Your brush with Greatness?

[Veiled Viper]

I'd like to hear your stories.

1. While working backstage security for a WHO concert at the Astrodome,the entire band was walking to the stage and past right by me.All I could think to do was scream "Knock 'em dead,Roger!" He just looked at me funny.
2. I also worked frontstage security at an outdoor concert sponsored by Miller Lite at the Astrodome,called the World's Largest Party. It was Stevie Ray Vaugn's last appearance before his death,and I was right underneath him,front and center! WOW!
3. I attended a KISS concert on the beach in Galveston,Texas.After the show,Paul Stanley came up to me and signed a banner I had painted of his and Gene's painted faces.He put his signature right across his face.

(My girlfriend begged me for that banner,and I stupidly let her keep it.)

 

[Leader of the Banned]

Worked security at the Gund Arena. Met mostly athletes and rasslers but was assigned as a personal body guard for one of Paul McCartney's actors and worked the stage for Usher and a bunch of lame opening acts.

 

[MoreInSorrow]

I tried out for Six Feet Deep, just before the band split up.

 

[The Theory]

I saw Joshua Harris poking around a book booth at Creation Festival one year. It was all I could do to refrain from punching his smart aleck face in. haha.

Michael Pritzl of The Violet Burning was playing a nice, intimate show at Cafe 180 and he got on stage, opened a can of Altoids and asked if anyone wanted one... so I dashed on stage and took one. Celebrity mints are the best. Then, with my example, everyone else flooded the stage to get their own piece of fame.

 

[nadroj1985]

I've had small chats with some of the more independent rock artists after shows, like Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo and Alan Sparhawk of Low. That's about as close as I get to "greatness," though.

 

[blackwasp]

I've had small chats with some of the more independent rock artists after shows, like Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo and Alan Sparhawk of Low. That's about as close as I get to "greatness," though.

Not bad at all. Did they have anything interesting to say?

 

[blackwasp]

All of my "brushes with greatness" are incredibly lame. In descending order:

*I listened to Travis Meeks play a song outside his house/studio in Louisville. I also met a guy there who did album art for Metallica.
*I know the guys who were in Alton Weaver...they never got big, but I think that "Ordinary" is a very good album.
*I spoke with the singer/guitarist for Dynamite Boy after a concert. The rest of the crowd was too enthralled by Fallout Boy (yuck).
*The guitarist for By The Tree told me he liked my Apetite for Destruction shirt. I walked off before they finished two songs though. I guess it isn't a brush with greatness if the band is horrible.

Oh yeah, and if my friend's music ever catches on, he told me I could be a roadie.

 

[Lutherrunner]

I smoked a joint with Stevie Ray Vaughn back in Austin in the late 70's.....he came to a party at my house....

 

[nadroj1985]

Not bad at all. Did they have anything interesting to say?

Not really. The conversations mostly consisted of me saying "Wow, that was a great set" and "Do you listen to the Velvet Underground?"

 

[Gaston]

I was able to ask a question to keyboardist Rick Wakeman indirectly on a progressive rock forum not too long ago and he responded!!! *sigh, he's so dreamy... *

I've met Collective Soul, minus the lead guy, what's his name?

Shook Al Dimeola's hand and Stanley Clarke gave me a weird look... (Jean Luc Ponty brushed me as he walked by briskly...)


I think that's about all I can think of for now......

When I'm famous you'll all say "remember that Gaston guy from CF?... yeah, talked to him a bunch of times... cool eh?"




Gaston

 

[The Theory]

I once interrupted Tim Allen having a serious discussion with some guy in a business suit to ask for an autograph.

 

[blackwasp]

"Do you listen to the Velvet Underground?"

I can probably guess the answers they gave you to that one.

 

[philN]

My uncle was very good friends in high school with the guys from Ween, so I have met all of them quite a few times. Aaron Freeman also gets his photos done at the store where I work, so I've talked to him quite a few times. Nice guys.

I write for Decapolis.com which is owned and operated by Conrad Tolosa of Ghoti Hook fame. But I don't know if that counts as greatness. Eh, why not Conrad's a great guy.

At Cornerstone last year I was staying in a hotel on a floor reserved for bands and vendors. Dave (LondonsBurning) was there too and he got really excited that we were staying in a room with Christopher Thomas (drummer, Calibretto) and right next door to the guys from Squad Five-O and Cool Hand Luke. Christopher is a really cool guy, as are the Cool Hand Luke guys, but Squad Five-O are a little bit self-important (I guess that's the nice way to put it). Anyway, I have some great stories about Dave interacting with these guys, but I'll save them for some other time. Let's just say he got a little excitable to be in their presence. Haha. Fun times.

Oh, I also interviewed Josh Caterer from the Smoking Popes/ Duvall. He and his wife are very nice. As is David Bazan, who is surprisingly awkward and a little bit shy when you talk to him in person.

I got to talk to Mike Pritzl after a solo acoustic show at a small venue near my house near Christmas, but it was more of an exchange of greetings and then going our seperate ways.

I think that's about all there is that's worth mentioning.

Oh, I was on a plane in the seat in front of the guitarist from Sparta. But who really cares about Sparta. Heh.

 

[Veiled Viper]

Wow,I've never heard of some of these people(or bands)!To each his own opinion of Greatness. I have heard of Ween.

 

[s_gunter]

My husband grew up with Todd Harrell from 3 Doors Down. They were neighbors for a while. So, my hubby and I got to hang out backstage with them after after a concert in Austin, Tx in 2003. Now that we moved back to south MS, we see them more often.

 

[TheDandyMan]

I bought the tick-tock treasury from ronnie martin himself. Then he signed it. And gave me about twenty stickers. I always feela bit awkward going to buy things, but that was it. I almost peed my pants. Then I bought the novelist and maybe a few other things from Jeff Cloud. Then I stared at him in what must have looked like a ridiculous manner as he talked to Jason Martin.

Actually, before the show I observed with some awe Jeff stacking chairs with some guy, to clear the way for the audience and whatnot. Almost peed my pants then, too.

Oh, yeah. I took pictures with Phil Joel and Peter Furler of the newsboys. Man. That was great. They talked to about a hundred folks in a small church just about music and the like. It was ridiculous because it was a surprise and I was ten. And...gasp! The newsboys!

Still. They're awesome.

 

[The Theory]

haha. I have a Jeff Cloud story, too!

I was at Purple Door music festival a few years back and was looking at his table of Velvet Blue Music items. I decided on a cd... the Viva Voce/Soul Junk split EP, I think. He was manning the booth (since he, like, runs the label) and so I asked him how much it was. I don't remember how much it was, exactly, but lets say it was $8 or so. I had a $10 bill on me and gave that to him. Well, he hunted through just about every pocket he had, but could not produce any kind of change. He just looked at me lamely and asked if I'd like a sticker instead.

Better a sticker than nothing. Which is why I now have a SF59 sticker on my bumper.

 

[Phatbowser]

Well, I can say I have never seen anyone famous in person.

 

[Idicious]

I talked a bit with Jokull, the basist of Antestor after their concert at Nordic Fest which was cool, though don't know if you'd concider him 'one of the greats'

Also spoke a bit with Pilgrim from Crimson Moonlight.

 

[The Theory]

I talked a bit with Jokull, the basist of Antestor after their concert at Nordic Fest which was cool, though don't know if you'd concider him 'one of the greats'

oh mannnnnn... where's my envyface smiley!?