Funny airport/tour stories-armadillo stickbag content!

5StringBlues · #1 05-26-2009, 01:29 AM

If this has been done already,someone steer me in the right direction.Yes,I did a search.

A few years ago I played the Blues Estefette in Utrecht,Holland with an old keyboardist named Earl Gilliam.Earl's drummer has a stickbag that he made out of an old,dead armadillo.He treated the shell so it doesn't stink and tacked a rabbit fur on so it would have a bottom.

So the day after the show we are flying out of Schiphol airport.We get to the security section and one of the security personnel sees the stickbag.The drummer gets pulled out of line and a game of twenty questions ensues.They ask him if it's alive,is it real,where did he get it from,etc.Then they get online to find out if the armadillo is an endangered species.

They had obviously never dealt with anything like this and had no idea what to do.They eventually took the drummer to the security office to talk to the head of security who,after about fifteen minutes,decides there is nothing that can be done and lets my friend board.

The flight was delayed about 35 minutes and, when our drummer sat down,I told him,"Jackie,next time they ask you if its real,just say no!"

So,does anyone else have a weird/funny story that happend while flying to or from another country? If so,tell it here!

P.S.-I know there will be questions about the existence of the armadillo stickbag.I know for a fact TB'er RHFUSILLO has seen it,but IF anyone actually reads this thread and there is enough interest I will try to get some pix Wednesday night and post them in this thread by the weekend.

P.S.S.-Sorry about the length and rambling nature of this post.

L

Rick Auricchio · #2 05-26-2009, 12:38 PM

I suppose, aside from their puzzlement, there is a possibility of an import/export issue.

Many countries restrict organic material transfer: this is usually live animals, fruits, vegetables, and some meat products.

Though the 'dillo was dead, if there were a rule about it, the rule might not state dead vs. alive.

Hopefully y'all didn't miss the flight.

Cyber Soda · #3 05-26-2009, 12:40 PM

Well I don't really have anything THAT interesting, but have had a hardshell case of mine raped by a dog. It wasn't in a cage, ran through a hall, tackled and humped my case. It... wasn't "dry humping" for long. Needless to say I got rid of said case when I returned

Easy8 · #4 05-26-2009, 01:23 PM

My high school girlfriend had a purse made out of an armadillo. You used to be able to get those in Mexico.

Back in the '80 I had a security guard at Heathrow ask me if I had a machine gun in the gig bag I was putting onto the x-ray machine. Since we don't joke about about that in the states, I was somewhat startled. He just laughed and waved me through.

5StringBlues · #5 05-26-2009, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy8

My high school girlfriend had a purse made out of an armadillo. You used to be able to get those in Mexico.

Back in the '80 I had a security guard at Heathrow ask me if I had a machine gun in the gig bag I was putting onto the x-ray machine. Since we don't joke about about that in the states, I was somewhat startled. He just laughed and waved me through.

Yeah,9/11 pretty much put an end to that kind of humor.......

Vic Winters · #6 05-26-2009, 01:40 PM

I heard it's company policy never to, imply ownership in the event of a dillo... always use the indefinite article a dillo, never your dillo.

MatticusMania · #7 05-26-2009, 03:10 PM

Easy8 · #8 05-26-2009, 06:01 PM

Something like this?

5StringBlues · #9 05-26-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy8

Something like this?

Wow,yeah,I kinda remember seeing one of those back in the late 70's.

But the stickbag is actually a REAL armadillo!

vbasscustom · #10 05-27-2009, 05:24 PM

so, it was just an armadillo, with a zipper? i assume. and sticks in it

uglymutt · #11 05-28-2009, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Winters

I heard it's company policy never to, imply ownership in the event of a dillo... always use the indefinite article a dillo, never your dillo.

Yay i get the reference, that's an awesome movie.
never had problems except for trying to bring some bongo drums back from Asia. Australia has to be one of the worst places for quarantine, nearly everything is illegal to take in. The bongos got radiated to kill any insects or diseases in the wood and ended up costing me another $60

xgator4u · #12 05-29-2009, 07:33 PM

NO pics.= NO armadillo stick bag.

Easy8 · #13 05-31-2009, 09:31 AM

Nigel Tufnel: We've got Armadillos in our trousers. It's really quite frightening.

dcr · #14 05-31-2009, 09:47 AM

Armadillos as an Endangered Species? Must be 'cause they're so stupid! I saw three dead on the freeway yesterday on the way to the gig!

dcr

azureblue · #15 05-31-2009, 02:17 PM

My airport story (actually 2):

About a year after 9/11, I was flying with my bass in an old style anvil case- with the bass in it- it weighed 50 pounds with the bass in it, and would withstand a 10 foot fall- I saw it fall off the luggage loader once and nearly hit a guy in the head. Anyway, security would always make me open it to check it (luggage), but, flying out of one airport to get home, I checked it in, and the ticket counter girl started to tie a Firearm (rifle case) tag onto the case, without even asking me to open the case. I stopped her, said it was a bass, and she said, "Oh, then we'll have to open the case and inspect it." Go fig.

The other time, I was waiting for it bass to come down the chute, when an announcement was made, asking for the owner of a heavy brown flight case to go to the baggage counter. Fearing the worst- I went over to the baggage counter and identified myself. Immediately, two nervous security people appeared, looking like they were ready to haul me in for something. The case was brought out from the back, and I was ordered to open it. The security people then backed away from me, with hands on their guns, and I am going "***?" when I faintly hear my metronome, that, inside the case, was ticking away. I started to laugh and got more stern looks, then I explained that the sound is my metronome. When I got close to the case, I could see that it had been opened en route. Apparently, somebody inspected the case contents, checked the metronome by turning it on, but could not figure out how to shut off the metronome, so they just put it back in the case at MM=100, for the rest of the flight. I showed them the metronome and removed the battery to make them feel better. But the bass was undamaged. Next time, I ship with no batteries in the metronome, or no metronome....

Quadcam · #16 06-01-2009, 06:15 AM

I work for an airline and my job is to sort all of the bags that are checked in onto the carts for the flights so I've seen/heard the ticking/vibrating bags, it's great when you have to page some chick to come get her bag because something inside is vibrating LOL.

I thought after 16 yrs of doing this I had seen it all and then you come along with the armadillo stick bag. OK , NOW i've seen it all.

heroincredible · #17 06-01-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azureblue

My airport story (actually 2):

About a year after 9/11, I was flying with my bass in an old style anvil case- with the bass in it- it weighed 50 pounds with the bass in it, and would withstand a 10 foot fall- I saw it fall off the luggage loader once and nearly hit a guy in the head. Anyway, security would always make me open it to check it (luggage), but, flying out of one airport to get home, I checked it in, and the ticket counter girl started to tie a Firearm (rifle case) tag onto the case, without even asking me to open the case. I stopped her, said it was a bass, and she said, "Oh, then we'll have to open the case and inspect it." Go fig.

The other time, I was waiting for it bass to come down the chute, when an announcement was made, asking for the owner of a heavy brown flight case to go to the baggage counter. Fearing the worst- I went over to the baggage counter and identified myself. Immediately, two nervous security people appeared, looking like they were ready to haul me in for something. The case was brought out from the back, and I was ordered to open it. The security people then backed away from me, with hands on their guns, and I am going "***?" when I faintly hear my metronome, that, inside the case, was ticking away. I started to laugh and got more stern looks, then I explained that the sound is my metronome. When I got close to the case, I could see that it had been opened en route. Apparently, somebody inspected the case contents, checked the metronome by turning it on, but could not figure out how to shut off the metronome, so they just put it back in the case at MM=100, for the rest of the flight. I showed them the metronome and removed the battery to make them feel better. But the bass was undamaged. Next time, I ship with no batteries in the metronome, or no metronome....

The reason they would have to check the bass is because on the x-ray it'll show up as a huge organic mass with metal (possible detonator) and battery. I imagine a bomb would do more damage to an airplane than a rifle in checked baggage.

And as for the vibrating bags type of thing, it gets kinda weird working security on x-ray or recheck. Some times its difficult to see whats in there, and a couple of times those items were sex toys. And you would be surprised how many people try to take lube on to an airplane (didn't make it though due to the size limits...and they argued about it more than other people would when we confiscate their stuff. Seriously, how badly do you need lube and warming gel on an airplane?).