I met DT at a music store signing during thier Metropolis PT 2 tour (so 2000-ish I guess). I brought in a bass for the band to sign. Nicest guys in the band - Jordan Rudess and John Myung. Jordan was really genuine and made me feel like he was gratetful that I took the time to stand in line to meet the band. John complimented my bass, asked me how long I had been playing and said enjoy the show tonight. Labrie didn't want to be there. Petrucci was silently cocky but overall, just really silent. Didn't say much. Portnoy was a world class D***k. No other way to put it. As soon as he saw I had a bass for everyone to sign he rolled his eyes did the "I'm a drummer, not a bassist, whatever" look. He signed it and I went on my way.
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 met DT at a music store signing during thier Metropolis PT 2 tour (so 2000-ish I guess). I brought in a bass for the band to sign. Nicest guys in the band - Jordan Rudess and John Myung. Jordan was really genuine and made me feel like he was gratetful that I took the time to stand in line to meet the band. John complimented my bass, asked me how long I had been playing and said enjoy the show tonight. Labrie didn't want to be there. Petrucci was silently cocky but overall, just really silent. Didn't say much. Portnoy was a world class D***k. No other way to put it. As soon as he saw I had a bass for everyone to sign he rolled his eyes did the "I'm a drummer, not a bassist, whatever" look. He signed it and I went on my way.
Never met any famous musicians, but once I held the door open for Jimmy Williams (JJ from goodtimes) while walking into the post office, he thanked me vociferously. I had no clue who he was until the clerk recognized him. That same clerk learned that it's a bad idea to ask him to say "Dynomite!."
Otherwise, I've met a lot of pro athletes, and went to school with a pretty well known criminal that's in the local news, lately.
Otherwise, I've met a lot of pro athletes, and went to school with a pretty well known criminal that's in the local news, lately.
Well, I have had a bunch, but the best one was in the early 90's when I was running a business in St. Louis that had a will call area. I happened to be out in the entryway that day and in walked Chuck Berry. Everyone was pretty well star struck. But, he asked for what he needed and then said, "don't be shy, if you want an autograph, come on up." He was really great, there were about 10 of us there and he took the time to sign for everyone and have conversations too. I have heard the stories about Chuck not being exactly the friendliest guy around, but that day he was awesome. The funniest part about it was though that he was dressed exactly as you always see him; I think it was a gray suit, funky colored shirt and a bolo tie. This was the middle of the week in the middle of the day, maybe he always dresses like that, who know...who cares!
To me, this is the holy grail of people to meet. My dad on the other hand once rode an elevator in Detroit with Joe DiMaggio, doesn't get much better than that either...
To me, this is the holy grail of people to meet. My dad on the other hand once rode an elevator in Detroit with Joe DiMaggio, doesn't get much better than that either...
I've met and hung backstage the Chili Peppers (Chad Smith was the only friendly one of the bunch), Mike Watt (who is the friendliest and most humble guy ever), shared a beer with Mathew McConaughey (at a dive bar in Austin) and Eddie Vedder (who started randomly chatting with me at a Mike Watt show but I had no idea who he was until after we parted company).
The one common thing I find with all celebrities is I always think they'll be taller.
The one common thing I find with all celebrities is I always think they'll be taller.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I did speak to him for a couple of minutes. He was very nice, polite and a great sense of humor. In my opinion, he is very underrated.
When I was a teenager, my best friend's dad was an Opry member and sang the Saturday matinees, did the special shows, sang backup for Elvis, did Fan Fair, blah blah blah. So i met pretty much EVERYONE who was anyone in country music during the 70s and early 80s. One of the coolest times was when my friend's dad wasn't around, but the security people at the Opry backstage knew me so well they let me and my cousin in. I wanted to show my cousin what it was like on the Opry stage (my friend and I used to sit in the pews on the stage during the matinees) and the backstage area, etc.
So we're walking along the hallways and I hear one guitar playing. The backstage and dressing rooms were almost completely empty, which seems weird now, not sure what day we were there. Anyhow, we hear one guitar playing - VERY well, obviously a Tele and Fender amp. So we track down the dressing room where the guitar was, and there was Jerry Reed, leaning up against the dressing room vanity, foot propped up on a Fender Twin or Deluxe Reverb silverface amp, picking the HELL out of a Telecaster. We stood in the open door way for a few seconds, when he looked up, stopped paying and smiled. "Hey boys! You come to hear a little guitar?"
He invited us in and we sat on the small sofa in the dressing room and listened to him play for a few minutes and made small talk.
I'm not a country fan by any stretch of the imagination (my cousin isn't either, but I respect old school country and western), but this was just COOL.
So we're walking along the hallways and I hear one guitar playing. The backstage and dressing rooms were almost completely empty, which seems weird now, not sure what day we were there. Anyhow, we hear one guitar playing - VERY well, obviously a Tele and Fender amp. So we track down the dressing room where the guitar was, and there was Jerry Reed, leaning up against the dressing room vanity, foot propped up on a Fender Twin or Deluxe Reverb silverface amp, picking the HELL out of a Telecaster. We stood in the open door way for a few seconds, when he looked up, stopped paying and smiled. "Hey boys! You come to hear a little guitar?"
He invited us in and we sat on the small sofa in the dressing room and listened to him play for a few minutes and made small talk.
I'm not a country fan by any stretch of the imagination (my cousin isn't either, but I respect old school country and western), but this was just COOL.
Honestly, this has got to be the most HILARIOUS way to react to someone famous. Talk about deflating their ego.
I can't remember the name of the person for the life of me, but my father was at a guitar show in Dallas, TX and he went to get a shirt from a vendor he liked. When he was there, some guy with long hair goes "Hey, I guess you want me to autograph it huh?" to which my father said "Umm, no. Why would I want that?" He said the guy got really upset and was saying that he was "...kind of a famous guitarist." My dad said "Well if you were, I probably would have heard about you already." My father saw him in Guitar World magazine or something along those lines later on. Gotta love it
I've met quite a few thanks to my job.
All time favorite musician was "Alice Cooper." Shot an interview with him on a golf course. Very very nice person to be around, a true gentleman. Most everyone I've met were easy to be around.
Best story: shot a cut in piece for one of the Sunday Morning political shows years ago where the guest was the attorney for an ex-president. All of us that crew felt the studio go cold as soon as the guy walked in. It creeped us all out. I was on the west coast at the time, and the feed was at some unlovable hour like 4:00 AM. When it was done, we were all shaken from the evil presence this guy packed. We went out and got rip roaring drunk.
All time favorite musician was "Alice Cooper." Shot an interview with him on a golf course. Very very nice person to be around, a true gentleman. Most everyone I've met were easy to be around.
Best story: shot a cut in piece for one of the Sunday Morning political shows years ago where the guest was the attorney for an ex-president. All of us that crew felt the studio go cold as soon as the guy walked in. It creeped us all out. I was on the west coast at the time, and the feed was at some unlovable hour like 4:00 AM. When it was done, we were all shaken from the evil presence this guy packed. We went out and got rip roaring drunk.
That's great! If you haven't seen the Netflix movie about Baker, you should. Great talent, but a genuine nut-case.
I'll chime in with mine, but they are not nearly as good as most of the posts on here. I was a teenager in the 80's and got to meet everyone in the bands Dokken, Bon Jovi, and King cobra. I'm not a big Bon jovi fan, but it was a cool story, I met all of them at a Wal-mart near where I lived at the time..lol the tour bus had stopped so they could grab a few things I guess. Anyway I turn the corner and there they all are just standing there. They were all very nice, but looked pretty tired. They signed a lay away slip for me..lol. Later in life my banded opened for Night Ranger at a county fair type of deal. Jack Blades, Brad Gillis and the drummer(sorry can't remember his name now) hung out with us for little while after we played, before they went on. All were very nice, especially Brad Gillis who told several good stories about his time playing with ozzy after Randy died. Played at a bike rallys with Kentucky Headhunters and Black Oak Arkansas, all very nice guys. A non musician meeting was the comedian Gallagher, he did a show at a bike rally one of my friends organizes/sponsors. Gallagher was not very funny that night and the crowd wasn't into it as much as he liked I guess. He cussed the crowd and was an a** to security and event staff.
Met a bunch of famous - or at least recognizable - bassists at Bass Boot Camp the past couple of years.
Gerald Veasley, of course...
Matt Garrison
Anthony Wellington
Andrew Gauche
Adam Nitti
Michael Manring...
Had dinner one night with Alvy Moore (go consult The Google or IMDB...)
Was around a bunch of famous-ish racer types in the late 70's when I was doing track photography - Dick Barbouir, Rolf Stommelen, Gianpierro Moretti, Paul Newman, Jacky Ickx, Brian Redman...
Oh - my wife and I got our pictures taken with Dan Aykroyd while he was on the tour promoting Crystal Head vodka.
Gerald Veasley, of course...
Matt Garrison
Anthony Wellington
Andrew Gauche
Adam Nitti
Michael Manring...
Had dinner one night with Alvy Moore (go consult The Google or IMDB...)
Was around a bunch of famous-ish racer types in the late 70's when I was doing track photography - Dick Barbouir, Rolf Stommelen, Gianpierro Moretti, Paul Newman, Jacky Ickx, Brian Redman...
Oh - my wife and I got our pictures taken with Dan Aykroyd while he was on the tour promoting Crystal Head vodka.
Last edited:
I haven't met any super-famous musicians, but a couple of years ago my band got to open for Ben Taylor (son of James Taylor and Carly Simon). He was extremely cool, down-to-earth, and one of the funniest guys I've ever hung out with. The same goes for the guys in his band.
OZZY!! guy didnt get me in the pic!!??
me n' dave mustaine!!!
me n' charlie benante!!!
me n' igor cavalera!! I can't find the pic of me and lemmy, but I got a ton of negatives...i will say, it always helps being friends with local promoters!!!
Last edited:
Working in the music industry my entire life (bass and engineering), I have been very fortunate to make a living which means working with some well known people. As long as they pay on time and the check clears, there is no issue.
Just a couple,
Bon Jovi, he used to play at Rokkers in Houston in the 80's, met him a few times at the bar, very nice guy.
Jon Anderson from Yes, met at an autograph signing at a music store when Jon and Vangelis came out. I asked him to sign my Yes concert ticket stub. He looked at it like he never saw one in his life. He signed and was very nice. He had 2 bodyguards next to him too, I guess since he's a small guy?
Frank Zappa and band, in the 70's, family station wagon road trip to Florida. We were eating at a Howard Johnson's restaurant and they walked in. My older brothers freaked out. They spent their whole meal hanging with us, really nice to us kids.
Bon Jovi, he used to play at Rokkers in Houston in the 80's, met him a few times at the bar, very nice guy.
Jon Anderson from Yes, met at an autograph signing at a music store when Jon and Vangelis came out. I asked him to sign my Yes concert ticket stub. He looked at it like he never saw one in his life. He signed and was very nice. He had 2 bodyguards next to him too, I guess since he's a small guy?
Frank Zappa and band, in the 70's, family station wagon road trip to Florida. We were eating at a Howard Johnson's restaurant and they walked in. My older brothers freaked out. They spent their whole meal hanging with us, really nice to us kids.
