I think it was around 1980 that me and my cousin walked into a music store for strings. Right when we walk in all we could hear was this horrible noise coming from the second floor. After a few minutes it stops and we heard a huge round of applause (I thought they were happy it was over). People flood downstairs and we walk over to the counter. There stands this tall, thin guy that kinda looks like an old rooster with a diamond in his ear that could choke a goat and a Sherlock Holmes pipe. He looks at me and wants to known if I want a autograph and I said no, just strings. I thought he was going to punch me in the forehead until another guy took over and set me up with some Ernie Balls. I just didn't know who Ginger Baker was but I could see why Jack Bruce (RIP) didn't get along with him.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Meeting someone famous.
- Thread starter Doc Mojo
- Start date
I've met:
Glen Danzig
Ozzy Osbourne
Slash
Obituary (John Tardy, Donald Tardy, Terry Butler, and the guitarist whose name exscapes me at the moment)
Rob Zombie
Bobby Liebling (Pentagram)
Frank Ferra (BANG! lesser known but had a minor hit)
OTEP
Who do you want to know more about?
Glen Danzig
Ozzy Osbourne
Slash
Obituary (John Tardy, Donald Tardy, Terry Butler, and the guitarist whose name exscapes me at the moment)
Rob Zombie
Bobby Liebling (Pentagram)
Frank Ferra (BANG! lesser known but had a minor hit)
OTEP
Who do you want to know more about?
I tend to treat them like regular folks, but then, most of the time it's because I don't know. Or care. And if I do know, I figure the last thing they want ever, anywhere is some fan freakout; it's got to be a bit pitiful to face that every time you head out the door. I met one I know (slightly) out of context once, and as I was trying to place her she dropped her name, which did not trip the recognize-o-meter. Then she mentioned being so-and-so's mom, and it clicked. She showed up for her kid's stuff, which puts her right in my book, famous or not.
I went to camp electric when I was 17 or 18. I must have spoken to at least 15 famous bass players. They are no different than the rest of us. Some are jerks and some are nice.
While working for a sound company I met lots of musicians like Vince Welnick, John Sebastian, Bobby Vega, Steve Kimock, David Nelson, Randy Hanson, Laura Love, and the list goes on. Without exception, all of them were really nice. Kimock probably the least but that was largely because he was the most buzzed. He was barely coherent actually. The curious thing was several of their techs and hangers-on were arrogant asses. The "stars" never were to me.
I met Richard Petty once & he just seemed to light up when I started talking about regular stuff.
Bumped into Carlos Santana in a restaurant in Maui 2 years ago. Ironically, it was both he and his wife and I and my wife's wedding anniversary that day !!
I used to hang out with Pantera all the time, Jim Heath, Drowning Pool (OG), Wayne Toups, Eric Johnson, Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Monte Montgomery, Junior Brown, Harry Connick Jr, Kermit Ruffins, Jerry Jeff Walker,
All super cool very down to earth ppl except Marcia when she's drunk and you end up babysitting.
All super cool very down to earth ppl except Marcia when she's drunk and you end up babysitting.
I met lemmy and Anthrax (I helped the 1st Ave crew), megadeth at an autograph signing, black Sabbath at mall of America for their reunion, sepultura, got to party with both gene hoglan(at my old guitarist Earl Root's benefit, RIP) and Steve digorgio (sadus played at Star central), and ran into trey azagthoth at pizza luce's in Minneapolis... gotta say, all of the above were really down to earth and cool except Scott Ian , he was a tool, and Ozzy was disappointing, but this was pre "osbourne's" show so I didn't know how out of it he was
edit: oh yeah, I met Joey belladona at 1st ave playing with MOD, he played drums and sang, both awesome!!! Then he was hanging out watching MOD, super nice guy!!!
edit: oh yeah, I met Joey belladona at 1st ave playing with MOD, he played drums and sang, both awesome!!! Then he was hanging out watching MOD, super nice guy!!!
Last edited:
You must see the doco "Beware of Mr Baker" , yes he IS a nutter. Brilliant drummer. Completely dysfunctional as a human being. Like most drummers hehe
My brushes with greatness have been:
1. Max Roach - I was in the local drumshop here in town around 11am getting some stuff for school. It was just me, the owner, and one sales guy in the store....very dead. I was waiting for the sales guy to get my items and this small, relatively frail looking African American guy shuffled in the front door. he stopped, looked around eyes wide and started tapping on drums. The whole time I was like "Holy Crap, Holy Crap,Holy Crap...that's Max roach." I went up and was like: "Mr. Roach. What an honor." He asked me my name and shook my hand, and then asked what I was doing in the store. I told him I was picking up items for my students at school, and then he said: "You're a teacher? The honor is mine". By then the owner and other sales guy came out and were speechless. We all sat and talked for a long time. I have pictures, but this was long before digital stuff so they are packed away safely in a box with my otehr relics. It was one of the most humbling days of my life. I got to meet a legend and idol! It still gives me chills to this day.
2. got to talk to my all time #1 hero - Ian MacKaye, and Amy Farina - after the evens played in C-bus. That was life changing. I actually got to shake his hand. We talked for about an hour as they tore down after the set.
3. got to meet Flava Flav at CBGB'S in 1990 when my friends band played their and I was running lights. Flav, Terminator X and other members of the S1W's were there. It was awesome. Tommy Victor of Prong was running sound that night, and we went to CB's Pizza after sound check and had pie and talked about the scene... For a 21 year old NYHC/underground fan boy, it was a pretty great night.
4. almost went golfing with Doug Pinnick. they were in c-bus on the Kings X album tour, and were eating in the sandwich shop next to the Newport on campus. my friend and I popped in for lunch, and saw Doug, Jerry Gaskill, and some other crew members eating. Of course we went up and introduced our selves, and the ysaid "pull up a seat." Needless to say we skipped classes that day. During the course of the conversation, we got on the topic of golf, and Doug was like: " lets go hit some golf balls. Where is the nearest range?" One of the people there must have been a manager b/c he said "You can't, we don't have time." WE went to the show that night, and got to hang a bit near the bus before they left. Very cool guys!
5. got to meet and eat dinner with David Byrne when my band opened up for them in Columbus and Indianapolis. Also got to meet Howard Jones when we opened for them.
6. Dave Dictor of MDC gave me a hug at their show at Bernies in C-bus. Stinky MF, but what a great guy and a great night of true punk!
7. got to meet and hang with Fates Warning on the Perfect Symmetry tour when they played Cleveland and Cincy. On both nights we ate at Denny's in the respective cities, and helped them load in and out. Ray Alder, Joe BiBiase and I had deep discussions about Sesame Street, Dungeons and Dragons and other topics.
8. got to cook dinner for Payne Stewart twice when he was in town for the Memorial Tournament. He would come into the restaurant I worked at to eat on the Thursday evening after the first round. Both times I met him he was very happy with the whole experience so tha tis pretty cool.
9. somehow, my grandfather knew Chi Chi Rodriguez, and when he would play on the Senior Tour events here in town, I would get to help him carry his stuff from his car to the locker room. (I was between 7-10 years old) I remember carrying the bag that held his golf shoes I think. We would follow him on the course during the event. they would eat dinner together, but I was never part of that.
10. got to meet Franco Harris, and took me on a tour of the Steelers locker room in 1979. We were on vacation in P-burgh one summer, and I was pestering my parents to drive by the stadium. WE pulled into the parking lot and had stopped near the locker room door to take pictures. We were getting ready to get back in the car when he came out of the locker room door. He immediately came over and was very very cordial to us. Asked where were from. Parents told him the story of me begging them to drive by the stadium, and he was like: "well, your here. Lets go see the stadium." He took us through the locker room, down the tunnel the team would come out of, and up onto the field. I could not believe it. I still remember the electricity I felt that whole time...I was floating! After a while, we all walked back out to the parking lot. He took some pics with us and signed my Terrible Towel. One of the greatest days of my life!!!! they played the Jets the next night in a Pre-Season game, and we went to the game.
1. Max Roach - I was in the local drumshop here in town around 11am getting some stuff for school. It was just me, the owner, and one sales guy in the store....very dead. I was waiting for the sales guy to get my items and this small, relatively frail looking African American guy shuffled in the front door. he stopped, looked around eyes wide and started tapping on drums. The whole time I was like "Holy Crap, Holy Crap,Holy Crap...that's Max roach." I went up and was like: "Mr. Roach. What an honor." He asked me my name and shook my hand, and then asked what I was doing in the store. I told him I was picking up items for my students at school, and then he said: "You're a teacher? The honor is mine". By then the owner and other sales guy came out and were speechless. We all sat and talked for a long time. I have pictures, but this was long before digital stuff so they are packed away safely in a box with my otehr relics. It was one of the most humbling days of my life. I got to meet a legend and idol! It still gives me chills to this day.
2. got to talk to my all time #1 hero - Ian MacKaye, and Amy Farina - after the evens played in C-bus. That was life changing. I actually got to shake his hand. We talked for about an hour as they tore down after the set.
3. got to meet Flava Flav at CBGB'S in 1990 when my friends band played their and I was running lights. Flav, Terminator X and other members of the S1W's were there. It was awesome. Tommy Victor of Prong was running sound that night, and we went to CB's Pizza after sound check and had pie and talked about the scene... For a 21 year old NYHC/underground fan boy, it was a pretty great night.
4. almost went golfing with Doug Pinnick. they were in c-bus on the Kings X album tour, and were eating in the sandwich shop next to the Newport on campus. my friend and I popped in for lunch, and saw Doug, Jerry Gaskill, and some other crew members eating. Of course we went up and introduced our selves, and the ysaid "pull up a seat." Needless to say we skipped classes that day. During the course of the conversation, we got on the topic of golf, and Doug was like: " lets go hit some golf balls. Where is the nearest range?" One of the people there must have been a manager b/c he said "You can't, we don't have time." WE went to the show that night, and got to hang a bit near the bus before they left. Very cool guys!
5. got to meet and eat dinner with David Byrne when my band opened up for them in Columbus and Indianapolis. Also got to meet Howard Jones when we opened for them.
6. Dave Dictor of MDC gave me a hug at their show at Bernies in C-bus. Stinky MF, but what a great guy and a great night of true punk!
7. got to meet and hang with Fates Warning on the Perfect Symmetry tour when they played Cleveland and Cincy. On both nights we ate at Denny's in the respective cities, and helped them load in and out. Ray Alder, Joe BiBiase and I had deep discussions about Sesame Street, Dungeons and Dragons and other topics.
8. got to cook dinner for Payne Stewart twice when he was in town for the Memorial Tournament. He would come into the restaurant I worked at to eat on the Thursday evening after the first round. Both times I met him he was very happy with the whole experience so tha tis pretty cool.
9. somehow, my grandfather knew Chi Chi Rodriguez, and when he would play on the Senior Tour events here in town, I would get to help him carry his stuff from his car to the locker room. (I was between 7-10 years old) I remember carrying the bag that held his golf shoes I think. We would follow him on the course during the event. they would eat dinner together, but I was never part of that.
10. got to meet Franco Harris, and took me on a tour of the Steelers locker room in 1979. We were on vacation in P-burgh one summer, and I was pestering my parents to drive by the stadium. WE pulled into the parking lot and had stopped near the locker room door to take pictures. We were getting ready to get back in the car when he came out of the locker room door. He immediately came over and was very very cordial to us. Asked where were from. Parents told him the story of me begging them to drive by the stadium, and he was like: "well, your here. Lets go see the stadium." He took us through the locker room, down the tunnel the team would come out of, and up onto the field. I could not believe it. I still remember the electricity I felt that whole time...I was floating! After a while, we all walked back out to the parking lot. He took some pics with us and signed my Terrible Towel. One of the greatest days of my life!!!! they played the Jets the next night in a Pre-Season game, and we went to the game.
Last edited:
Were you able to understand a word Ozzy said, or did you just shake hands and nod your head?
Nice!! Max Roach and Millions of Dead Cops("corporate death-burger, Ronald McDonald"), very cool!!
Worked with and became friends with Dean DeLeo for years just before his STP days. Met Bob Barker on Olvera Street in Los Angeles. Saw Henry Winkler smoke a doobie in his car travelling north on the 15 freeway from Fallbrook to Temecula. I was in the car next to him. That's all I got....
Dominick C.
Guest
I have met most of those cats too. Did you live in New Orleans? I met a ton of "famous" people in NO. At least that's what the other people around would tell me. I couldn't pick most famous people out of a crowd. Couldn't care less about fame, but I am a big fan of people.
I know. I am still floored that I met Roach.
And the year I got to hug Dave was the same year I met MacKaye, as well as The (UK) Subhumans. It was the summer of getting to meet some of my old punk idols as well as making new friends in Strike Anywhere and Caustic Christ.
I still don't know who Ginger Baker is. But I thought Ginger was cute on Gilligan's Island.
