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Brushes with greatness?

#21
I've had a few. Back in the mid-90s, I had a day job as a salesman at the Lexus dealer in Santa Monica, and a lot of Hollywood types came in there to shop for cars. Anthony Keidis from RHCP test drove the then-new LX450 SUV; he was a really cool guy. I saw Wesley Snipes and Don Henley in the showroom, but didn't talk to them. Carrie Fisher came in and I didn't recognize her; someone had to tell me who she was. Let's just say that her days of posing in the Jabba-the-hut slave outfit were long past.

I also attended BIT, which allowed me to meet some "famous" bass players (which is an oxymoron, let's face it). Victor Wooten, John Patitucci, Steve Bailey, Gary Willis, Stu Hamm, a certain guy whose name I won't mention who doesn't like metronomes, etc.

Oh, and Helen Hunt was at my 30th birthday party. Well, she was in the same restaurant anyway, and someone got her to sign my birthday card. :)
 
#23
Mike Watt- very cool chatted him up before a fIREHOSE show.
Ed fROM OHIO- grew up with him. Also very cool.
Walked past Ruth Gordon once, teeeny.
Partied with Gerry Cooney once at my house. He's pretty nice, down to earth.
Bonnie Raitt was very nice when I met her.
Had breakfast with Eva La Rue (CSI Miami) and her husband, both very nice. (He's a soap opera actor.)
Had dinner with John Hurley AKA J. Peterman from Seinfeld. He IS J. Peterman.
 
#24
I had dinner with John Turner and his wife. After dinner, we went to his house and I got to play his double neck bass and check out a Ritter while picking up some random tips to be a better player.

Honestly, one of the coolest evenings in my entire life.

-Mike
 
#27
MJ5150 said:
I had dinner with John Turner and his wife. After dinner, we went to his house and I got to play his double neck bass and check out a Ritter while picking up some random tips to be a better player.

Honestly, one of the coolest evenings in my entire life.

-Mike
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Wait, so he's a real person?! I thought he was a super computer that was just really PO'd or something ;)
 
#28
BassChuck said:
(Mingus) looked at me and said, "get outta my way honky mo*******ker". Somehow I still feel blessed.
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George Russell (composer, arranger, & inventor of The Lydian Chromatic Concept Of Tonal Organization) once said to me "you're the perfect example of someone who does too much left-brain thinking!" ...and yet I too feel blessed to have been complimented (sic) by so important a figure. :)
 
#30
At Lucky Strike in Hollywood, I saw Damien Dante Wayans. Pretty much the least famous of the Wayans brothers. He just gave me a "you know what's up, playa" grin and nodded his head at me aggressively.

Warren G used to frequent my home back in the day. He was friends with my sister.

Willie McGinest came to the skating rink where I used to work for his kid's birthday party. He tried to imitate my moves out there on the floor, and I seriously considered trying to trip him. I hate the Patriots
 
#31
Phalex said:
My whole family attended school (K-12) with the DeBarge's. Chico was in my class, Eldra was in my older brothers class.
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Hey, they are from Grand Rapids, aren't they? I love DeBarge! I once had to do a little vocal project for a friend with Philip Ingram, of Switch. He was a real nice dude, friendly and all that, but he always seemed to bring the conversation to his own career. No matter what...it was kinda funny, tbh :D
 
#32
I get to play some shows with famous people when they perform at the local hall. Most of the time I am in the orchestra but I get hired on BG when the performer doesnt travel with a band. I really forward to those shows because I get to meet and interact with these folks directly. I have gotten to play with Art Garfunkle (amazing entertainer) Amy Grant (not so much), Kathleen Battle (famous opera singer, unbelievable voice AND attitude:scowl:). Next weekend I have a show with Joan Rivers so I get to add one more to the list.
 
#35
Paul Turner from Jamiroquai came to my uni to do a workshop. He was really cool, and then he was hanging in the bar when I was on my way out. We ended up chatting for about 15 minutes. Very nice man.
 
#39
I leave famous people alone when I run into them. I figure they could use the break.
Around 1980, I saw Sergio Oliva at a gas station. Very big man. Not tall, but his forearms looked like my thighs.
I saw Don MacLean at a small theater in Chicago. My date went right up on stage when he finished and started talking his ear off, asked for a pick as a souvenir. I just stood back and nodded hello, said thanks for a good show. I figured he was probably tired and ready to leave.
Around 1988 or so I saw two women in Macy's in NY obviously trying not to be noticed. They got within six feet or so and it was clear that it was Raquel and Tawny Welch. I let them be. Raquel gave me a little smile and a nod, as if to say, "yes, we're who you think we are and thank you for leaving us alone."
Early 90's Bill "Spaceman" Lee came into the bar area of a restaurant I was in on Cape Cod and sat down a few chairs away. I left him alone too.
 
#40
mid_life_crisis said:
I leave famous people alone when I run into them. I figure they could use the break.
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Im the same way. I once saw Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth crossing the parking lot near the Glass House in Pomona. Some guys ran up to him all 'are you that guy in that band' and he said no, he was their roadie. So they turned back dissapointed. Passing by I just gave him a smile and said 'Hi Thurston, have a great show'.
 

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