You met PORTNOY! I'm Not worthy! I heard he was a douche, but a God of drums. (I love his playing.)
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Famous bassist encounters...
- Thread starter b15fliptop
- Start date
I met the bassist from Into the Moat recently. I just read on our front page that he's having some medical problems. I hope things go alright for him.
I met Geddy Lee while he was staying at the Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Florida. The boys were in town on the Roll The Bones tour (which I attended - with Primus opening, wow!) and he must have stayed an extra few days to check out some Blue Jays spring training games.
I got a tip on which room he was in from Room Service. I was working a function as a waiter and left in the middle of the dinner to go get my Chronicles tape and have him sign it. I borrowed the Room Service guy's name tag and knocked on the door. He must have answered because he saw it was a guy with a hotel uniform on. He wasn't too happy that my visit had nothing to do with Room Service but just a guy who wanted an autograph. He told me it was bull$hit that I found his room. He still signed my tape and told me not to tell anyone else which room he was in. He was pretty generous considering I bothered him in his room. It's not like I just bumped into him and he refused to sign for me.
Jason Newsted - managed to get a meet and greet during the Metallica black album tour. Incredibly cool guy. It was right after he shaved his head and people WOULD NOT let up with the, "why did you shave your head?" questions. He signed EVERYTHING you put in front of him for anybody. Couldn't say the same for Kirk Hammett who walked around with a beer and acted all smug. Never saw James or Lars.
I got a tip on which room he was in from Room Service. I was working a function as a waiter and left in the middle of the dinner to go get my Chronicles tape and have him sign it. I borrowed the Room Service guy's name tag and knocked on the door. He must have answered because he saw it was a guy with a hotel uniform on. He wasn't too happy that my visit had nothing to do with Room Service but just a guy who wanted an autograph. He told me it was bull$hit that I found his room. He still signed my tape and told me not to tell anyone else which room he was in. He was pretty generous considering I bothered him in his room. It's not like I just bumped into him and he refused to sign for me.
Jason Newsted - managed to get a meet and greet during the Metallica black album tour. Incredibly cool guy. It was right after he shaved his head and people WOULD NOT let up with the, "why did you shave your head?" questions. He signed EVERYTHING you put in front of him for anybody. Couldn't say the same for Kirk Hammett who walked around with a beer and acted all smug. Never saw James or Lars.
Over the years, I have had the pleasure of meeting:
Verdine White - Earth, Wind, and Fire
Fred Hammond - Radical for Christ
Hubert Eaves III - Erika Badu (atcually, he's a relative)
Terry Louis - The Time, Janet Jackson, et al
There are some lesser known regional/local bassists that are just as noteworthy talent-wise, but lack the name recognition, so I won't mention them here.
Verdine White - Earth, Wind, and Fire
Fred Hammond - Radical for Christ
Hubert Eaves III - Erika Badu (atcually, he's a relative)
Terry Louis - The Time, Janet Jackson, et al
There are some lesser known regional/local bassists that are just as noteworthy talent-wise, but lack the name recognition, so I won't mention them here.
OK....SOMETIME BETWEEN 97-99,DON'T REMEMBER EXACTLY(ON PURPOSE) I MET LES CLAYPOOL AT THE LOCAL MUSIC STORE WHEN I WAS BUYING TICKET FOR THE SHOW THAT NIGHT.HE STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME AS I WAS BUYING THE TKT,AT FIRST I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT,THEN I STARTED TALKING TO THEM(PRIMUS) AND GUESS WHAT....THEY WERE NOT SO FRIENDLY I EVEN ASK FOR I PIC TOGETHER AND LES WAS KIND OF LIKE BRUSHING ME OFF.WHAT A NICE WAY OF TREATING A FAN,(OF COURSE I'M NOT ANYMORE AFTER THAT) BUT ALSO AT THE SHOW THAT NIGHT HE WAS VERY ARROGANT AND TALKING TRASH TO THE FANS.
SOMETIME LATE 2000 OR VERY EARLY 2001
I WAS AT WORK(AIRLINE) AND I CHECKED IN THE MEMBERS OF QUIET RIOT AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE NO ROCK STAR EGO,HOWEVER I DID NOT GET TO TALK TO MR. SARZO THEY SEEM TIRED SO I DID NOT BOTHER THEM ,HOWEVER THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS FOR ME.BY THE WAY I STILL TALK TO THE PILOT WHO BROGHT THEM IN DAYS BEFORE AND SAYS THEY WERE ACTUALLY VERY COOL WHEN HE TALK TO THEM,THEY EVEN TOOK PICS.
SUMMER 2001
I MET ONE OF MY FAVORITE BASS PLAYERS FROM SPANISH ROCK MUSIC....HAROLD HOPKINS(PUYA) AT A CONCERT WITH FEAR FACTORY.THERE WAS TWO OTHER BANDS THAT DAY AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF I KNEW ANYONE ON THE CROWD AND COURSE THE ONLY FACE I RECOGNIZED WAS HIS,SO I WENT AND INTRODUCED MY SELF HE WAS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL WE TALKED FOR JUST A BIT HE EVEN INTRODUCE ME TO THE GUY WHO WAS PLAYIND MINOR PERCUSSION ON THAT TOUR AND THE WERE ACTUALLY JOKING ABOUT THE SHIRT I WAS WEARING(in a nice way).
SOMETIME LATE 2000 OR VERY EARLY 2001
I WAS AT WORK(AIRLINE) AND I CHECKED IN THE MEMBERS OF QUIET RIOT AND THEY WERE JUST LIKE NORMAL PEOPLE NO ROCK STAR EGO,HOWEVER I DID NOT GET TO TALK TO MR. SARZO THEY SEEM TIRED SO I DID NOT BOTHER THEM ,HOWEVER THEY WERE NICE ENOUGH TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS FOR ME.BY THE WAY I STILL TALK TO THE PILOT WHO BROGHT THEM IN DAYS BEFORE AND SAYS THEY WERE ACTUALLY VERY COOL WHEN HE TALK TO THEM,THEY EVEN TOOK PICS.
SUMMER 2001
I MET ONE OF MY FAVORITE BASS PLAYERS FROM SPANISH ROCK MUSIC....HAROLD HOPKINS(PUYA) AT A CONCERT WITH FEAR FACTORY.THERE WAS TWO OTHER BANDS THAT DAY AND I WAS JUST LOOKING AROUND TO SEE IF I KNEW ANYONE ON THE CROWD AND COURSE THE ONLY FACE I RECOGNIZED WAS HIS,SO I WENT AND INTRODUCED MY SELF HE WAS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL WE TALKED FOR JUST A BIT HE EVEN INTRODUCE ME TO THE GUY WHO WAS PLAYIND MINOR PERCUSSION ON THAT TOUR AND THE WERE ACTUALLY JOKING ABOUT THE SHIRT I WAS WEARING(in a nice way).
'84 or so. Musikmesse in Frankfurt. I'm walking with a couple friends of mine, when one stops to talk to a couple guys. We walk towards them thinking they're just some rocker friends of his. As I get close, I realize my friend is talking to Steve Harris! Almost crapped myself.
Now for the Embarrassing-dork part. I asked him to move his fingers really fast (like finger-plucking). He shoots me this confused Why-do-i-have-to-put-up-with-little-weiners-like-this look, but did it anyway. I almost plotzed.
Really cool guy.
He was kinda short, too.
Now for the Embarrassing-dork part. I asked him to move his fingers really fast (like finger-plucking). He shoots me this confused Why-do-i-have-to-put-up-with-little-weiners-like-this look, but did it anyway. I almost plotzed.
Really cool guy.
He was kinda short, too.
- Nov 6, 2001
- 303
- 56
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar amps Endorsing Artist: Fodera Guitars
i just got back from NYC where i went to John Patitucci's house and studied with him all day....to keep a long story short, it was awesome. and he is the nicest, coolest bass-playin' soul i've ever met...
I met Lemmy in at a Motorhead show in Texas. I walked backstage before the show.... no one stopped me, I just walked right in and Lemmy saw me and asked " Want a drink pal?.......wait , your a kid...aint gettin arrested tonight! 
" Then I asked him " Are you really god?" in a joking voice and he said " Goddamned right!" He signed my Ace OF Spades and called out my name during the show.
" Then I asked him " Are you really god?" in a joking voice and he said " Goddamned right!" He signed my Ace OF Spades and called out my name during the show.
I know this is not a famous bassist encounter but in the late 80's Leo Fender was going through the isle at NAMM and stopped by to hear me play at the Tobias booth. I thought "I am here playing for the guy that invented this thing!" That was quite a treat for me.
BL
I also got to meet Doc Kaufmann (Leo's early partner) who was into his 80's at our meeting.
BL
I also got to meet Doc Kaufmann (Leo's early partner) who was into his 80's at our meeting.
^that is really cool that you see Tony a bunch.
This last weekend I got to see quite a few great bassists (Jauqo, Al Caldwell, Theron Brison, JT...etc.), but who I was really blown away to have met was Bobby Vega. Man, that cat is wicked cool and super nice...you know he wrote part of the theme song for the first Sonic the Hedgehog and covered for Rocco when he was in the hospital!
This last weekend I got to see quite a few great bassists (Jauqo, Al Caldwell, Theron Brison, JT...etc.), but who I was really blown away to have met was Bobby Vega. Man, that cat is wicked cool and super nice...you know he wrote part of the theme song for the first Sonic the Hedgehog and covered for Rocco when he was in the hospital!
Met Tony Levin at a meet n' greet at Long & McQuade a couple of years ago. Very humble guy and an entertaining speaker.
Almost literally bumped into Victor Wooten after a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I was walking back to the parking lot and took a shortcut behind the (outdoor) stage. Victor and his brother were walking to their bus. Both very nice guys.
At a Hunters & Collectors show at Le Rendevous in Winnipeg I wandered over to the swag booth to pick up a t-shirt before H&C started their set.
John Archer and Jack Howard the trumpet player were working the booth. When I asked them why they were selling shirts, Archer said that was the only way they get to meet and talk to anybody when their on tour.
Almost literally bumped into Victor Wooten after a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones show at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. I was walking back to the parking lot and took a shortcut behind the (outdoor) stage. Victor and his brother were walking to their bus. Both very nice guys.
At a Hunters & Collectors show at Le Rendevous in Winnipeg I wandered over to the swag booth to pick up a t-shirt before H&C started their set.
John Archer and Jack Howard the trumpet player were working the booth. When I asked them why they were selling shirts, Archer said that was the only way they get to meet and talk to anybody when their on tour.
I second the fact that Bobby is a monster bass player and extra cool guy. I met him at winter NAMM 2004, and he invited me to come see him play at a party that night. It turned out to be in a guy's living room, with all of about 20 people there! A really cool guy named Rueben Diaz, who teaches jazz guitar at Humboldt State was playing guitar, and Prairie Prince from the Tubes was playing drums. It was a great show, and a really cool experience. The only bad part was that Ray White from Zappa's band was supposed to play with them, but didn't show due to travel issues.j-raj said:
PS: When I told Bobby that he had the dream gig subbing for Rocco, his reply was "Oh yeah? YOU try it!"
b15fliptop said:
Yeah I totally had a blast chatting with him, he invited my girl and I to visit him in SF...
We spent a great deal of time talking about the Silcon Triode Amps that he designed in the mid-90's... He also invited me to check them out when I'm intown visiting my uncle and aunt in Menlo...
b15fliptop said:
OMG, that is nearly what he said to me... I told him about this 13 piece band that I used to work for (Jesus Presley, presently out of Portland, OR) and how TOP must have been a blast, he was like: "yeah I must have done a good enough job, cause Rocco got better 2 months earlier than expected"
...what a cool bassist, we need more like him in the music industry.
I've met plenty of people who are famous around the los angeles area for what they do... but if you talk on a wider range I had the privaledge of being able to talk to John Pattituci after his gig at Catlina's in Hollywood. Very nice guy.
I met Victor Wooten when I was 13 or 14. He was playing at the Georgetown Blues Alley in a quartet with Mike Stern, Dennis Chambers, and some saxophonist. The first thing that occured to me was his stature: very short. After the show, my dad convinced me to go shake his hand. His hand was extremely muscular. In addition, I got a "hey how are you doing." It was really cool, I was very fortunate to be at that show.
I met and shared a cuppla beers with Stefan Lessard when he was down under this year. He was a hella nice guy, and seemed a bit embarrassed when I told him how much I loved his playing.
Guess I was a bit of a fanboy
The girl who made the meeting happen seemed really unfazed by it all:
"Stefan? yeah, he's cool. wanna come have a beer with us?"
"Ummm.....lemme think bout that!"
Guess I was a bit of a fanboy
The girl who made the meeting happen seemed really unfazed by it all:
"Stefan? yeah, he's cool. wanna come have a beer with us?"
"Ummm.....lemme think bout that!"
Not sure what we're considering "famous" here, but if you want to meet the big time virtuoso bass players it's really not all that hard. You can go to any bass day/convention/clinic kind of thing and they're usually nice people who will sit around and talk with you. I've met Michael Manring, Trip Wamsley, Mike Dimin, Norm Stockton. They may not be as famous as guys like Flea or Les Claypool, but who cares they're better players and easier to get to!
aww come on nobody wants to hear the nice guy stories! which of our bass god heroes are jerks?! inquiring minds want to know! hahah
