What's your 'almost famous' story?

[Spidey2112]

I Heard all of that in a Walken accent. You are amazing.

 

[Ant Illington]

I did an internship in Ronnie Milsap's publishing company back in '90-ish. His studio was downstairs from there, as was the only restroom. Needing to partake of the facilities, I went down stairs one day. As I was going in, George Jones was coming out. Nodded our greetings politley to each other.

The seat was still warm.

Cool story. Or warm story. Yuck! Normally warm toilet seats kinda weird me out.

What does one do as an intern at a music publishing company? Come to think of it, what does a music publishing company do? Do they write songs or do they transcribe songs for publishing song books? Or what?

 

[LBS-bass]

Had an offer last year to record and possibly tour with a composer/writer who was collaborating with a world famous progressive rock singer who was in one of the worlds longest lasting and most successful rock acts ever (RRHOF).

Things were really looking good. Got the early recordings they were working on and was asked about bass ideas.

Went back and forth for about 6 weeks and then another progressive rock artist, longtime friend and frequent collaborator with this vocalist, had unexpected success with an album on the UK charts and Europe.

Suddenly, the project was postponed as they decided to tour in Europe on the other artists unexpected chart success and then the project was scrapped whene more tour dates were added and schedules blew up.

I still read the emails with a mix of awe, thrill and profound disappointment.

A lot of industry friends reminded me that more often than not stuff blows up like that and that’s the nature of the biz.

Still..... I guess it’s just another case of c’est la vie.

Still, it was a thrilling 6 weeks.

These are the stories that just break my heart. I think most of us are not really thinking that we'll ever make the big time, but when things like this happen it can cause a tremendous amount of disappointment. So close, but not quite there. Sorry that happened to you .

 

[Treebeard]

Never close to famous, but I receive heaping amounts of praise from my wife, for reading 'Cat In The Hat' to our kids, while impersonating Christopher Walken.

hahaha absolute legend

 

[Spidey2112]

hahaha absolute legend

If we ever meet, I owe you a beer...

... you meant Walken, didn't you?

Screw it! No beer for you... NEXT!

 

[mohrds]

My old band framed out rejection letter from Sony Records... That's about as close as I got.

We had one from Arista from when our singer/BL went out there with our demo. Don't think he framed it, though.

 

[BlueShox]

I have rejection letters from Metalblade and Ferret sitting in a tote in my clutter room. We had a skype session with some rep from Metalblade before we got the letter. At least they were nice enough to write back!

 

[hintz]

I regrettably blew off a few real good opportunities in the early 2000's, though both were sorta "underground". I was asked repeatedly(and turned down) an offer to join a local band called Epicurean who got signed to metal blade(did an album, toured and broke up)... still regret that. Another was with an sorta "infamous" grind core band Anal Blast(drummer and guitarist from slipknot played in this group), but I didn't want that name following me later on.

I truly doubt I would've made money in either, but I still regret not doing either for the experience (one of the guys tied with the last band runs sound for Origin, another guy in the 1st plays for David Vincent). At the time I was very happy with my original groups(one the guitarist had a small label) so I shouldn't dwell on it!! LOL

 

[rtav]

I have a rejection letters from Metalblade and Ferret sitting in a tote in my clutter room. We had a skype session with some rep from Metalblade before we got the letter. At least they were nice enough to write back!

Well that WAS nice. In my case they just stopped answering emails or returning calls.

 

[rtav]

If you're actually famous, no need to respond. I posted a response in the "famous people who have seen me play" thread that more properly falls into this category. I've had a few situations arise that brought me close to serious success, but not quite all the way there. What are yours?

Here's the story I posted elsewhere:
---------
I started to answer this with the big story I usually tell about one of the several times I almost became famous. But then I decided it's not worth it. Short version: Big time producer with legendary supergroup creds that everyone here knows saw me cover a song he produced, wanted to produce my band, fell off the face of the earth due to bad heroin habit. End of story.

Bonus points to anyone who can guess who this was and/or what he produced. Hint: Late 70's.
---------

Great thread idea, BTW

 

[Ant Illington]

Had an offer last year to record and possibly tour with a composer/writer who was collaborating with a world famous progressive rock singer who was in one of the worlds longest lasting and most successful rock acts ever (RRHOF).

Things were really looking good. Got the early recordings they were working on and was asked about bass ideas.

Went back and forth for about 6 weeks and then another progressive rock artist, longtime friend and frequent collaborator with this vocalist, had unexpected success with an album on the UK charts and Europe.

Suddenly, the project was postponed as they decided to tour in Europe on the other artists unexpected chart success and then the project was scrapped whene more tour dates were added and schedules blew up.

I still read the emails with a mix of awe, thrill and profound disappointment.

A lot of industry friends reminded me that more often than not stuff blows up like that and that’s the nature of the biz.

Still..... I guess it’s just another case of c’est la vie.

Still, it was a thrilling 6 weeks.

Man, I hear you. I dont really have an "almost famous" story but just wanted to sympathize/comiserate or whatever you call it.

There is a world famous prog rock singer from a super famous prog rock band who is working with another famous guy... and they may tour and need the bassist I've subbed for. And said bassist (who spent years touring with a super famous group) is working with some other famous guitarist who may tour.... we've been hearing this for years and, yep, that's the nature of the biz. Hurry up and wait.

No names mentioned by me only because he's not allowed to mention the names of the artists. Big name artists can be so weird. I wonder if you and I are each being put on hold, albeit at different levels, by the same super famous dude.

To be sure, I suck, and I am not seeking to establish any undue attention or fawning (but I have been lucky enough to play with a few dudes who have been sidemen for famous people and one hit wonders and, man, there is a lot of hustling and let-downs involved).

 

[GwenOnBass]

A rather large number of famous people certainly know me, and some of them quite well. What I do / did stands on its own. That said, I take care to stay below the radar. Some of my tales, when privately shared in convivial company, absolutely raise eyebrows.

 

[rtav]

Wow.

You too?

That’s really weird, like a parallel universe or something.

Is it too much of a coincidence because we both might be on the same wavelength with the same people???

Jeez. I’m not mentioning any names either, but mine hasn’t strung me along for years, it took them about 6 weeks to stop replying to my emails and calls.

Queue the eerie music...

Man, I hear you. I dont really have an "almost famous" story but just wanted to sympathize/comiserate or whatever you call it.

There is a world famous prog rock singer from a super famous prog rock band who is working with another famous guy... and they may tour and need the bassist I've subbed for. And said bassist (who spent years touring with a super famous group) is working with some other famous guitarist who may tour.... we've been hearing this for years and, yep, that's the nature of the biz. No names mentioned by me only because he's not allowed to mention the names of the artists. Big name artists can be so weird. I wonder if we are both being put on hold, albeit at different levels, by the same super famous dude.

To be sure, I suck, and I am not seeking to establish any undue attention or fawning (but I have been lucky enough to play with a few dudes who have been sidemen for famous people and one hit wonders and, man, there is a lot of hustling and let-downs involved).

ow

 

[Deleted member 165050]

I once got unbelievably drunk with David Soul of 'Silver Lady' / 'Starsky and Hutch' fame... that totally counts, right?

I got seriously drunk with Lemmy once, although I don't think I'm alone in being able to say that...

 

[TheReceder]

When I was younger I played in a local symphony. One night we had practice, Buddy Rich had a concert in the main room. (If you don't know him... stop reading now). After practice I was walking down the hall with my Bass Viol on my shoulder. As I rounded a corner in the halls, I had a distinct "thunk" as the head of my bass connected with none other than Buddy Rich's noggin.

His response... "watch it kid".

So am I famous now?

 

[SouthLatitude]

Late 70's. Had a demo. Had management shopping it. Plenty of gigs in the right clubs, being groomed, opened for some names. The industry changed, music went New Wave/Punk/Dance. Management folded. Clubs died off. Gigs dried up.

Went back to school, built a career in software engineering, enough to retire young.

 

[MordBass]

Nu Metal band i was in in the 90's got a demo to American Records and they called the next week with interest. Booked us to be the only opener at a show the following month with System of a Down and Incubus. Owner of the venue screwed us out of the show and gave the slot to his nephews band that was terrible and got booed anyways. By the time our next opportunity came up with them we had imploded due to personal issues. Wouldve been a fun show though

 

[SactoBass]

Way back in the early 60's, I hooked up with these three other dudes with weird looking moptop hair cuts. They were forming a band and one of them (the rhythm guitarist) had written a song called "Love Me Do" and they were looking for a bass player who could sing along with the rhythm guitarist.

I said "thanks" but I ended up pursuing a career in civil engineering instead.

If I recall correctly, those guys went on to enjoy some level of notoriety.

 

[lo_freq_geek]

I worked in a bar with (news reporter and TV personality) Ashleigh Banfield in the late 80's. She gave me a ride home once but sadly declined my offer to come in for tea. Doubt highly she'd remember that.

A few years later I was shopping for camping equipment in a local Army & Navy surplus store and noticed a commotion around a small cluster of big dudes. Turned out they were Johnny Cash's bodyguards buying fishing tackle with the man in black while they were in town for a show. The owner of the store was LOSING HIS MIND fawning over Cash.

I saw Dan Akoyd was riding a police motorcycle leading a procession of limos down a local residential street. We knew he was in town filming a movie and staying in a house nearby. When I saw the motorcade I assumed he'd be in a limo, but he smiled and wave from the bike on his way by. No mistaking Elwood's grin.

Pretty tame and nothing involving me musically.

 

[swarfrat]

I'm already a rockstar. I figured about 6-7 more years on this gig before my boy becomes a teenager. Then, much like musical rock stars, you become very uncool for another 10 years. After that - if your initial work had merit, you stand a pretty good chance at making a comeback.