Meeting Famous Musicians
I've met many over the years, but some memorable ones:
Tom Sholz (Boston) - met him when my older brother was enrolling in
Recording Engineer program at Berkley around 1979. Actually got to go in his home studio with him. This guy is a wizard, and could probably turn a toaster into a guitar amp.
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) - roomed next to him after a show in
Providence RI years ago. Cool as hell! Very down to earth guy.
Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band) - Played several shows with them
in New England while he was still living. He had a habit of not having guitar strings/picks and always "borrowed" some from me. Funny how I never got them returned.
Ace Frehley (Kiss) - He actually gave me a gold guitar pendant, which was subsequently stolen from me by some unmentionable female! He was soooo drunk he could barely talk!
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) - Phenomenal guitarist, total asshole otherwise!
Robby Roberson (The Band) - Very laid back and cool. Was completely drunk at the time, but played harmonica great. Played an outdoor/jam
in Vermont with him and a pile of others who I can't remember. Maybe
I was drunk too?
Steve Perry/Neil Schon (Journey) - Met them while I was fueling their
tour bus in Breezewood, Pa. back when I was working there in 1982.
Many others, but all memorable in their on way.
Tom Sholz (Boston) - met him when my older brother was enrolling in
Recording Engineer program at Berkley around 1979. Actually got to go in his home studio with him. This guy is a wizard, and could probably turn a toaster into a guitar amp.
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) - roomed next to him after a show in
Providence RI years ago. Cool as hell! Very down to earth guy.
Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band) - Played several shows with them
in New England while he was still living. He had a habit of not having guitar strings/picks and always "borrowed" some from me. Funny how I never got them returned.
Ace Frehley (Kiss) - He actually gave me a gold guitar pendant, which was subsequently stolen from me by some unmentionable female! He was soooo drunk he could barely talk!
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) - Phenomenal guitarist, total asshole otherwise!
Robby Roberson (The Band) - Very laid back and cool. Was completely drunk at the time, but played harmonica great. Played an outdoor/jam
in Vermont with him and a pile of others who I can't remember. Maybe
I was drunk too?
Steve Perry/Neil Schon (Journey) - Met them while I was fueling their
tour bus in Breezewood, Pa. back when I was working there in 1982.
Many others, but all memorable in their on way.
I understand he did play a few shows after he died.skipisode wrote: Toy Caldwell (Marshall Tucker Band) - Played several shows with them
in New England while he was still living. He had a habit of not having guitar strings/picks and always "borrowed" some from me. Funny how I never got them returned.
Was down on Ocracoke Island three summers ago and went to this little outside bar on Silver Lake Harbor ("The Jolly Roger"). There was a three piece band setting up, so my wife and I decided to hang out. Suddenly, this guy comes out to tune/warm up; he was playing the sweetest riffs I'd ever heard. So, I wandered up to talk music. I came to find out he was the legendary Rollin' Bob Margolin from Muddy Waters. "Holy *#@!" I thought. We talked for awhile, he played a set, we talked some more. It was great! 

"An intellectual is someone whose mind watches itself." - Albert Camus
Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth from Overkill (suprise!) was one of the coolest guys I've met. The first time I saw OK, was in Poughkeepsie NY. He was hanging out, outside of the bar. My daughter and I walked over and I said, "Just wanted to shake your hand and tell you how much I like the band." We ended up talking for about 15 minutes, about all sorts of shit. I told him how much I liked the (then) new song, "Long Time Dyin" and later during the show he dedicated it to us. I thought that was awesome!
Then, a year later in Buffalo, he comes walking into the venue shooting the shit with people at the bar. I decided I wasn't gonna bother him because there were alot of people crowding around. A few minutes later he comes up to me and says, "Your name is Andy right?", "From Pa. right?"
We talked for about 10 minutes that time. VERY fuckin cool dude!
I've met and talked to all the guys in Overkill, and they're ALL really nice and really appreciate their fans. They're always willing to pose for pics and sign shit. I think that's why Overkill fans are so loyal!






Then, a year later in Buffalo, he comes walking into the venue shooting the shit with people at the bar. I decided I wasn't gonna bother him because there were alot of people crowding around. A few minutes later he comes up to me and says, "Your name is Andy right?", "From Pa. right?"

I've met and talked to all the guys in Overkill, and they're ALL really nice and really appreciate their fans. They're always willing to pose for pics and sign shit. I think that's why Overkill fans are so loyal!






You don't shoot a man in the dick!
I got to meet the lead singer of God Forbid at Ozzfest. He seemed like a cool dude, but his dominatrix chick besides him was scary. She wasn't even good looking.
I also hung out several time with The Badlees. Pete and (then member) Jeff were always cool guys.
I also hung out several time with The Badlees. Pete and (then member) Jeff were always cool guys.
Jae Smith
Root and The Fifths
www.rootandthefifths.com
www.facebook.com/rootandthefifths
www.twitter.com/rootfifths
www.pabands.com
Root and The Fifths
www.rootandthefifths.com
www.facebook.com/rootandthefifths
www.twitter.com/rootfifths
www.pabands.com
- onegunguitar
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 2080
- Joined: Wednesday Aug 10, 2005
- Contact:
Back in the late 80's when I was stationed in N. Carolina, I had a friend that was in a band that opened up for LORD TRACY. I got to hang out and party with them. They were all cool and pretty laid back.Terry Glaze was their singer(former Pantera frontman in the early days) and the bass player-Barney Wolfe, was one of the best bass players I've ever seen,freakin guy was amazing!!
- Dragan Kalasa
- Gold Member
- Posts: 455
- Joined: Sunday Jan 22, 2006
- Location: Between Hopewell and Everett...a rock and a hard place, PA
Back in '99, I went to see Fear Factory,Dope, and Static-X at the Metropol in Pittsburgh. I got to hang out with Ray Herrera (drummer for Fear Factory), met Dino, hung out with the bassist for Static-X (I don't recall his name off the top of my head), and Simon Dope. I got a pic with Ray.
Then in '01 I think, I went to see Disturbed, Godsmack, and Stone Temple Pilots at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. I got a pic with David Draiman and it was funny because his mom took the pic, so I talked to her longer than I did to him. Plus I didn't realize he was so short. He's built, but short.
In '02, I went to a musicians' seminar in NYC. I got to meet Biohazard, which was super cool, Chuck D from Public Enemy, and the bassist from the Max Weinberg 7 from the Conan O'Brien show.
Then in '01 I think, I went to see Disturbed, Godsmack, and Stone Temple Pilots at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh. I got a pic with David Draiman and it was funny because his mom took the pic, so I talked to her longer than I did to him. Plus I didn't realize he was so short. He's built, but short.
In '02, I went to a musicians' seminar in NYC. I got to meet Biohazard, which was super cool, Chuck D from Public Enemy, and the bassist from the Max Weinberg 7 from the Conan O'Brien show.
- drums=life
- Gold Member
- Posts: 495
- Joined: Friday Apr 23, 2004
- Location: South Jersey / Philly
- lonewolf
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 6249
- Joined: Thursday Sep 25, 2003
- Location: Anywhere, Earth
- Contact:
I've met a few here and there, but on Memorial Day, 1994, I hired Kansas for an outdoor concert at Harvey's Lake Ampitheatre. Unfortunately, we had to be there early, so Kansas wasn't along when we took the limos to the venue. The ampitheatre had a beach house and sand volleyball court backstage and we had tasty foods and beverages and lounge chairs set up. We had regional band Hybrid Ice warming up when the limos returned with Kansas.
The only original members in attendance that day were Steve Walsh and Rich Williams. It was 85 degrees and sunny, but Rich at almost 400lbs was all dressed in black with an overcoat and stayed in the beach house until showtime because of his weight and diabetes. He was polite but not interested in socializing on this day. I ran down to the local store and got him some sugar free soda.
Steve Walsh is a friendly guy with a sense of humor. We BSed quit a bit, but there were 2 things he said that I remembered the most. I asked if they would make any videos from their newest material and he said:
"We did just fine without MTV, and I'm sure they'll do just fine without us."
I asked him if he was going to do handstands off the keyboard stand and he said:
"Probably not. 20 years ago I had the en_er_gy of 10 guys, but now I'm down to two."
He did handstands anyway.
The only original members in attendance that day were Steve Walsh and Rich Williams. It was 85 degrees and sunny, but Rich at almost 400lbs was all dressed in black with an overcoat and stayed in the beach house until showtime because of his weight and diabetes. He was polite but not interested in socializing on this day. I ran down to the local store and got him some sugar free soda.
Steve Walsh is a friendly guy with a sense of humor. We BSed quit a bit, but there were 2 things he said that I remembered the most. I asked if they would make any videos from their newest material and he said:
"We did just fine without MTV, and I'm sure they'll do just fine without us."
I asked him if he was going to do handstands off the keyboard stand and he said:
"Probably not. 20 years ago I had the en_er_gy of 10 guys, but now I'm down to two."
He did handstands anyway.
...Oh, the freedom of the day that yielded to no rule or time...