Meeting Famous Musicians

[YankeeRose]

It's pronounced Mill-you-walk-A. Which is an elgoncuan terrm for promised land, I think?

Algonquin. Great thread, Gg.

[SavageHeart]

I've met a few, but some of the coolest...

Phil Varone, drummer for Saigon Kick. He asked my then husband if he wanted to sit behind his drum set and play a bit....very cool.

Biff, singer for Saxon, and I had a very cool conversation at a small bar in Rochester, NY. He told me all about this girl he used to date from the Poconos. He was very friendly and had the whole band sign a guitar for the guy I was with.

Dirk Thurisch, singer for Angeldust. Very friendly. A record exec with him told Dirk that he looked fat on stage. He blamed it on the size of American food portions. He said that a small coke here is like a large in Germany. He said everything is extra large here and he was having trouble keeping weight off while they were in America.

Rich Ward, Strapping Yound Lad. The guy I was with had a 4 Horsemen t-shirt on and he stood and talked wrestling with us forever. During the show, he called my ex up on stage to show everyone the shirt. Obviously he was a big fan!!! Very cool dude.

The guys from Evergrey and Edguy were incredibly nice, too.

I could go on but most every "famous" musician I've met has been very cool. Some strange in there own way, but all pretty cool.

[Victor Synn]

Cinderella- Got to meet them last year at the Rock Never Stops tour in Wilkes-Barre. Great bunch of guys. Tom Keifer was nice, but you could kind of tell he would have rather been on the bus relaxing. Signed my stuff and thanked me for coming out. Fred Coury was the least talkative. Most likely because there was a reporter from NASCAR there to talk to him. I assume he's either a racing fan or maybe races himself, sort of like Vince Neil and his Indy cars. Jeff LaBar was cool as always. Said hi to us and had a big smile on his face. Talked about playing with us whenever the Naked Beggars went back out that fall. He was definately the most sociable. Most likely because we knew him and shared some stages with him. Eric Brittingham, unfortunately, wasn't there for that meet and greet, but we hung with him before and in the fall at City Limits. He's my favorite of the Cinderella guys. The most down to earth, sociable, and friendliest person you'll ever meet. I have a lot of respect for Eric as a musician and a person.

Firehouse- Great guys. Saw them on the same tour as Cinderella and went to their meet and greet when Quiet Riot was playing their set. I talked a good bit to C.J. Snare about HF1 and us doing Firehouse music and he asked where we were from and thanked me for keeping their music alive and in people's minds. Very cool of him to say that. Talked to Bill Leverty about talking to him on AOL back when I was still in college and wanting to start a band. Told him his advice he gave me back then was very helpful to me. Their new bassist was very gracious. You could tell he was loving his gig and loved to meet the fans, which is a good thing. No ego at all. Michael Foster was cool. Signed my stuff along with the rest and shook my hand, told me thanks for supporting them and to make sure to see them again when they were around. Told him I'd like to open for them sometime when they swing through PA again and he asked about the band. He seemed very happy when I told him what we did. Said he liked to hear that people were still fans of the music. Good guys all around.

Bret Michaels- Bret was ok. I wasn't too impressed by his rockstar attitude and making his bodyguard do all his talking for him. Supposedly, he snuck into Goodfella's during our set and watched us from backstage. Met him after the show and he thanked us for doing the opener and got pics taken. But he was nowhere to be found until he went on stage. I felt kind of luke warm about that. Especially, since I site him as an influence of mine.

[Banned]

ARLO GUTHRIE I met him when I worked backstage at the Scranton CYC. He was so friendly, just exactly like you would expect. He signed two of my old albums. He partook of the partying just offstage with us right before he went on.

MARK MAY He played guitar with Dickey Betts when he played at the Crowbar a few years ago. We talked to him for maybe 45 minutes outside the show and said the band got much better responses from Northern crowds than Southern. (the crowd response at the Crowbar was amazing)

ULI JON ROTH When he played Jaxx 2 years ago, after his set, he sat in a booth by the other bar and talked to anyone who wanted to say anything. He even called one of our friend's girlfriend at home on my cellphone to ask why did she not come. I hope Uli keeps coming to America, and I will go to any show within 3 hours.

MOHHAMED ALI Although not a musician, one of the most memorable people I have ever met. Met before and after a boxing match in 1970, and he was very nice to everyone.

[Gallowglass]

Yes, it was on U.C. Joe's cellphone that the infamous Uli call I alluded to in my first post was made. Honestly, it was hilarious-you had to be there.

[SpellboundByMetal]

savage Heart- Rich ward is with Stuck Mojo. NOT SYL.

[RamRod 1]

Met Roger Mcguinn of the "Byrds" at the "S Club' in Johnstown back in "82". I'm a big Byrds fan and brought my acoustic for him to autograph and he took me back stage and shot the shit for a while. He was a class act.

[HarleyRo1]

Blain...I loved Marillion...in fact...that's where I got my daughter's name...from the song Kayleigh.

One of the nicest people I ever met was Andrew W. K. He's pretty nuts on stage, but off stage, incredibly sweet. He was signing t-shirts and stuff for people at Warped Tour - and took at least 5 minutes with each person. Really genuine guy that obviously appreciates his fans.

I met Patrick Simmons from the Doobie Brothers in Milwaukee in the summer of 2003. Super nice guy...very shy...and the longest hair I have ever seen on a guy.

[Banned]

My impressions:

Gene Simmons: nice and genuinely over-the-top

Paul Stanley: a bit serious, but who cares

Bruce Kulick: Got mad a me because I didn't have a picture of him that he could autograph. We did talk a bit about guitar gear, but he was a little strange

Mike Reno: got fat but could still wail. He actually liked my voice and was pretty decent.

Earl Slick: I actually got to play some soundcheck tunes with him from the Phantom, Rocker and Slick days. He was way too strung out on coffee, but was by far one of the nicest people I've ever met. The guy's so fuckin' smooth on guitar it's sick. I hung out with him for over three hours and it was like I was one of his best pals. I can't say enough about this guy.

And finally, MOXHAM123, I love Jason and the Scorchers, and I too, have covered 4 or 5 of their tunes. I didn't even know they were at the FolkFest and I am now stabbing myself profusely![/quote]

[daveb]

I've met a few. Met David Johanson back when he was doing the Buster Poindexter act. Ask a Stranger provided PA and stage gear for them at Clarion University. I was standing on stage trying to create a diversion so that University staff wouldn't notice us pounding 16 penny nails of their new hardwood stage floor. I notice a guy standing beside me and he says: "Hi, I'm David." I say "yean me too. You sure look different than when you were in the New York Dolls." He laughed and said that he now looks just like his dad. He hung out and shot the shit for an hour then walked to Wendy's for supper. Regular guy.


Provided production for Savoy Brown several times. Kim Simmonds, the guitar player, was always ready to BS. One night we were tearing down the gear and he walks out with a BIG glass of whisky. He sits down on a case and starts telling tales from the road. Super cool guy.

Rick Witkowski. About my favorite guitar player ever. Ask a Stranger recorded our CD at his house, he engineered the CD, played percussion on it. I interviewed him when I hosted "In Town" (Johnstown TV show). I went to see Crack The Sky in Pittsburgh. He took Dave Hawk and I back and introduced us to the band. Always a great guy and a great talent.

I was standing outside a bar in Butler one night and Donnie Iris walks by and slips on the ice. I reach out and grab his arm to stop him from falling. He says "Thanks, man. I'm Donnie." I said "No shit." He laughed his ass off. Funny moment.

At Warped tour a couple of years ago, me and a friend of mine talked to Bowling for Soup for about an hour. Their CD was just hitting at the time. They were super humble and friendly. We also hung out with the singer from a good band called Opiate For the Masses. Nice guy. I talked to him this year at Warped and he says "Hey I remember you from last year. You and some other guy hung out with me." Good memory. Made time to talk to my 13 year old son. That was nice. Great band by the way.

I've met some assholes too. Molly Hatchet. We opened for them and they treated us like shit. Opened for a bunch of "has beens" Head East, The Byrds, Dr. Hook, Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen, Rare Earth. Mostly they were OK but kept to themselves.

I also met Linda Robinson. She was/ is a heavy in the music promotion business. Her husband, Rich Robinson, produced an awesome Lou Reed album. So, that made her cool with me.

[SavageHeart]

Spellbound....I knew that!!! I have no idea what I was thinking when I typed it except that I was thinking about meeting Devin Townsend and decided not to post about that!!!! Two thoughts collide...SORRY!!! Thanks for the correction, though.

[Mistress_DB]

Vic: Fred's a huge nascar fan. There's a few pics on his site of him in the pit at some races.

ok my list and some comments on each of them.

All of Cinderella countless times..

Eric - like Vic my favorite of the group. I actually met him through the band's website about 7 years ago and started talking with him then. Got the chance to meet the man in person on the 2000 Poison tour in Hershey. Total sweetheart. Not an ounce of rockstar ego.

Jeff - The first meeting was a riot. I worked up the nerve to tap him on the shoulder and ask if I could get a picture. He turns around and his eyes automatically go south to my chest (which bears a decently sized custom drawn Cinderella tattoo). And I get " Oh my F'n God is that REAL?!?!?!" And he automatically grabs. LOL! At another show about a month later Jeff was extremely kind to my then 10 year old daughter and invited her on the bus to play video games with his son. He was extremely personal with her and made sure her first backstage experience was a good one.

Fred - I love Fred. I'm close friends with his webmaster and he knows it. So he tends to like to mess with me every damned time.

Tom - Vic might laugh here but I went totally star struck the first time I met Tom. This man is just breathtakingly beautiful up close.

Members of Poison (minus CC, I will get to him in a bit)

Rikki Rockett - Was actually him who got me backstage at the Hershey show in 2000. Total gentleman but a huge flirt.

Bobby Dall - Kinda quiet. Not really the chatty type. Signed my after show pass in 01 while it was still taped to my chest. LOL!

Samantha 7 /CC DeVille - My most memorable meeting. I met CC when he was doing Sam 7 at Jaxx night club in VA in the ladies room. Where we proceeded to argue over just who was in the wrong bathroom. Then he tries to talk me into giving him my dominatrix shoes. Awesome guy. Very funny.

Michael Lardie - Just met in passing. Nice guy. Kinda quiet but polite. Think his lady was in attendance that night.

Other people..

Keff Radcliffe (former Pretty Boy Floyd/ LA Guns) - He had a crush on a friend of mine. Backed him against the bathroom door at the Cat Club, grabbed his ass and made him blush.

Taime Downe (faster pussycat/newlydeads) - dresses like a freak. needs a tan worse than I do. Total gentleman though.

Jack and Kelly Osbourne - Actually met them when we were having a late dinner at Mel's Diner in LA. The Osbournes had just hit big on MTV. 2 very down to earth kids who were more than happy to come back to talk to us.

Justin Timberlake - he was actually sitting across from us in a booth at Mel's. Total JERK! One of the girls in our group went over to see if she could get an autograph for her room mates little girl who was a huge fan. Acted like it was the world's biggest inconvience to have to sign something. So a few of us sat at the table and made fun of him until he left.

There's been a few others but mostly they have just been in passing. Just a hey how ya doing type deal.

[SavageHeart]

Mistress_DB
I'm sure you already know this but....on the front page of the Progress (Clearfield newspaper) yesterday it said TIckets On Sale... I remember that you were interested in the Poison show at the Clearfield County Fair. In case you didn't know, tickets are $28 and $26. They are on Friday night of the fair, I think its August 4. You can order them at 814-765-1749 or you can get them on the web.

[Atomic Jim]

Fat Vinny is right about B.B. King. He is the consumate gentleman. I met him in Memphis about 5 years ago. He did two, two-hour shows at his clubs and then took fans individually on his tour bus. It was after 2 a.m. when my daughter and I got to go on the bus. He was 75 at the time and had to be tired, but he was the nicest person, he sign a picture for me and let my daughter take a picture of him and me together.

Tommy Shannon and Chris Leyton are in the same category, southern, no ego, and just great people.

But the biggest shocker was when we were on the road. We played the Sheraton in Portland, Maine for a month in 1980. (great gig, they put us up in cottages close to Old Orchard Beach.) On our last night there, we were packing our van to move to another gig when a limo pulled up to the hotel. I was in the van and my wife said to me, "I think that's Heart." I turned around to get out of the van and Ann Wilson is walking over to Us!. She came right up to the van and said, "Hi guys, how it going." I was in total shock and nearly speechless. I so overwhelmed that a big star would come over to us and start up a conversation. Nancy was there too, of course and we hung out with her for a while too. What a thrill.

Susan Tedeschi is a real sweet heart, too, as is Shemeka Copeland and her entire band.

I also got to meet session and touring drummer Kenny Arnof last year, and then later saw him on the Tonight show with John Fogerty. Very nice person.

[HurricaneBob]

Great stories Jim!

[Gallowglass]

I always thought Ann Wilson was fantastic. I think she would be very interesting to talk to. It's nice to know that she's cool like that.

[Craven Sound]

I worked on the stage crew at the BJC while at UP and got a vibe from a few musicians, even though we weren't allowed to go out of our way to meet or talk to them.

Shania Twain- One of the most down to earth musicans I ever worked for. She actually walked around like a normal person and ate in the lunch room with the rest of the crew. Her drummer was the coolest; he gave one of the crew guys some sticks, (who was also a drummer) and they talked about drum shit for hours.

Elton John- I didn't get to really meet him, but I had to move a table or something into his dressing room. There were all kinds of colognes or perfumes and a ton of stuffed animals, mostly Lion King stuff.

WWF- not musicans, but super cool guys. I had no idea who each of them was, but they also ate lunch with the crew.

John Mellencamp- Probably the biggest asshole there is in the music business. I was pushing a trunk down the hall and I got pulled into a room as someone was running down the hall yelling something. It turns out, Dickface was pulling in in his limo, and he's so egotistical, he didn't want anyone to see him. Noone was allowed out until he was safe and secure in his dressing room. He didn't do his own sound check, he had some guy that sounded and looked like him do it. There could be nothing but black anywhere, and his road crew ran around with sharpies and gaff covering any part of the stage that might have a hint of aluminum poking out. It was quite ridiculous.
One of the truck drivers said "the reason he does that, is because he doesn't want you seeing him walk on water"; the best quote regarding this ass-clown.

[Mikey Wax]

I got to meet Darrin Pfiffer the drummer in Goldfinger. It was at Laga in Pittsburgh, RIP. That dude was the coolest "star" I've ever met. We talked for quite a while about our favorite punk bands and drum stuff. It was like hanging out with one of my friends.

[ZappasXWife]

blain said

I talked to Paul McCartney once, for about ten minutes. At one point he called me "mate", which was pretty cool.

I like how you just throw that in there so casual, like him or not, IMO the most famous person anyone has met that posted here. Where did you meet him? That would be cool mate....

[bassist_25]

One of the truck drivers said "the reason he does that, is because he doesn't want you seeing him walk on water"; the best quote regarding this ass-clown.

WTF?

[Blain]

blain said

I talked to Paul McCartney once, for about ten minutes. At one point he called me "mate", which was pretty cool.

I like how you just throw that in there so casual, like him or not, IMO the most famous person anyone has met that posted here. Where did you meet him? That would be cool mate....

Well, I cheated. I didn't meet him in person. I did a phone interview with him. But hey, I did talk to him. I worked in radio in a former life and he was promoting a new live album. It was probably the highlight of my radio career.

[JeffLeeper]

Most of the"Stars I've met were before some of you guys' time.

We did country shows with Bill Anderson , The Statler Brothers , who by the way were the nicest bunch of maniacs you'd ever meet.
Marty Robbins was - not to sound - you know - the sweretest man you'd ever meet.
Nothing but compliments for his warm-up band. Even invited us to his dressing room for a party with his band.
Met Huey Lewis before he hit it....right before he hit it , and he was a really nice guy.

I played bass one night with the Coasters , which was very cool.
Met a lot of 60's acts , most of which were very nice folks....with the exception of Johnny Rivers.....Maybe he was having a bad day....

I guess the most famous big star I've ever met is Bo Saller.
...but don't try to get an autograph.

[ZappasXWife]

JeffLeeper said...

Marty Robbins was - not to sound - you know - the sweretest man you'd ever meet.

You're gay, aren't you?

Even invited us to his dressing room for a party with his band.

Uh Huh...

[JeffLeeper]

Call me that again and I'll scratch your eyes out.

Naw , I'm a practicing heterosexual.
Hopefully I'll get it right.

[RobTheDrummer]

I got to stand next to Satriani and watch him sign my friend's guitar a couple weeks ago here at the Reno Hilton...