing Les Pauls together and talking guitars. I never let on that I knew it was him. Nice guy.

[ToffeeBrown]

My aunt was a groupie through the 70s and 80s. She's "met" a lot of them and has the pictures to prove it.



Meanwhile, I met Brad Whitford of Aerosmith in Raleigh NC and Andre 3000 in the Atlanta airport.

[Two-Octave]

I saw Bruce Springsteen on TV.

[fieldsroyal]

I've met a couple - BB King outside Festival Hall in Brisbane pre-show - he was just catching some fresh air - a genuinely lovely guy and very generous with his time.
Briefly spoke with Nick Cave at a Dirty Three show at The Zoo in Brisbane - Nick was just taking in the show (before sitting in with them to sing Running Scared later) - man of few words St Nick! Coincidentally later that night I bumped into Mick Turner (Dirty Three) at a local pub and he happily listened to my drunken blabber :)

[semi-hollowbody]

Worked at health club in the 80's. Damn Yankees were in town for a show. Tommy Shaw came in to work out. My co worker behind the counter started to scream when he walked in. He looked at me so much as to say help. I signaled him off to the side into the sales office, and got a trainer to stay with him so he could get his routine in. Afterwards he came looking for me and asked if I could call him a cab to get back to the hotel. We sat in the sales office for forty five minutes shooting the breeze waiting for the cab. It never showed so I said **** it and gave him a ride. He was super polite and very gracious. We talked a ton about guitar and at the time he had the utmost in respect for George Lynch's newest record. He told me he would leave tickets at will call for me. I called a buddy, we went to the show and no one could find our seats. Finally one guy said we needed to go back stage. Turned out he set up two chairs on the side of the stage for us. We sat with his wife and someone else whom I do not remember. I am talking, literally on the stage, just off to the side. After the show he walk up to us and said come back and meet the band. Got to meet Ted Nugent and also Paul Rodgers. Pretty cool night.

In another story . . . .
Bought a nice boutique pedal off eBay but the color was different than all the others out there. I emailed the manufacturer to inquire about it and they asked where I got it as only two were ever made and they were for a celeb player. (Don't want to name him and get him in hot water for offing his endorsement gear). I emailed the seller afterwards with a question and ended up going back and forth with him for months on gear stuff. Very cool guy, had lots of neat stuff available, all which was way over my needs and abilities. I finally asked why he was selling the gear, not like he needed the money. Said he just likes the fun aspect of Ebay, and remembered how cool it would have been to get that kind of gear when he was a kid. Kind of an easy way to give back. He donated the proceeds to a local music program for unprivileged kids.

Scott Wiend showed up at the bar next door to an STP gig after a show on a lake where I had a boat. My buds were playing the club, Weind hung in the pit all night, dove off the stage, had a ball being a regular joe. Afterwards we all went down to where my boat was docked and hung until sun up shooting the breeze and swimming. Another pretty cool night.
jesus dude...do you play the lotto?? you SHOULD!!
Awesome stories!

[TheGuildedAge]

Not much for me. I saw Collective Soul years ago for my first concert. Actually parked my Chevy Cavalier behind their tour bus on a side street. After the show Dean Roland walked right by me and my girlfriend, but for some reason I got nervous and didn't say anything.

I saw Nickleback's lead singer at our local music store while they were in tour.

The one I regret involves my favorite band, U2. My girlfriend at the time (same one from Collective Soul) and I went to their show in Philly. Her next door neighbor actually worked on their sound crew and she saw him from our seats. She kept bugging me to go down and say hi and see if he could get us closer, but the show was starting and I didn't want to leave the seats. Not sure why I didn't give it a shot.

[timmytVA]

I've had occasion to meet several of my favorites, including Paul Westerberg sitting on the steps of his tour bus outside the 930 Club, but passed on the chance. Frankly, I'd rather just enjoy their music and not have that ruined by the chance that they were an asshole in real life.

As a teen, I saw Greg Kihn in the bathroom of McDonald's (where I worked). I said "hey! You're Greg Kihn!" He said "Hey! You're right!"

Tim

[John 14:6]

I have met quite a few over the years at least breifly including, Yngwie, Satriani, Vai, Uli Jon Roth, Don Dokken, Andy Timmons, Tony MacAlpine, George Bellas, Warran DeMartini, Lincoln Brewster, George Lynch, Alan Holdsworth and others I can't remember off hand.

[knotts]

Yngwie Malmsteen at my office. I new the name but never saw what he looked like. I was introduced to him by my boss who said, "and you know who this is right?". I said "Nope". He just laughed at me. I'm in the fashion industry and my boss gave his wife a bunch of free clothes. A brand new signature Yngwie Stratocaster showed up a few days later. Pretty good deal.

I also met Jennifer Lopez a bunch and Posh Spice (hot). They're not what I would call "rock stars" but their in the music business and I thought were note worthy.

[edcat]

Just met Albert Lee in Buffalo. It was refreshing to see that one of the best players in the world appears to have no ego whatsoever. What a gentleman. Totally approachable and friendly. Turning 70 soon, he's lost nothing in his playing.

[Timboguitar]

back in the day, I met a few world renowned artists. The coolest experience was Robin Trower. After stage setup, we got to meet him, and sit, front row, for a 20 min sound check. I mean like, wow!!!!!! I wasn't a Trower fan so much, but after that, wow!!!!

The most "rock star" experience involved Judas Priest. One tractor trailer full of sound, another full of lights. Everything's set up, about 5 min before Judas Priest takes the stage. (A regional band, Jesse Bolt opened because TSU couldn't quite afford the band that was opening for Judas Priest that tour-Def Leppard-not quite a household name yet).

Anyway, one of the band's sound men comes up to me, frantically, "I need 200' of mic cable, quick!!! And some gaffers tape!!!" I'm like what the ***!?!" So anyway, I quickly get my hands on a bunch of xlr's, connect them, tape the connections and dutifully hand the 200' of cable and tape to the sound guy. "Thanks man!" he says as he runs out of the area. Moments later----the thunderous sound of a Harley is heard through the PA as the lead singer rides it into the venue, up a ramp, and on to the stage, with an sm57 taped right on the engine. Hysterical!! Kick a** rock and roll, no doubt!!! :rockin

As far as I know, he is still known to do this.

As a side note, as Judas Priest performed, my job was to "guard" the exit, stage left, which led to the dressing rooms, etc. for both bands. Two young and very attractive women came up to me, and very flirtatiously offered to "do anything" to meet the lead singer of----- are you ready for this-----Jesse Bolt! :rotflmao.

I said, "Don't you know that's Judas Priest on stage? Jesse Bolt plays right down the street every Thursday night!" Of course, I'd have been fired if I took them up on their offer, but it was hysterical, nonetheless.

Tim

[Ed Zachary]

Paul Chapman is my guitar teacher.

[Nick L.]

I met Boyd Tinsley at a music store - well, I rang up his purchase. It was kind of cool when he handed me the Dave Matthews Band corporate Amex card.

I lived in Charlottesville before DMB was famous - never saw him, never met him!

But do these count:

John Abercrombie
Milton Babbit
Gunther Schuller
Pauline Oliveros
Carlos Barbosa-Lima
Randy Brecker
Frank Foster
Jon Nakamatsu
Angel Romero
Eliot Fisk


Some of you may have heard of at least some of them.

Steve
Did a master class with elliot fisk, he is a dick!

[NewOldStockTubes]

When I was in grad school in 1985 I had to go to Minneapolis to present a paper at a conference. Get to the hotel, and I am wondering what is in the water in MN, because everywhere I look I am seeing MAJOR eye candy...we're talking smoking hot, dressed to kill....and its EVERYWHERE. I'm thinking I have to move to MN once I graduate :-) After I check in at the hotel, I head to the elevator to go to my room and when it opens, out pops Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Turns out they were playing Minneapolis that night, and staying in the hotel. Then it all made sense. 1985 was of course when they were very near or at the height of fashion...

No need to move to MN....

[redshark1105]

I've met a few, George Lynch, Steve Lukather, Vivian Campbell, the late Randy Castillo, Tommy, Nicki and Mick from the Crew. All those guys while staying in Hollywood with some friends that were GIT students. In 1990 you could meet those guys everywhere. Then I met Quiet Riot when they were touring in the 90's before Dubrow passed away. Years later, I found Nicki in Cancun with his then wife Donna D'Errico and he bought me 2 shots of jagger for showing his wife how to dance salsa. :)

[macatt]

You might find this amusing.
I played on an album at Curb studio in Nashville (release date this March) "called Ron Davies Unsung Hero" that features these artists:

Alison Krauss, John Prine, Delbert McClinton, Dolly Parton, Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, John Anderson, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Rodney Crowell...

AND NEVER MET ANY OF THEM, vocals being done on different days.
That's the way it often works.

http://www.rondaviesunsunghero.com

S Mac

[jett1963]

Not a rock star but I had a chance to spar with Chuck Norris a few years back.

[oldtelefart]

Not a rock star but I had a chance to spar with Chuck Norris a few years back.

Obviously untrue. Sparring with Chuck Norris is not a survivable activity!

[dogbone94]

Not a rock star but I had a chance to spar with Chuck Norris a few years back.

Obviously untrue. Sparring with Chuck Norris is not a survivable activity!
yep, bet he got his ass kicked... chuck kicked miy ass the other day and i have never ever met him.... thats how baddass chuck is....

[67blackcherry]

Not a rock star but I had a chance to spar with Chuck Norris a few years back.

Obviously untrue. Sparring with Chuck Norris is not a survivable activity!

yep, bet he got his ass kicked... chuck kicked miy ass the other day and i have never ever met him.... thats how baddass chuck is....

Chuck Norris just kicked my ass for copying these quotes and replying.

[rmpacheco]

I've met Andy Timmons a few times, and actually got a guitar lesson from him recently through the Guitar Sanctuary in McKinney, TX. Very nice, down to earth guy. Great sense of humor as well!

[Kiron Kid]

Jimmy Page, backstage at the L.A. Forum. Had as few shots of JD and chatted with him a bit. Steve Morse a few times too. Both were very friendly, talkative.

Kiron Kid

[zorak]

Had dinner with Tony Harnell, former lead singer of the band TNT, last week in NYC. He's recording a new solo EP that will feature Bumblefoot of GNR. Talk about totally cool, down-to-earth and humble! Loves his fans and loves talking about anything he's ever recorded or shows he's played. Not pretentious or unapproachable.

Really made the "singers are arseholes" argument a non-starter. At least when it comes to him.

[heavision]

I've met quite a few. One sticks out: I met Jason Newsted (And Justice For All tour) when I was a teenager. He was incredibly gracious and kind; gave me four second-row tickets and backstage passes to the following night's show. And I was--and am--nobody; he did it because I was a fan. I'll never forget that.

Also when I was young; Glen Danzig, Eerie Von and I talked in an alley behind a venue for a long time, HOURS--again, I was just a fan, a kid--very cool guys. The last one that sticks out in my mind; Harley Flanagan from the Cro Mags! At first I was flat-out scared, but we ended up hanging for hours, listening to Zeppelin, getting stoned, he was awesome.

[Franklin]

Just met Albert Lee in Buffalo. It was refreshing to see that one of the best players in the world appears to have no ego whatsoever. What a gentleman. Totally approachable and friendly. Turning 70 soon, he's lost nothing in his playing.

Wow, gone a couple weeks after this post!

Alvin Lee, 19 December 1944 – 6 March 2013

[Cody]

Wow, gone a couple weeks after this post!

Alvin Lee, 19 December 1944 – 6 March 2013
Alvin Lee and Albert Lee, although both great guitarists, are not the same person.

[Franklin]

Alvin Lee and Albert Lee, although both great guitarists, are not the same person.

Doh! :hide2

[johnnytuinals]

Lets see I have met Most everyone backstage but maybe a few I had never met.
From Aerosmith too ZZ Top.(Freebees are always easy too get,if there are no backstage pass I rather just stay at home and go too sleep then}
Eric Clapton is not on the list since his Manager Ronnie Lipton does not
give out backstage passes but I do give the tickets away anyway.......................JT

[dharmabum29]

I used to work for Electric Factory Concerts in Philly, back in the early to mid 90's, so I went to, literally, a ton of shows. Either through that connection, or just sheer luck, I've managed to meet way more than my fair share of famous musicians. In a separate post on TGP, I told my story of doing laundry with Eddie Van Halen back in around 2008 in Philly. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=15014815&postcount=82

Here's a few other noteworthy ones...

Had sushi with Jeff Buckley and his band next door to the Trocadero in Philly after their show opening for the Juliana Hatfield Three in (I think) 1996. Funny, but quiet guy.

Chain-smoked a pack of cigarettes with Iggy Pop (and met David Bowie & Iman) in the dressing room of the Electric Factory after his gig there.

Helped Devendra Banhart pick a tattoo after his show at the TLA in Philly.

Consoled Courtney Love as she cried on my shoulder backstage after her impromptu appearance at Lollapolooza '95 in Philly. It was her first public performance after Kurt died. I had seen her walking across the parking lot to her trailer behind the main stage and had (jokingly) called out, "Hey Courtney!", and she walked all the way across the parking lot, just to talk to me. She apologized for playing and sounding like shit, and proceeded to start crying about how she didn't know what else to do after all that had happened the past year. She was actually very sweet. We were interrupted by Billy Corgan, who was also nice, but nowhere near as talkative (with me, at least, LOL). They walked off talking. Btw, in case anyone ever wondered why Billy wore those long-sleeve t-shirts all the time on stage, it's because he had some sort of wine-stain skin pigment problem or something on his arms. At least, he did that day.Also, at the same Lollapalooza show, I met George Clinton, Nick Cave, Kim Deal (for the second time) and took part in a food fight with the Beastie Boys in the food tent.

I helped kidnap Marilyn Manson. At least that's what I'm told. I was working a NIN show and it was Manson's first tour, as the opener for them. The roadies told us that Manson and his band were really pricks to the roadies all tour and would we help them take a little revenge? Of course we would. They asked us to re-direct the band after they came offstage and they'd take care of the rest. Apparently, they ambushed the band and tied them up with tarps, sheets and duct tape, threw them into a waiting van behind the Spectrum (in full stage make-up), and drove them to the worst drug and gang infested neighborhood they could find in West Philly and threw them out of the back of the van, leaving them stranded. I've heard separate corroboration, so I'm pretty sure the last part happened. Classic.

I met Nirvana backstage at the Armory on Drexel's campus in late '93, along with the Breeders (my first meeting with Kim Deal). I had seen them at J.C Dobbs on South Street on the Bleach tour, with a different drummer, but didn't get to meet them. This time, I didn't get a chance to talk to Kurt (looking back, he was obviously being protected and shepherded around), but I did get a chance to meet Dave Grohl and Krist Novselic. Years later (actually about 2 years ago), I waited on Dave Grohl down here in Miami and he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met, as far as famous people go. He was in with a record exec and told me he was staying at the Ritz on Key Biscayne. I told him I'd met him back in the day, and we talked for a long time. Thank God I didn't have anyone else to take care of that night, because he kept continuing the conversation (not that I was trying to get away). Super nice guy...left me $100 tip.

I met Patti Smith upstairs at the TLA on the "Gone Again" tour. I brought a copy of her book and she signed it. The best part, though, was that we talked for over an hour about Beat Generation literature and poetry. She was very sincere and super nice.

In a similar experience, I met Jim Carroll backstage at the Tin Angel in Philly. I made my way back before the show, figuring there'd be a ton of people in his dressing room, but was shocked to find him there alone, reading a book. He looked ghostly as he slowly looked up and me and said hello. He invited me in and we talked about our favorite Beat era authors and books. He looked almost spectral...very pale, and he talked in slow measured tones. Very nice, though. Before I left, he told me he had something for me. He pulled out a copy of his new anthology, Fear of Dreaming, and signed it for me. Very cool, if strange, experience.

I met Mike Patton (Faith No More), and Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) in two separate instances on South Street in Philly. I ran into Patton in a record store and took him to a great one that used to be on 4th St. We flipped through old vinyl for about an hour together. Zach, I met at Lorenzo's Pizza at 3rd and South. He told me he really wanted a good cheesesteak, so I took him to Ishkabibbles, which had great steaks at the time. We housed a few sammiches...

Also on South Street, I met Chris Issak at Copabanana. I was working down the street at Mako's bar and took him down there where we got some wings and he spent an hour drawing the most amazing caricatures on cocktail napkins. He's really good!

David Lovering of the Pixies walked into my bar, Bar Noir, in Philly around happy hour when they were in town and proceeded to do magic tricks for me and the few of us sitting around. Bar Noir was a cool place. It was a dungeon, but it was known throughout the music and entertainment biz as a place where, if you happened to be in town, you could go there and no one would bother you or treat you any different. And nothing you did would make the papers. This fact came in handy for plenty of musicians and actors, like The Darkness (did lines in my office), Oasis, Mel Gibson (jumped up on my bar, in an obvious blackout) and tons of others.

I could go on for hours at this, but those are just a few of the ones that pop into my head right now. Maybe I'll post more as I remember them, but it's my day off and I have stuff to do, lol...

[drugdetox]

I used to work for Electric Factory Concerts in Philly, back in the early to mid 90's, so I went to, literally, a ton of shows. Either through that connection, or just sheer luck, I've managed to meet way more than my fair share of famous musicians. In a separate post on TGP, I told my story of doing laundry with Eddie Van Halen back in around 2008 in Philly. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=15014815&postcount=82

Here's a few other noteworthy ones...

Had sushi with Jeff Buckley and his band next door to the Trocadero in Philly after their show opening for the Juliana Hatfield Three in (I think) 1996. Funny, but quiet guy.

Chain-smoked a pack of cigarettes with Iggy Pop (and met David Bowie & Iman) in the dressing room of the Electric Factory after his gig there.

Helped Devendra Banhart pick a tattoo after his show at the TLA in Philly.

Consoled Courtney Love as she cried on my shoulder backstage after her impromptu appearance at Lollapolooza '95 in Philly. It was her first public performance after Kurt died. I had seen her walking across the parking lot to her trailer behind the main stage and had (jokingly) called out, "Hey Courtney!", and she walked all the way across the parking lot, just to talk to me. She apologized for playing and sounding like shit, and proceeded to start crying about how she didn't know what else to do after all that had happened the past year. She was actually very sweet. We were interrupted by Billy Corgan, who was also nice, but nowhere near as talkative (with me, at least, LOL). They walked off talking. Btw, in case anyone ever wondered why Billy wore those long-sleeve t-shirts all the time on stage, it's because he had some sort of wine-stain skin pigment problem or something on his arms. At least, he did that day.Also, at the same Lollapalooza show, I met George Clinton, Nick Cave, Kim Deal (for the second time) and took part in a food fight with the Beastie Boys in the food tent.

I helped kidnap Marilyn Manson. At least that's what I'm told. I was working a NIN show and it was Manson's first tour, as the opener for them. The roadies told us that Manson and his band were really pricks to the roadies all tour and would we help them take a little revenge? Of course we would. They asked us to re-direct the band after they came offstage and they'd take care of the rest. Apparently, they ambushed the band and tied them up with tarps, sheets and duct tape, threw them into a waiting van behind the Spectrum (in full stage make-up), and drove them to the worst drug and gang infested neighborhood they could find in West Philly and threw them out of the back of the van, leaving them stranded. I've heard separate corroboration, so I'm pretty sure the last part happened. Classic.

I met Nirvana backstage at the Armory on Drexel's campus in late '93, along with the Breeders (my first meeting with Kim Deal). I had seen them at J.C Dobbs on South Street on the Bleach tour, with a different drummer, but didn't get to meet them. This time, I didn't get a chance to talk to Kurt (looking back, he was obviously being protected and shepherded around), but I did get a chance to meet Dave Grohl and Krist Novselic. Years later (actually about 2 years ago), I waited on Dave Grohl down here in Miami and he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met, as far as famous people go. He was in with a record exec and told me he was staying at the Ritz on Key Biscayne. I told him I'd met him back in the day, and we talked for a long time. Thank God I didn't have anyone else to take care of that night, because he kept continuing the conversation (not that I was trying to get away). Super nice guy...left me $100 tip.

I met Patti Smith upstairs at the TLA on the "Gone Again" tour. I brought a copy of her book and she signed it. The best part, though, was that we talked for over an hour about Beat Generation literature and poetry. She was very sincere and super nice.

In a similar experience, I met Jim Carroll backstage at the Tin Angel in Philly. I made my way back before the show, figuring there'd be a ton of people in his dressing room, but was shocked to find him there alone, reading a book. He looked ghostly as he slowly looked up and me and said hello. He invited me in and we talked about our favorite Beat era authors and books. He looked almost spectral...very pale, and he talked in slow measured tones. Very nice, though. Before I left, he told me he had something for me. He pulled out a copy of his new anthology, Fear of Dreaming, and signed it for me. Very cool, if strange, experience.

I met Mike Patton (Faith No More), and Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) in two separate instances on South Street in Philly. I ran into Patton in a record store and took him to a great one that used to be on 4th St. We flipped through old vinyl for about an hour together. Zach, I met at Lorenzo's Pizza at 3rd and South. He told me he really wanted a good cheesesteak, so I took him to Ishkabibbles, which had great steaks at the time. We housed a few sammiches...

Also on South Street, I met Chris Issak at Copabanana. I was working down the street at Mako's bar and took him down there where we got some wings and he spent an hour drawing the most amazing caricatures on cocktail napkins. He's really good!

David Lovering of the Pixies walked into my bar, Bar Noir, in Philly around happy hour when they were in town and proceeded to do magic tricks for me and the few of us sitting around. Bar Noir was a cool place. It was a dungeon, but it was known throughout the music and entertainment biz as a place where, if you happened to be in town, you could go there and no one would bother you or treat you any different. And nothing you did would make the papers. This fact came in handy for plenty of musicians and actors, like The Darkness (did lines in my office), Oasis, Mel Gibson (jumped up on my bar, in an obvious blackout) and tons of others.

I could go on for hours at this, but those are just a few of the ones that pop into my head right now. Maybe I'll post more as I remember them, but it's my day off and I have stuff to do, lol...

But have you ever met anyone in the Rock industry?? :rotflmao

[guitarz1972]

But have you ever met anyone in the Rock industry?? :rotflmao

+1. Goodness gracious.

[Bubba_Leon]

I live in a town, where pretty much daily you'll run into Bonnie Raitt, Lars Ulrich, Robert Trujillo, Bob Weir, Mike Bordin, Mark Osegueda, Phil Lesh Sammy Hagar, and Joe Satriani. Plus bunch of movie celebs as well. Talked to a few of them, although
I never elude to knowing who they are with the exception of a couple who I've made friends with.
They live here for the low profile town that it is, and I respect that.

[cardamonfrost]

No real rock stars. Mostly old jazzy types.

Don Thompson
Herbie Hancock
Merl Saunders
Bernie Senenski
Doug Riely
Jake Langley

There are a few more, but I cant remember right now. None of the meetings other than Herbie were really memorable.
C

[dharmabum29]

But have you ever met anyone in the Rock industry?? :rotflmao

I know, I know, it's a little much. Sometimes I wonder at how all that happened to me. Trust me, I'm really a nobody...just lucky. I won't even get into all my movie star stories. But I almost forgot, I met Mick Jones of Foreigner about 2 weeks ago, with his son Chris, who's a friend of a friend. It was weird seeing him in a pullover hoodie, shorts and flip-flops, but hey, it's Miami Beach...

[ejecta]

I have met a few but this one is the most entertaining.

Met Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Timmy C from RATM in St Louis back in early 90's playing a theater there with Quicksand. Walking to the show with my brother and two friends a car pulls up and asks if I want to buy a back stage pass. I looked at and it looked legit and the guy only wanted $10 so I thought what the hell. I went into the show and found out it was legit.

After the show I hung out for the meet and greet but my brother and two friends did not get to go back so they went to wait in the car. After a bit a roadie came out and said no meet after the show so I walked out the side door and there was Morello. So I walked up and told him I loved the show and loved his new approach to the guitar. Nice guy, we chatted a moment and was very gracious. Timmy C and Brad walk up and I tell them great show as well. I ask where Zack is and they say on the bus because he's really tired.

Timmy asks where I'm from and I tell him Kentucky. He says you guys have some good weed from there right? I said.... "Uh yeah sure!" He then asks if I have any and I tell him "Not on me but I do in my car." He says "Lets go." So he and Brad follow me to my car and I'm telling them how my brother and friends are going to freak out. As I'm approaching the car my friends and brother are standing outside the car... the look on their faces go from "oh here he comes..." to "what the???" to "oh wow!" I wish I had camera to capture their faces.

Timmy decides all the sudden he doesn't want to smoke in the parking garage so he says "lets go back by our bus". We head behind the theater and he has their roadies make sure no on comes back there. We light up and I tell him that our band plays "Know Your Enemy" and played it just the other day at an earth day concert at a college. He says "I'd like to hear that." and I say "Uh no you wouldn't" :D

After the joint was gone he looks at Brad who hasn't said a word the whole time and says "I'm hungry... lets roll" and then thanks us for the smoke and heads for their bus.

Now I'm high and a bit paranoid thinking of driving out of St Louis and having to drive 3 hours back to KY. It was a fun time though. :D

[Phoebe]

I drink regularly with Johnny A! Have met Jim Croce, Bobby Darin, The Davies Brothers, EC, Leslie West, Bill Kirchen, Jeff Beck, EJ, Albert Lee, Dylan, Mark Vollman, Woodie Guthrie, Don McClean, Johnny Winter, Jack Bruce, Mark Farner, Bob Hite, John Sebastian, Emmylou Harris, Roy Clark, Jose Feliciano, Elliot Easton, Joe Perry, Roger McGuinn, Warren Zevon, Tal Farlow, Les Paul, and many others who will come to me later. I'm showing my age. Circumstances all varied.

[drugdetox]

I drink regularly with Johnny A! Have met Jim Croce, Bobby Darin, The Davies Brothers, EC, Leslie West, Bill Kirchen, Jeff Beck, EJ, Albert Lee, Dylan, Mark Vollman, Woodie Guthrie, Don McClean, Johnny Winter, Jack Bruce, Mark Farner, Bob Hite, John Sebastian, Emmylou Harris, Roy Clark, Jose Feliciano, Elliot Easton, Joe Perry, Roger McGuinn, Warren Zevon, Tal Farlow, Les Paul, and many others who will come to me later. I'm showing my age. Circumstances all varied.


How can you have met Flo, and not met Eddie (Howard Kaylan)??? I thought they were inseparable?? ;)

[darth550]

Used to have Roman Candle/M80 wars with Nikki Sixx in his front yard

[Eskimo_Joe]

Kenny Wayne Shepard as part of a meet and greet.

[sanrico]

Carlos Santana in a very luxurious resort. He was there with an entourage. I was there for a gala event, so I was in a suit and tie and figured his bodyguards wouldn't stomp on me. I spoke to him in Spanish and he was very gracious and shook my hand with both of his hands. I mentioned that I played flamenco and he said something to the effect of Paco de Lucia being a good friend of his. I didn't want to pester him, so I moved along quickly.

[sanrico]

This next one isn't mine, but it bears repeating: My friend worked in a ritzy hotel in Vail where Paul Stanley was staying. He was walking down a hallway and saw Paul coming, whistling and swinging a bag of laundry. As he passed Paul, he graciously said, "Good evening, Mr. Stanley...welcome to..." and was interrupted by the laundry bag hitting him in the chest as Paul kept walking.

He said that Paul Stanley had no idea how close he came to having his ass kicked right then and there.

[AMSnell]

I've met Chris Martin and Gary Moore a few times in my local guitar shop in Brighton, UK. I actually sat next to Gary Moore in the Cinema once, always seemed like a nice guy :)

[Kidsfeet]

Met Steve Vai in NYC walking around with his son looking for a place to eat.

Met Robben Ford at one of his gigs and had a drink with him. SUPER nice guy.

[milli vanilli]

Vivian Campbell. Was cool as hell. Buddy ran into him, he invited us and our wives to chill out with band family-friends after a Def Leppard show a few years ago. Super nice guy!

[KiwiJoe]

I went to high school and played in jazz band with John Medeski.

I met Dave Mason at a bar called "Cheers" in Ft. Lauderdale back around 1990. He knew the house guitarist in the band there and came to sit in for a few songs after he'd done his show at the Sunrise Musical Theater earlier that night.

And speaking of Milli Vanilli, I met Rob Pilatus on a Greyhound bus back in '97 but had no idea who he was until later. I was going from Milwaukee back to Cali, and he got on in Chicago. Cool dude and the seemingly only sane person on the bus besides me and the driver, so he was the only person I could really talk to for 2 days. He mentioned about a band he'd been in in Germany, but I never made the connection. He looked nothing like his Milli days - hair was cut short and bleached blonde. He got off in LA while I continued to Oceanside.

It must have been just over a year later when my girlfriend and I were watching VH-1 "Behind the Music", and it was about Milli Vanilli. I saw him and realized who I'd been on the bus with. He'd already died.

[johnnytuinals]

Met most of everyone from Aerosmith - ZZ Top
Last was Paul Crook from Meat Loaf backstage............JT

[saneff]

I used to work for Electric Factory Concerts in Philly, back in the early to mid 90's, so I went to, literally, a ton of shows. Either through that connection, or just sheer luck, I've managed to meet way more than my fair share of famous musicians. In a separate post on TGP, I told my story of doing laundry with Eddie Van Halen back in around 2008 in Philly. http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpost.php?p=15014815&postcount=82

Here's a few other noteworthy ones...

Had sushi with Jeff Buckley and his band next door to the Trocadero in Philly after their show opening for the Juliana Hatfield Three in (I think) 1996. Funny, but quiet guy.

Chain-smoked a pack of cigarettes with Iggy Pop (and met David Bowie & Iman) in the dressing room of the Electric Factory after his gig there.

Helped Devendra Banhart pick a tattoo after his show at the TLA in Philly.

Consoled Courtney Love as she cried on my shoulder backstage after her impromptu appearance at Lollapolooza '95 in Philly. It was her first public performance after Kurt died. I had seen her walking across the parking lot to her trailer behind the main stage and had (jokingly) called out, "Hey Courtney!", and she walked all the way across the parking lot, just to talk to me. She apologized for playing and sounding like shit, and proceeded to start crying about how she didn't know what else to do after all that had happened the past year. She was actually very sweet. We were interrupted by Billy Corgan, who was also nice, but nowhere near as talkative (with me, at least, LOL). They walked off talking. Btw, in case anyone ever wondered why Billy wore those long-sleeve t-shirts all the time on stage, it's because he had some sort of wine-stain skin pigment problem or something on his arms. At least, he did that day.Also, at the same Lollapalooza show, I met George Clinton, Nick Cave, Kim Deal (for the second time) and took part in a food fight with the Beastie Boys in the food tent.

I helped kidnap Marilyn Manson. At least that's what I'm told. I was working a NIN show and it was Manson's first tour, as the opener for them. The roadies told us that Manson and his band were really pricks to the roadies all tour and would we help them take a little revenge? Of course we would. They asked us to re-direct the band after they came offstage and they'd take care of the rest. Apparently, they ambushed the band and tied them up with tarps, sheets and duct tape, threw them into a waiting van behind the Spectrum (in full stage make-up), and drove them to the worst drug and gang infested neighborhood they could find in West Philly and threw them out of the back of the van, leaving them stranded. I've heard separate corroboration, so I'm pretty sure the last part happened. Classic.

I met Nirvana backstage at the Armory on Drexel's campus in late '93, along with the Breeders (my first meeting with Kim Deal). I had seen them at J.C Dobbs on South Street on the Bleach tour, with a different drummer, but didn't get to meet them. This time, I didn't get a chance to talk to Kurt (looking back, he was obviously being protected and shepherded around), but I did get a chance to meet Dave Grohl and Krist Novselic. Years later (actually about 2 years ago), I waited on Dave Grohl down here in Miami and he was one of the nicest guys I've ever met, as far as famous people go. He was in with a record exec and told me he was staying at the Ritz on Key Biscayne. I told him I'd met him back in the day, and we talked for a long time. Thank God I didn't have anyone else to take care of that night, because he kept continuing the conversation (not that I was trying to get away). Super nice guy...left me $100 tip.

I met Patti Smith upstairs at the TLA on the "Gone Again" tour. I brought a copy of her book and she signed it. The best part, though, was that we talked for over an hour about Beat Generation literature and poetry. She was very sincere and super nice.

In a similar experience, I met Jim Carroll backstage at the Tin Angel in Philly. I made my way back before the show, figuring there'd be a ton of people in his dressing room, but was shocked to find him there alone, reading a book. He looked ghostly as he slowly looked up and me and said hello. He invited me in and we talked about our favorite Beat era authors and books. He looked almost spectral...very pale, and he talked in slow measured tones. Very nice, though. Before I left, he told me he had something for me. He pulled out a copy of his new anthology, Fear of Dreaming, and signed it for me. Very cool, if strange, experience.

I met Mike Patton (Faith No More), and Zack de la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) in two separate instances on South Street in Philly. I ran into Patton in a record store and took him to a great one that used to be on 4th St. We flipped through old vinyl for about an hour together. Zach, I met at Lorenzo's Pizza at 3rd and South. He told me he really wanted a good cheesesteak, so I took him to Ishkabibbles, which had great steaks at the time. We housed a few sammiches...

Also on South Street, I met Chris Issak at Copabanana. I was working down the street at Mako's bar and took him down there where we got some wings and he spent an hour drawing the most amazing caricatures on cocktail napkins. He's really good!

David Lovering of the Pixies walked into my bar, Bar Noir, in Philly around happy hour when they were in town and proceeded to do magic tricks for me and the few of us sitting around. Bar Noir was a cool place. It was a dungeon, but it was known throughout the music and entertainment biz as a place where, if you happened to be in town, you could go there and no one would bother you or treat you any different. And nothing you did would make the papers. This fact came in handy for plenty of musicians and actors, like The Darkness (did lines in my office), Oasis, Mel Gibson (jumped up on my bar, in an obvious blackout) and tons of others.

I could go on for hours at this, but those are just a few of the ones that pop into my head right now. Maybe I'll post more as I remember them, but it's my day off and I have stuff to do, lol...

Next time I'm in Philly, I'm going to track you down and buy your dinner and some beers and kick back and listen to these stories in more detail. You pick the places. Awesome.

[uitar99]

Checked out of a hotel with the boyse from Blue rodeo. They were polite to my kid and to the staff.

Occasionally have an email conversation with Ed King

Saw Dan Rather in an airport in Dallas-man he looked as ragged as a rock star

[woof*]

Played a club in Denver in the mid 70's.
Was told Led Zep was in the audience. On a break met Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and their manager at a table and talked briefly.
After the gig was over I was leaving the club with a friend and there was a scraggly guy, kinda buzzed.. and kinda bothering a girl i knew outside the club. We interfered in the conversation and the guy, (with a strong English accent) was trying to get a ride downtown.
My friend offered him a ride. The three of us crammed into his pickup, drank and smoked all the way downtown...he told us he had worked for Zep for many years and told us a few stories. I was pretty buzzed myself and when we dropped him off, he offered for us to come upstairs and have breakfast..I just wanted to go home and sleep.
He got out and we said our goodbyes......a few minutes later my friend says "I can't believe you didn't wanna go up"...."breakfast with John Paul Jones!"
A second or two it dawned on me he was right! I was kicking myself all the way home. :)

[dandelion]

i used to (15 or so years ago) hang out with a well known "star" from the early 80's and had no idea who he was until later. a couple years back i came across an album that i really got into - looked up some info on who played on it and realized it was this guy i used to hang with. strange thing is that i had been a fan of this group since i was a young kid but didnt know who was in it - it was especially weird since he was from one of those countries around where the beatles came from and we met in bfe.

[kasperjensen]

Steve Vai, and all of Metallica.

[Johnnytone]

Met SRV when I worked in Pittsburgh at a theater he was playing at. I had to go and get him a case of long neck Buds and deliver it backstage before the show.

[iaresee]

Checked out of a hotel with the boyse from Blue rodeo. They were polite to my kid and to the staff.

Occasionally have an email conversation with Ed King

Saw Dan Rather in an airport in Dallas-man he looked as ragged as a rock star

Canadian spotted! I'd be a little star struck around Jim Cuddy.

[semi-hollowbody]

Saw Johhny Lydon walking through the Dallas/Ft Worth Airport with some other mohawked punk dude...it was definitely him...late 90's maybe early 2000's...he didnt look very approachable and didnt have an entourage...

hardly a rock star, but I met the kid who played Zack in School of Rock...Joey something or other...he was hawking his cd's at the guitar center in Canton MI...wouldnt even talk to you unless you bought s cd...he was a uber douche, laughing and smirking at everyone (he WAS young at the time, granted) but his band seemed cool, gracious...I got the impression hi band ALSO thought joey/zack was an uber douche...I wonder what ever happened to that kid, he was a prodigy or something...cd sucked ASS...not bad playing, just bad music

I didnt care much about his music, I wanted to ask him school of rock questions, which everyone else did as well...he did NOT like this and got snippy...I guess I dont blame him, he wants to be a rock god and move past the cheesy movie role he did as a kid...but sorry that was your peak buddy, 15 minutes are OVER

and this MIGHT have been an encounter:
early to mid 90's I used to hang out at Memphis Smoke in Royal Oak, MI...used to talk to and hit on bartender named Meg...long dark hair, nice bewbies, very attractive in a non-conventional no make up kinda way..smoked a LOT...years later find out that was meg White (at least I think it was)...I never had a chance in hell though LOL

[sanrico]

Here's another: About 22 years ago, I worked in a guitar store and a big young guy comes in with a small nerdy looking guy and buys some strings. The big guy is nice and he's talking about "the gig tonight," so I ask him where he's playing. He looks at the nerdy guy, who says, "He's playing at UNM." I say, "Cool...what band are you in?" and the nerdy guy huffs and snaps at me, "He's in GWAR!!" like I should have instantly recognized him.

I wonder why I didn't recognize him?
http://oooiviooo.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/gwar.jpg

[Dave2512]

I've met many that were famous in the 60's and 70's that faded and became "normal" people. Not talking about asking for an autograph at a theater show because they have to work their own merch table after the show but actually hanging with a few. Mark Farner is probably the most well known. He did some appearances at the big church my uncle was involved with, he was the house band drummer, and Mark was a guest at a gathering at someone's house afterward.

My parents are in politics/gvmt here so I've met lots of celebs, former and current in town for galas, fund raising events, you name it. Not a huge star but one of the coolest things was getting to ask Jock Bartley about Gram when Firefall did a thing at one of my Mom's events. He was cool about it, knew it was coming because I had a GP fan club shirt on.

[Mookyshoots]

I met Tommy Shaw as he was coming out of Mall of America back in 2003. I was in town for work and was with a bunch of younger colleagues. After I went up and shook his hand, I sadly had to go back to the group and explain who he was.

[Zero G]

I met Tommy Shaw as he was coming out of Mall of America back in 2003. I was in town for work and was with a bunch of younger colleagues. After I went up and shook his hand, I sadly had to go back to the group and explain who he was.

Who is he?

[dogbone94]

Who is he?
the guitar player for damn Yankees...:bonk:jo:facepalm

[kasperjensen]

I got to hang out with a very big rock star in a private setting over the course of about a week. I don't really want to give out names, because it was very private.

But the point is... What a lovely down to earth dude. He could easily have been the biggest douche known to man. 10 minutes of shooting the bull and I forgot who he was.
Also got to see how much a private situation is appreciated away from an incredibly hectic life.

[Slurms MacKenzie]

I met John Jorgenson after a free show at Amoeba Music in SF several years ago, around the time he released "Franco American Swing". Just the friendliest guy you can imagine. A younger player brought his Gitane Django-style in for an autograph and while John is signing it, the kid asks him a question about a certain passage from one of the songs on F-A swing. John grabs his guitar and gives the kid a mini lesson right there. It was rad.

[SkinDog]

I've met Johnny Marr.

[Celery Man]

I met Taylor Hawkins (drummer for the Foo Fighters) briefly in 2007 during SXSW. My band wasn't and isn't really hot shit, but at that point we had a little buzz in Austin and had ins with the local rock station, 101X, who was throwing a party at Buffalo Billiards on 6th. We were able to get into the VIP section upstairs, and were just hanging out, drinking free beer (bud light lime... blech) and playing Rock Band on the game console stations they had set up. There were all these "Call it, Friendo" promotional oversized coins on all the tables for No Country for Old Men that we were filling our pockets with. At one point I was standing around in a circle drinking beer and chatting it up with a few of the guys in our band, some radio guys, this guy who had been a rock band "coach" in "Made", some reality MTV show, and then this super chill dude with long blonde hair. Shortly after, one of the guys came up and told me who I'd just been chatting with. Nice guy, he took a picture with us.

[67blackcherry]

Who is he?

the guitar player for damn Yankees...:bonk:jo:facepalm

He also played for a very obscure band called Styx...:dunno

[Bruce Lychee]

David Bowie - I was seated at the table next to his at Cafe Luxembourg in NYC back in the late 90s. He was dining with Iman. I didn't want to bother him but he was kind enough to say hello when I was seated.

Not a rock star, but Wynton Marsalis - I was playing basketball with some teenagers on the courts behind Lincoln Towers near Lincoln Center. Wynton and 2 other musicians came on the court and asked us if they could play. I was the only one who recognized him, but he shook my hand, asked me what instrument I played, then proceeded to school me with his jump shot.

[Zero G]

the guitar player for damn Yankees...:bonk:jo:facepalm

Never heard of them. No need to be a jerk.

[Zero G]

He also played for a very obscure band called Styx...:dunno

Having never been interested in the music or band members of Styx, why would I be expected to know who this guy is?

[tonedoggie]

About 15 years ago I was on a plane with Sam Andrew (Big Brother & Holding Co)...he helped me find space for my guitar in the overhead compartment. He also told me a couple funny tales of the rigors of the road back in the day...

Met JJ Cale after a show in Austin several years back. He was very friendly and just hangin out immediately after his show at a small club downtown. I don't think folks milling around recognized him.

Chatted with Richard Thompson just a few nights ago at a post show meet and greet...he was extremely gracious and charming. We discussed his current live guitar (partscaster with rio grande pickups) and amp set up (Headstrong Lil King and/or Vibroverb RI) No surprise, his current touring "power trio" is absolutely killer...

[dogbone94]

Having never been interested in the music or band members of Styx, why would I be expected to know who this guy is?
why did you even bother post...?

[Zero G]

why did you even bother post...?

All I asked was "who is he?" because I'd never heard of him. It's not a strange request, but somehow that made you angry.

[gtrdave]

All I asked was "who is he?" because I'd never heard of him. It's not a strange request, but somehow that made you angry.

Yeah, he was the guitarist for Styx and Damn Yankees.
Had you asked this question back in the '80s or even the '90s, I could see people giving you the crooked eyes expression, but here we are almost 20 years removed from relevance and your reply of "who is he" is totally legit, imho.

[67blackcherry]

Styx was a multi-platinum selling band - Tommy was asked to join when he was all of about 19 or 21 and proceeded to write (and sing) some of their biggest hits; he's an awesome guitarist / singer / songwriter and this being The Gear Page....many would think you'd know who the bloke is.
As for the still relevant part - they're still touring (and receiving a ton of radio play on every single classic rock station across America) so I guess that would make them still relevant, no?

[jitterbug]

I've had Warren Cucurrullo (Zappa, Missing Persons, Duran, Duran) and John Fogerty over to my house to buy my amps. Both down to earth great guys who love to play their guitars! I met Eddie Van Halen and his son Wolfgang when they were at Henson Studios recording their new album. I was delivering two of my custom amps to producer John Shanks. I got real drunk and went to the Rainbow on Sunset Blvd in 1985 and sat in the same booth as Brian Setzer while he was chompin' down a hamburger...I tried to make him laugh but he just looked at me like I was crazy..that was the last time I ever drank alcohol! I also got loaded with Fred Berry who used to be Rerun on the TV show What's Happenin' down at the beach. His buddies were mad at him because he just wanted to hang out with me and watch me play guitar. Here in LA you run into lots of actors and actresses, I leave them alone..

[Mookyshoots]

Who knew my posting about meeting Tommy Shaw would be the thing that stirred up a TGP spat.

I feel so special now.

[iaresee]

I've had Warren Cucurrullo (Zappa, Missing Persons, Duran, Duran) and John Fogerty over to my house to buy my amps. Both down to earth great guys who love to play their guitars!
Oh wow! Warren, in particular, would leave me a little star struck I think. That's so cool.

[winterblu]

Tom Petty.
In Phoenix at the Point, was there for a business lunch. Tom Petty was just making some headway with his release and supporting tour for Damn the Torpedoes.
Cool guy and very approachable.

[Paul R Remark]

Met James Taylor in the gym- he was in town for a concert. No one else seemed to know who he was!

[neodymium]

Have "met" many.... worked as a production runner for a few years. Best experience ever was meeting Ian McLagan - he bought me a beer (and I was his driver!).

[Braunzo]

I met all the guys from Opeth last week. All super nice. I did have VIP tickets to see them. But I got to talk jazz with Mikael and gear with Fredrick. It was definitely a very cool experience to meet one of your big guitar guys. Mikael is a top 5 guitar player for me.

[EataPeach]

I have had quite a few sign CDs etc...was on BB's bus for a bit. Very cool!!

But chance meetings
....when I was 16 ( in '80) Peter Wolf came into the record shop I worked at. He knew the owner apparently. I remember being in awe of his "coolness"..I wanted to be Peter Wolf after that!! ; )

Ted Nugent came I to a guitar shop we were hanging in when I was 15. That was great too!!

Just met Jaimoe at the grocery store a few months ago!!! THAT was very cool

[SteveGaines]

1983 I was in Memphis at Strings and Things...I looked up and saw Eric Clapton. I had a set of Ernie Ball strings in my guitar case. I grabbed the .009 that was still in the paper and walked over and asked for his autograph. He said.."Wait a minute and I'll be my other mates to sign it"..Came back and not only him but Albert Lee and Duck Dunn signed it...

EC WORLD TOUR 83
BE COOL AND PLAY FUNKY
ERIC CLAPTON
DONALD "DUCK" DUNN
ALBERT LEE


I used to see Carl Perkins so much in Jackson, Tn he was just Mr. Carl to all of us.

A friend of mine played keyboards for Carl and was a pallbearer at his funeral. Now HE met some stars. Seems like when they went to England they were constantly at George Harrison's place or visiting with Clapton. They worshiped Carl in England.

[AlexL]

Thought I posted this, but I searched the thread (twice) and cam up with nothing. So apologies if I'm doubling up...

I was flying home from spending a week at my company's main office in Anaheim. I scheduled my trip during NAMM, and I stayed a few extra days so I could attend the show. Sunday morning I'm at the airport checking in for my flight home, and there's a guy at the counter next to me. The agent asks him his name and he says "Root, James". As the agent is checking on his reservation, I turn to him and say. "You're not Jim Root from Slipknot are you?" He replies "yeah". I was ready to let it go at that, so as to respect his privacy, but he asked if I was in town for NAMM. I gave him the story about visiting my company's office, staying on for a few days to attend the show, etc.

Then he says "Minnesota or Wisconsin?" I replied "Minnesota". He said "Yeah, I'm from Iowa, I recognized your accent."

We walked down the corridor of the airport together, chatting about the show. He was excited about his upcoming signature amp from Orange, and he said how cool 3D printing was because he could get prototype parts from his endorsers (or is taht endorsees?) the day after he called them to talk about them.

He eventually said he had to go meet his guitar tech, and held his hand out and said "nice to meet you." I repeat, he said this to *me*.

I am not a Slipknot fan, but damned if he wasn't one of the nicest people, celebrity or not, that I ever had a casual conversation with. Maybe because I didn't treat him like a celebrity. I didn't gush, ask for a picture or an autograph.

A buddy of mine worked for Jackson Guitars, and he knows Jim Root, and confirmed that my experience was not atypical; Jim's just a really nice guy.

I got a kick out of coming home, findings live Slipknot video on YouTube, and telling my oldest daughter "hey, I met this guy this morning".

E.

[dwk302]

I met Kerry King. He was an a-hole.

[EataPeach]

I met Kerry King. He was an a-hole.


I'm almost afraid to ask....Who's that?
I suppose I could Google him. but it seems more fun to ask in light of previous posts

[dogbone94]

I'm almost afraid to ask....Who's that?
I suppose I could Google him. but it seems more fun to ask in light of previous posts
guitarist for slayer....:beer

[Fastermouse]

This may be buried in the previous posts but I have met a hung out with a lot of them, whatever.

But here is a TGP exclusive for you, because of the AlexL story about Namm.

I was at Namm in ATL in 1980 (?) and walked into the Roland booth (I think it was Roland but if it was Korg or whatever forgive my forgetting.) In the booth was a tent made of black curtains. I heard music and just walked in. Behind a keyboard 3 feet in front of me was Herbie Handcock, and sitting a foot from me was Skunk Baxter. The stopped playing and I got really embarrassed and said I was sorry to interrupt. Hancock said, "Oh you didn't interrupt, we were just jamming. Grab a guitar and join us."

I was only 19 but I had learned my lesson previously. I had been asked to sit in with both Martha and The Vandellas and the Nighthawks, and on both occasions only volume and liquid courage had gotten me through. A tent in a booth at Namm offered neither. So I declined and just sat and watched these two amazing players jam around for a looong time. It was frakin great. They were super nice and they were there to demo gear so they tried really hard to explain what they were playing on etc. No one else came in and later I couldn't find anyone else that even knew they were there.

That same year Ibanez/Tama put on a afternoon show in the Omni. There were maybe 25 people there as Billy Cobham and Bob Weir played what I think was the first ever Bobby and The Midnites show. That jam was what I was lead to believe, the impetus of the band. They certainly weren't billed as anything, just a Ibanez/Tama jam. I say 25 to be fair but all I recall was me and maybe 2 others in my group. It was dead empty and we just enjoyed the chance to sit for awhile.

In case anyone isn't sure about the Bobby and the Midnites date, I know that we got the Dixie dregs into Namm one year and then they played at the Agora, so It seems like it was in April. It is so long ago. I know that one year we had the Dregs on our list but the next year they were indorsed by Fender and had their own passes.

[don carney]

In 1970 my girlfriend (soon to be wife) and I were co hosts for an outdoor music festival held at MSU in East Lansing. We picked up and delivered bands at the airport in Lansing. So we picked up Rod Stewart and the Faces (including Ronnie Wood) at the airport and drove them to East Lansing. They were hungry and tired and so we went to a Howard Johnsons and they had breakfast. They were into soccer and kept a soccer ball with them. We had no clue what soccer was. They wore English style clothes (velvet jacket, etc). We were representing the Midwest in transition.
For the return to the airport trip, we were provided with a large station wagon. Our guests were the entire band Chicago. I had a long talk with Terry Kath who sat in the front with me while I drove.
The concert went on all day and night. When not driving we were in the back stage area. We sat around on bean bag chairs with the Jefferson Airplane. It was something. I do not recall whether it was Paul or Jorma but one or the other had a relative - an uncle - who was a professor at MSU. So the uncle, wife, and their small children came back to the trailers (read stage) to meet their nephew and the others. The nephew was sober and on best behavior; the others not so much. It was a hoot to watch this as the relatives carefully maneuvered around Grace Slick and Marty Balin who were determined to see that nothing was wasted. Soon thereafter, the Jefferson Airplane blew out the sound system but it sounded fine to us and the gathered crowd. I thought they were awesome.
Also there that day was John Sebastian. He was a solo act at that point in his career. We met him and his girlfriend. They were both very friendly and allowed us to take pictures of him in his hotel room while he was tuning.
Other acts there that day as I recall included Minnie Riperton (rest in peace), and Mountain (I think). There are probably others that I cannot recall. It was quite a moment in time. I am very thankful to have met all these folks and/or to have hung out with them. I had retired from music as a player at this point so I was very envious of what they were doing. On the other hand, many of them were living a hard life on the road with many daily distractions (read between the lines) and so survival was no small task. One sensed this from being around that day. We have many pictures of this day which are great treasures in hindsight. Sorry to go on.

[geetar76]

He's not a big "rock star", but I met Jeff Tweedy after a show in Baltimore right before Yankee Hotel Foxtrot came out. At the time, he was a huge influence for me. He was very nice and took the time to answer questions. After a while he politely said he needed to get back to his hotel or whatever, and we happened to be walking in the same direction. I happened to ask him about one his acoustic guitars, and he stopped in the middle of an alley, asked my name again, shook my hand and told me about his guitar. I wasn't very well versed in acoustic guitars at the time and I asked if it was a Guild I think, and he sort of got excited to tell me it was a Gibson J45 I think. He shook my hand again and then went on his way. It was a great experience. Hopefully I'll get an opportunity to meet some folks at a festival I am playing in the end of June in Havre de Grace, MD.

[semi-hollowbody]

Who knew my posting about meeting Tommy Shaw would be the thing that stirred up a TGP spat.

I feel so special now.
who the hell is Tommy Shaw?? Was he the tambourine player in the Dr Hook band???


;)

[woof*]

In 1970 my girlfriend (soon to be wife) and I were co hosts for an outdoor music festival held at MSU in East Lansing. We picked up and delivered bands at the airport in Lansing. So we picked up Rod Stewart and the Faces (including Ronnie Wood) at the airport and drove them to East Lansing. They were hungry and tired and so we went to a Howard Johnsons and they had breakfast. They were into soccer and kept a soccer ball with them. We had no clue what soccer was. They wore English style clothes (velvet jacket, etc). We were representing the Midwest in transition.
For the return to the airport trip, we were provided with a large station wagon. Our guests were the entire band Chicago. I had a long talk with Terry Kath who sat in the front with me while I drove.
The concert went on all day and night. When not driving we were in the back stage area. We sat around on bean bag chairs with the Jefferson Airplane. It was something. I do not recall whether it was Paul or Jorma but one or the other had a relative - an uncle - who was a professor at MSU. So the uncle, wife, and their small children came back to the trailers (read stage) to meet their nephew and the others. The nephew was sober and on best behavior; the others not so much. It was a hoot to watch this as the relatives carefully maneuvered around Grace Slick and Marty Balin who were determined to see that nothing was wasted. Soon thereafter, the Jefferson Airplane blew out the sound system but it sounded fine to us and the gathered crowd. I thought they were awesome.
Also there that day was John Sebastian. He was a solo act at that point in his career. We met him and his girlfriend. They were both very friendly and allowed us to take pictures of him in his hotel room while he was tuning.
Other acts there that day as I recall included Minnie Riperton (rest in peace), and Mountain (I think). There are probably others that I cannot recall. It was quite a moment in time. I am very thankful to have met all these folks and/or to have hung out with them. I had retired from music as a player at this point so I was very envious of what they were doing. On the other hand, many of them were living a hard life on the road with many daily distractions (read between the lines) and so survival was no small task. One sensed this from being around that day. We have many pictures of this day which are great treasures in hindsight. Sorry to go on.

Great stories! Love to see the pictures!
Do you remember The Brewery in East Lansing? In 73 or so my band opened for Kiss, Nugent and a couple others there. We toured that area a lot and lived in Lansing.

[gregsguitars]

Many, I treat them anyone else, talk about the kids, where to eat dinner and never discuss their job or past unless they start the conversation(s), just like anyone else...

[guitarz1972]

1983 I was in Memphis at Strings and Things...I looked up and saw Eric Clapton.

Who?

[dharmabum29]

Next time I'm in Philly, I'm going to track you down and buy your dinner and some beers and kick back and listen to these stories in more detail. You pick the places. Awesome.


Thanks! I'm in Miami Beach now, but you let me know if you're ever in town...I love sitting around talking about music, especially stories from back in the day.

[SteveGaines]

Who?


Back then it was common place when Strings and Things was REALLY happening for all the acts who were in town and playing the Mid South Coliseum to drop in there and hang out, and look at guitars. Clapton, Duck Dunn and Albert Lee all in the store. Still have my autographed .009 Ernie Ball guitar packet.

[JCM 800]

Thought I posted this, but I searched the thread (twice) and cam up with nothing. So apologies if I'm doubling up...

I was flying home from spending a week at my company's main office in Anaheim. I scheduled my trip during NAMM, and I stayed a few extra days so I could attend the show. Sunday morning I'm at the airport checking in for my flight home, and there's a guy at the counter next to me. The agent asks him his name and he says "Root, James". As the agent is checking on his reservation, I turn to him and say. "You're not Jim Root from Slipknot are you?" He replies "yeah". I was ready to let it go at that, so as to respect his privacy, but he asked if I was in town for NAMM. I gave him the story about visiting my company's office, staying on for a few days to attend the show, etc.

Then he says "Minnesota or Wisconsin?" I replied "Minnesota". He said "Yeah, I'm from Iowa, I recognized your accent."

We walked down the corridor of the airport together, chatting about the show. He was excited about his upcoming signature amp from Orange, and he said how cool 3D printing was because he could get prototype parts from his endorsers (or is taht endorsees?) the day after he called them to talk about them.

He eventually said he had to go meet his guitar tech, and held his hand out and said "nice to meet you." I repeat, he said this to *me*.

I am not a Slipknot fan, but damned if he wasn't one of the nicest people, celebrity or not, that I ever had a casual conversation with. Maybe because I didn't treat him like a celebrity. I didn't gush, ask for a picture or an autograph.

A buddy of mine worked for Jackson Guitars, and he knows Jim Root, and confirmed that my experience was not atypical; Jim's just a really nice guy.

I got a kick out of coming home, findings live Slipknot video on YouTube, and telling my oldest daughter "hey, I met this guy this morning".

E.


Jim Root.... the tallest man in Rock & Roll! :)