Meeting someone famous.

[Buzz E]

There stands this tall, thin guy that kinda looks like an old rooster...

I lol'ed...!

 

[Robroy]

My wife used to work at the Alaska Airlines "board room" at Seatac airport. She saw a LOT of famous people, many of which came through pretty regularly. Bob Newhart And Ben Stein were two of the nicest. I won't say anything about Meg Ryan, who USED to be one of my wife's favorite actresses. Geena Davis was also one of the nice ones.

One day I was in there and I saw a lady who was pretty old but had oddly large and perky breasts. After a while, I realized it was Diane Canon. There was the funny event with Justice Roberts and his need for a hamburger. And the Orange county Choppers Gang, just after a Saudi princess and her security entourage left, and just to be funny, one of the guys let out a blood curdling scream. It was very fortunate that the princess was gone.

And my favorite was about four years ago, when I was picking her up after hours, she told me to park the car and come in, and there was someone I would want to see. I'm not impressed by famous people, but there is this ONE person I really wanted to talk with. So I got an airline ticket (required to get into the secured area) and I walked in to see the two of them talking it up. I ended up talking to this person for roughly 40 minutes. Smartest woman I ever met, second only to my wife. Quite a night.
Had a security guard come in and take this with my phone:

 

[Lava]

I've met many great musicians, most are nice, met many celebs, most are not-so-nice, but the only person I was ever starstruck when meeting was Ali. It was a while back,
he was the coolest.

 

[Buzz E]

My wife used to work at the Alaska Airlines "board room" at Seatac airport. She saw a LOT of famous people, many of which came through pretty regularly. Bob Newhart And Ben Stein were two of the nicest. I won't say anything about Meg Ryan, who USED to be one of my wife's favorite actresses. Geena Davis was also one of the nice ones.

One day I was in there and I saw a lady who was pretty old but had oddly large and perky breasts. After a while, I realized it was Diane Canon. There was the funny event with Justice Roberts and his need for a hamburger. And the Orange county Choppers Gang, just after a Saudi princess and her security entourage left, and just to be funny, one of the guys let out a blood curdling scream. It was very fortunate that the princess was gone.

And my favorite was about four years ago, when I was picking her up after hours, she told me to park the car and come in, and there was someone I would want to see. I'm not impressed by famous people, but there is this ONE person I really wanted to talk with. So I got an airline ticket (required to get into the secured area) and I walked in to see the two of them talking it up. I ended up talking to this person for roughly 40 minutes. Smartest woman I ever met, second only to my wife. Quite a night.
Had a security guard come in and take this with my phone:

Always thought Sarah Palin was hot! That's a great story...!

 

[Robroy]

She had just given a speech in Seattle and was clearly exhausted. I made sure to avoid politics and just cover light stuff. And yes, in person she is an amazingly attractive woman, even drabbed down. She is also genuine. That kinda threw me off. Kinda in the same way Steve Zahn was.

 

[hintz]

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.

nice!! Minor threat is another of my favorites, wish I could've been around/alive to experience bands of that era!!

 

[wlater]

How about this slightly surreal one...

Went square dancing at an elementary school with Simon Wright. Well, technically my daughter and I went with Simon and his daughter. I think I drove all of us IIRC (maybe not, it was some time ago). Anyway, it was interesting watching this hard rocking Brit drummer square dancing with a bunch of 4th graders. I'm sure I was the only one there that night who knew who he was.

 

[David Jayne]

I did a(sort of) gig once with Mike Portnoy and John Petrucci of Dream Theater. Really! Back in the 90's the two of them did a kind of 'Master Class' tour and searched out the local 'hotshot' bassist in the city in which they'd be performing, and thanks to guys at the now defunct 'Eastcoast Music Mall' I got the call. It was pretty fun, but I wish I'd been sober back then. They weren't very nice but they were SO serious and I wasn't... Oh well! Later I did a gig with Ace Frehley (see Lose the Sexy thread) and he was actually pretty nice but didn't say much. Beyond that I've met LOTS of cool guys at the NAMM show...hope to meet more tomorrow but I'm just some guy that plays bass...but it will be fun!

 

[40YearOldBassVirgin]

Saw Lou Gossett Jr at a gas station once. Walked past Liv Tyler coming out of a bathroom as I was going in.

 

[squidtastic]

Years ago, my friend called me immediately after Sting walked out of her office at A&M Records. Does that count?

Like someone else said, famous people come in all temperaments just like non-famous people.

 

[squidtastic]

What kills me is my friend -- a non-bassist -- has bumped into Marcus Miller twice. What I'd give to have just a 2-minute conversation with Miller...

 

[DarkAudit]

Shared an elevator with Jack and Meg White when they played at 123 Pleasant Street and they were staying at the Clarion up the street. I was working the desk and had no idea who they were.

Dick Dale stayed there when doing shows at 123 as well. Second time around I mentioned I missed the previous show as I was working that night and saw him on his way out the door to go to the show. He put me on the list for the next show and I got in for free.

 

[ahc]

My brushes with greatness include, but aren't limited to (cause I suffer from CRS)...

Blood Sweat & Tears (met all of them, circa 1969, post Al Kooper.) Drove Steve Katz (guitar) from their hotel to the venue

Gregg Errico - Sly and the Family Stone's drummer (no, I didn't meet Larry Graham darn it!)

Had a brief word with Charlie Watts (drummer for a band you may have heard of) during his "Rocket 88" tour

Exchanged pleasantries with Jaco (yeah, THAT Jaco)

Spoke to Francis Rocco Prestia briefly

Met Dave LaRue when he was a young'un and played thru what I believe was his Acoustic 360/361 a time or two

Met Donald Fagan (before Steely Dan hit)

Met members of Lawrence Welk's band, notably Neil Le Vang (guitar) who also played on Zappa's "Freak Out" album. Now there's a combination for ya!

Met members of Elvis's road crew. Not a chance in hell that we could meet Elvis... They couldn't even talk to him

Met Jose Feliciano. His bass player (Trey ??????) sat in with our band that night.

Met Danny Gatton

Met Roy Buchanan

Met Yogi Berra

And, I attended J. Edgar Hoover's funeral... as an uninvited guest

Also ran into a veritable plethora of fakers. One claimed to have written "Help Me Make it Through the Night" (no, he wasn't Kris Kristofferson) and another claimed to be Bob Gaudio of the Four Seasons. That one's a good story that I won't tell here.

 

[Kmonk]

Over the years I have opened for several famous musicians. I have also acted as a technical advisor for several benefit shows. During that time I have met:

Mark Farner (Formerly of Grand Funk Railroad)
Rick Derringer
Blue Oyster Cult
Vanilla Fudge
Jack Bruce
Paul Shortino
Billy Squier
Gene Simmons
Georgia Satellites
Marshall Tucker Band
John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band
Steven Tyler
Joey Kramer
Billy "Thunder" Mason (Former drummer for Tim McGraw)
Doc Gibbs (Emeril Live Band)
Todd Rundgren
Christopher Parsons
Alan Parsons
REO Speedwagon

 

[Fliptrique]

I met Richard Petty once & he just seemed to light up when I started talking about regular stuff.

That`s also my experience with famous people.

 

[ChefKen]

Many tails to tell.....Jaco, Frank Zappa (just a handshake), Phish, Spin Doctors (slept on my couch),Blues Traveler(good times), Taj Mahal( a truly unique individual!!) , Richie Havens, Leo Kotke, Black Uhuru, Pearl Jam.....Many others. My Ithaca NY days are kind of Hazy.....My current bass teacher is Doug Wimbish just spent two hours with him on teusday.....he is at NAMM right now..Seeing Living Colour on Feb 13th as I am guest listed.

 

[ultra60]

Met Willie Robertson at National's Park. He was sitting right in front of me. Duck Dynasty had not really taken off at the time. Very nice guy I thought. Everybody kept asking me who that guy was, lol.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

I am so nice to people when they meet me. I always take time for autographs and photos, and I'm never ever rude.

 

[guy n. cognito]

I spent ten minutes talking to Jimmy Buffet in a private airport before I realized who he was. Very nice guy. He was meeting Alan Jackson for a flight. When Alan came in his security people asked "all non-essential personnel" to stand and face the wall.........let's just say no one complied.

I did a real estate deal with Sandra Bullock in New Orleans.

Had a brief conversation with Nicole Kidman at our kids dance studio. At the end, she thanked me for not asking for her autograph.

 

[guy n. cognito]

Met Willie Robertson at National's Park. He was sitting right in front of me. Duck Dynasty had not really taken off at the time. Very nice guy I thought. Everybody kept asking me who that guy was, lol.

Met him at a business function where he was the invited guest. He propositioned my adult cousin for sex and was otherwise a pompous jerk..... never understood the appeal of those people besides being rich