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Post by sayne on Jun 2, 2013 9:19:57 GMT -5
Have you seen the movie High Fidelity? If not, check it out. Has funny, but loving jabs at us record snobs. Yes, I saw HIGH FIDELITY when it was in the theaters, but at that time I was not at all into vinyl. Since I've gotten back into it I did see a really great "deleted scene" where John Cusack goes to the home of Beverly D'Angelo to buy her two-timing husband's record collection. This was a good clip and I'm sorry it was ousted from the film. Have you seen it? Yes, I have, but not in the context of the movie. Not knowing where it would have been in the arc, I think I can see why they left it out.
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Post by Sir Frankie Crisp on Jun 3, 2013 19:42:43 GMT -5
Too many of my entertainment heros have disappointed me enough that I'm not the hero worshipping naive person I used to be. I've met enough of them in my life who have been genuinely nice, but I've learn to keep enough of a distance from them so as not to affect my admiration for their music and art. Well said Old Fred. Many years ago I found myself in an elevator with Ringo Starr. I was visiting family in Toronto and one afternoon I decided to hang out with my uncle and through the course of the afternoon we ended up at a newspaper building where his magazine was published. While he tended to business I hung out in the waiting room kind of staring blankly into space when all of a sudden Ringo Starr walks by with another gentleman. I was startled, not quite believing who I saw. About five minutes later my uncle comes to get me and he tells me we have to go to another floor so we press the button for the elevator and just as the doors are about to close Ringo and his companion get in. There were just the four of us and I didn't know if I should say something or just keep quiet and avoid embarrassing myself. I didn't say a word. What would I say after all? I tried to keep my composure and let the moment pass without incident which it did for the most part. I'm assuming they got the pee stains out of the carpet. Like a lot of individuals I have had minor brushes with celebrities and will for the most part avoid contact. My most recent experience was in April in New York. I went to see Leonard Cohen at Radio City Music Hall and directly in the row in front of me, about four seats to my left sat Lou Reed and his wife, Laurie Anderson. I've always liked the guy but I wouldn't even dream of approaching him. He can be prickly at the best of times so I steered clear but I watched throughout the evening to see if anyone would approach him. No one went near him. In fact he spent the better part of the first half of the concert looking at his damn i-phone. And what's worse, in the second portion of the concert when Cohen was performing a majestic version of "Hallelujah", I decided to look over at Lou to see if he was enjoying the moment and the bugger was asleep. "Rock n Roll Animal" indeed. The only celebrity I regret not saying hello to or shaking hands with is Yousuf Karsh. He is/was a preeminent portrait photographer and I have always admired his work. I saw him and his wife walking hand in hand down an outdoor pedestrian mall in my hometown and they looked so beautiful together. They were both very elderly and tiny and it was touching to see them together holding hands. We were walking in the same direction and I wasn't far behind them but for some reason I didn't want to intrude on them. In hindsight I wished I had asked to shake his hand and tell him how much I enjoyed his work. He has since passed away and it's one of those things that niggles at you, wishing you had taken advantage of the situation. That was the exception to the rule because I usually abide by the saying "Worship your heroes from afar; contact withers them."
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 3, 2013 23:50:40 GMT -5
Frankie, did Ringo do anything in that elevator to acknowledge you and your uncle? Did he nod or crack a joke or anything? Eye contact? The old, "Okay, you know I'm Ringo Starr, I know I'm Ringo Starr, get it over then lad and ask for me autograpth." I totally respect your response of not approaching him.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 5:36:51 GMT -5
Many years ago I found myself in an elevator with Ringo Starr. I was visiting family in Toronto and one afternoon I decided to hang out with my uncle and through the course of the afternoon we ended up at a newspaper building where his magazine was published. While he tended to business I hung out in the waiting room kind of staring blankly into space when all of a sudden Ringo Starr walks by with another gentleman. I was startled, not quite believing who I saw. About five minutes later my uncle comes to get me and he tells me we have to go to another floor so we press the button for the elevator and just as the doors are about to close Ringo and his companion get in. There were just the four of us and I didn't know if I should say something or just keep quiet and avoid embarrassing myself. I didn't say a word. What would I say after all? I tried to keep my composure and let the moment pass without incident which it did for the most part. I'm assuming they got the pee stains out of the carpet. Sorry, Frankie, but I'm afraid I can't agree with you (or JSD). If I had been in your situation I would most certainly have made the attempt to ask Ringo for an autograph, or at least say "Hello, Mr. Starkey, thanks for the music" - and I'd be sure to compliment him on his most recent solo work, just to let him know I'm interested in him as more than "Just An Ex-Beatle". I don't mean you any disrespect, Frankie, but I'm afraid I just can't understand. There is an old saying that goes: "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained". I don't think Ringo would have turned on you in an elevator just for saying "Hello, and thanks for the music". I took a chance at meeting Yoko at the Dakota on two occasions in the 1990s, and she was very sweet and was happy to pose for pics with fans and sign autographs. People do not get autographs unless they ask. (However, of course if you're just not excited about autographs and they hold no allure for you in general, then there's no loss). But the thing is, a person has to make the effort... you don't just get handed things on a silver platter. I tried to meet Paul and have a nice experience with him a few times, but I lost in that Paul was rather nasty one time and just ignored us the other times. But still, I DID get Paul's autograph on one of these attempts, albeit he signed from inside a hotel lobby and it was his assistant who had collected our items and handed them back afterward. Now, I will grant you that if I ran into Ringo today in an elevator in 2013 I would be kind of afraid to ask him for an autograph, because it's well known that he has made it clear that he is DONE with signing autographs. But I would still try to smile and soften him up by at least saying "Hello, thanks for the music - I think Y NOT and RINGO 2012 have been some of your best albums", to which he may POSSIBLY be a little more open minded to feeling I'm not just some autograph dealer looking to sell his signature on Ebay. SIGH -- for some reason it's always the ones who don't wish to take advantage of the situation who are the ones who get a golden opportunity to meet Ringo or paul. Frankie, what period was this when you saw Ringo in the elevator? Are we talking decades ago, in the 70s or 80s ?
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 5:48:18 GMT -5
Frankie, did Ringo do anything in that elevator to acknowledge you and your uncle? Did he nod or crack a joke or anything? Eye contact? The old, "Okay, you know I'm Ringo Starr, I know I'm Ringo Starr, get it over then lad and ask for me autograpth." Here is a story Ringo told on a TV talk show in recent years, which I just re-watched... I will paraphrase, but it goes pretty close to this: RINGO: "Sometimes what happens is that I'll be on a plane or something, and then people just decide that they're going to pretend not to recognize you. One time I was on a plane seated next to some foreign guy, and he starts talking to me: [Ringo puts on a foreign accent here]: RINGO AS FOREIGNER: "Hello -- how are you?" RINGO AS HIMSELF: "Hello". RINGO AS FOREIGNER: "I am an Industrial Waste. What do you do?" RINGO AS HIMSELF: "Well -- I'm a musician, actually...." RINGO AS FOREIGNER: "Oh, that is very interesting. What do you play?" RINGO AS HIMSELF: "Umm... I play drums...." RINGO AS FOREIGNER: "ah, I see.... And how is Paul?" (AUDIENCE LAUGHTER ) RINGO: "And I just tell him, "He's fine!"
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Post by vectisfabber on Jun 4, 2013 8:19:54 GMT -5
Nice story! I've been in the proximity of assorted celebs over the years (passed a fair number on the street when I worked in London in the 70s/80s), and my personal attitude is that, unless we are in a situation where making an approach to a non-celeb would be reasonable, then it is no more reasonable to make an approach simply because the person is well known. If they are having dinner in a restaurant and I'm on the next table, then no. If they are doing something as a celeb, then yes.
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 4, 2013 8:59:42 GMT -5
LOL, but Joe if you just compliment Ringo on his last two albums then you run the risk of Ringo saying, "What so all my other albums are crap!?" We know that is exactly what a beer buzzed George Harrison did on Rockline when a fan called in to gush about Cloud Nine! George snapped at the guy and said something like what my other albums weren't great? If George was joking there was still a huge defensive edge to it! If I was in the elevator with Ringo I'd flash the peace sign and say, "Peace and love." If Ringo responded in kind, I'd repeat it again and thus it would go back and forth, between Ringo and I in a battle of "Peace and love" and "Peace and love" until one of us got out of the elevator.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 9:09:29 GMT -5
LOL, but Joe if you just compliment Ringo on his last two albums then you run the risk of Ringo saying, "What so all my other albums are crap!?" We know that is exactly what a beer buzzed George Harrison did on Rockline when a fan called in to gush about Cloud Nine! George snapped at the guy and said something like what my other albums weren't great? If George was joking there was still a huge defensive edge to it! I like a good laugh as much as anybody, John, but seriously I doubt Ringo would literally reply as you playfully suggest. As for the George Rockline interview of 1988, I do recall it quite well, and George was drinking and discussing Doseki, and was very laid back and being playful himself. I am sure he was kidding with the caller, and he made other such jokey reactions during the broadcast. I don't recall it being about his other past albums though, I recall the caller saying he "liked" an album, and George jokingly said "oh, c'mon, if you don't LOVE it, man, just get off the line!" -- but completely done tongue in cheek.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 9:21:16 GMT -5
Nice story! I've been in the proximity of assorted celebs over the years (passed a fair number on the street when I worked in London in the 70s/80s), and my personal attitude is that, unless we are in a situation where making an approach to a non-celeb would be reasonable, then it is no more reasonable to make an approach simply because the person is well known. If they are having dinner in a restaurant and I'm on the next table, then no. If they are doing something as a celeb, then yes. The problem is, you will never seem them again, in most cases! Sir Frankie had a once in a lifetime chance of pure luck running into Ringo Starr in an elevator. it's not like you can say "oh, I see Ringo is busy -- I'll wait until I see him up close like this in the next celebrity function..." But please believe me when I tell you, I also have my limits, and approaching someone in a restaurant is probably one of the restrictions for me too, I would agree... same thing if you encounter a celebrity in a public bathroom! (But even in the latter case, if I was in a restroom with Ringo and he was doing his thing, I wouldn't say a word... but as he washed his hands afterward I might jokingly say something like "Wow, they don't make these hand towels like they used to!", or SOMETHING!) This past October I ran into a celebrity in a restaurant. It was during Hurricane Sandy, when everyone's electricity in the area was out for a week to ten days. My girl and I went down to the corner Italian restaurant to eat, and we saw Burt Young come in and sit down with a woman (Burt is known as Paulie from the ROCKY films). Now, even though I am talking a big game here online, I couldn't even look his way. I told my girlfriend I was afraid to even LOOK at him, for fear I would be making him uncomfortable. The thought occurred to me over and over to go home quickly (right down the block) and get something for Burt to autograph, but I decided against it (plus, I didn't have anything ROCKY-oriented!). For the most part, other people did not bother him.... but after his meal I did spot a few people approaching his table and shaking hands with him, and he seemed genuinely cordial to them. So in the end, they won -- I chickened out and lost! However, if it had been Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr who were sitting at that table, I may have taken the step... but I would still wait until it looked like they were finished, not during a bite of their spaghetti! Look, if you snooze, you lose -- it's that simple. There is a certain "now or never" opportunity a lot of these times. Now, if you don't mind missing out, then none of this matters. I think OldFred did the right thing when he once saw John Lennon and asked for his autograph -- but I also think Fred did the right thing as well by politely backing off after John told him he didn't sign autographs. Hey, when I saw Paul's limousine pull up in front of his hotel and he screamed out the car window at a girl for being there, I backed off too ... I had the RAM album in my hand for a signature, but just loudly muttered an astonished and disappointed "Wow..." at Paul, and turned away, after his explosion. I took a gamble here and lost -- there were only 3 of us fans present -- but there have been other fans who HAVE received signatures and a decent exchange, so you takes yer chance. This weekend Paul will be in NY for a show, and in the old days (when I was so much younger than today!) I would have tried to somehow get an autograph. But it's more of a hassle these days... (however, as I write these words I am thinking I just MAY try to go! )
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Post by mikev on Jun 4, 2013 10:56:20 GMT -5
Nice story! I've been in the proximity of assorted celebs over the years (passed a fair number on the street when I worked in London in the 70s/80s), and my personal attitude is that, unless we are in a situation where making an approach to a non-celeb would be reasonable, then it is no more reasonable to make an approach simply because the person is well known. If they are having dinner in a restaurant and I'm on the next table, then no. If they are doing something as a celeb, then yes. The problem is, you will never seem them again, in most cases! Sir Frankie had a once in a lifetime chance of pure luck running into Ringo Starr in an elevator. it's not like you can say "oh, I see Ringo is busy -- I'll wait until I see him up close like this in the next celebrity function..." But please believe me when I tell you, I also have my limits, and approaching someone in a restaurant is probably one of the restrictions for me too, I would agree... same thing if you encounter a celebrity in a public bathroom! (But even in the latter case, if I was in a restroom with Ringo and he was doing his thing, I wouldn't say a word... but as he washed his hands afterward I might jokingly say something like "Wow, they don't make these hand towels like they used to!", or SOMETHING!) This past October I ran into a celebrity in a restaurant. It was during Hurricane Sandy, when everyone's electricity in the area was out for a week to ten days. My girl and I went down to the corner Italian restaurant to eat, and we saw Burt Young come in and sit down with a woman (Burt is known as Paulie from the ROCKY films). Now, even though I am talking a big game here online, I couldn't even look his way. I told my girlfriend I was afraid to even LOOK at him, for fear I would be making him uncomfortable. The thought occurred to me over and over to go home quickly (right down the block) and get something for Burt to autograph, but I decided against it (plus, I didn't have anything ROCKY-oriented!). For the most part, other people did not bother him.... but after his meal I did spot a few people approaching his table and shaking hands with him, and he seemed genuinely cordial to them. So in the end, they won -- I chickened out and lost! However, if it had been Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr who were sitting at that table, I may have taken the step... but I would still wait until it looked like they were finished, not during a bite of their spaghetti! Look, if you snooze, you lose -- it's that simple. There is a certain "now or never" opportunity a lot of these times. Now, if you don't mind missing out, then none of this matters. I think OldFred did the right thing when he once saw John Lennon and asked for his autograph -- but I also think Fred did the right thing as well by politely backing off after John told him he didn't sign autographs. Hey, when I saw Paul's limousine pull up in front of his hotel and he screamed out the car window at a girl for being there, I backed off too ... I had the RAM album in my hand for a signature, but just loudly muttered an astonished and disappointed "Wow..." at Paul, and turned away, after his explosion. I took a gamble here and lost -- there were only 3 of us fans present -- but there have been other fans who HAVE received signatures and a decent exchange, so you takes yer chance. This weekend Paul will be in NY for a show, and in the old days (when I was so much younger than today!) I would have tried to somehow get an autograph. But it's more of a hassle these days... (however, as I write these words I am thinking I just MAY try to go! ) Two years ago my brother was working out alone in a gym at a hotel in Syracuse, when Alec Baldwin came in...went over to the treadmill next to him. My brother wished him a Merry Christmas, and that was it. I said he should have asked him if he had any schweaty balls! But he works in the Senate tv dept, so he sees big wig senators daily and has even chatted with Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 11:42:43 GMT -5
Two years ago my brother was working out alone in a gym at a hotel in Syracuse, when Alec Baldwin came in...went over to the treadmill next to him. My brother wished him a Merry Christmas, and that was it. I said he should have asked him if he had any schweaty balls! Heh Heh - that was a classic SNL routine! One other weird story ... I have a friend who is really short. He's also a stage comedian (hey, Mike - it's my friend Lou who does the Lou Costello appearances - wasn't it you who met him when we were at the Beatlefest?). Well, anyway -- several years ago, Lou was at the Chiller Theater Convention in New Jersey, and he meets David Carradine in the men's room. They're standing next to each other at urinals, taking their leaks. It just so happens that Lou was using the "low" urinal that is reserved for little people or handicapped people. For some reason, then Lou the comic says something to Carradine like: "You know, I like these urinals -- they make me feel tall". And Carradine just shot him a look down and went "Whaaattt?"
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Post by mikev on Jun 4, 2013 11:50:58 GMT -5
Yes- very cool that he did the voice of Lou on that cartoon. I would have been a blithering "fanboy" if I knew that day.
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Post by acebackwords on Jun 4, 2013 15:19:45 GMT -5
I may be odd as fans go, but I've never had the least urge to meet ANY of my artisitic idols. I corresponded with two of my heroes -- R. Crumb and Charles Bukowski -- for many years, but never felt any desire to meet them in person. I always felt what they really had to offer was their WORK, not their flesh-and-blood human bones.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 15:40:47 GMT -5
I may be odd as fans go, but I've never had the least urge to meet ANY of my artisitic idols. I corresponded with two of my heroes, R. Crumb and Charles Bukowski -- for many years, but never felt any desire to meet them in person. I always felt what they really had to offer was their WORK, not their flesh-and-blood human bones. I would consider you odd, but I don't think you have anything to worry about in the eyes of the world in general, because these days people tend to frown down on fans who want to meet stars. Or fans who have big collections and are dedicated to what they like. They call it "obsessive" and "stalking", and that's too bad. I have no problem saying I'd like to meet the stars I've admired, to tell them how much their work has meant to me, to shake hands, maybe get an autograph or photo together to capture the moment. Why not? I don't get it -- but, ever-increasingly so -- "that's just me".
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Post by sayne on Jun 4, 2013 18:32:59 GMT -5
Here's a cute story concerning his daughter, Ireland - the one getting a lot of attention nowadays for being a stunner. I have a friend who worked at Ireland's elementary school. One time when Ireland was really young, she was waiting for her dad to pick her up. I guess he was late or maybe he went to the wrong meeting place, but Ireland went up to my friend and said, "Have you seen my father? He looks like Alec Baldwin."
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Post by acebackwords on Jun 4, 2013 19:11:01 GMT -5
I've read many accounts of Lennon during the Liverpool and Beatlemania days where it was standing operating procedure for him to verbally attack virtually everyone who approached him.If they stood up to him he would respect them and accept them. If not he would walk all over them.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 4, 2013 19:59:57 GMT -5
I've read many accounts of Lennon during the Liverpool and Beatlemania days where it was standing operating procedure for him to verbally attack virtually everyone who approached him.If they stood up to him he would respect them and accept them. If not he would walk all over them. Who needs to read a lot of accounts? John himself was always candid and always admitted to the chip on his shoulder and that he was a bully. The guy had a rough childhood and this was how it affected him. But he made up for it later in life and changed to a large degree. I just don't understand what "surprises" some of these people think they're "unveiling" when it comes to John.
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Post by acebackwords on Jun 4, 2013 20:18:12 GMT -5
I dont find it surprising but interesting. Like a lot of artists Lennon seemed to live in extreme state of hyper emotionality. Its probably one of the things that made him such a great artist. That he was constantly surging with all these emotional currents (rage certainly being one of them). George has said that it could be quite disturbing when in the middle of a recording session John would suddenly start screaming or crying for no apparent reason. He was a live wire that one no doubt.
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Post by Sir Frankie Crisp on Jun 5, 2013 5:50:13 GMT -5
Many years ago I found myself in an elevator with Ringo Starr. I was visiting family in Toronto and one afternoon I decided to hang out with my uncle and through the course of the afternoon we ended up at a newspaper building where his magazine was published. While he tended to business I hung out in the waiting room kind of staring blankly into space when all of a sudden Ringo Starr walks by with another gentleman. I was startled, not quite believing who I saw. About five minutes later my uncle comes to get me and he tells me we have to go to another floor so we press the button for the elevator and just as the doors are about to close Ringo and his companion get in. There were just the four of us and I didn't know if I should say something or just keep quiet and avoid embarrassing myself. I didn't say a word. What would I say after all? I tried to keep my composure and let the moment pass without incident which it did for the most part. I'm assuming they got the pee stains out of the carpet. SIGH -- for some reason it's always the ones who don't wish to take advantage of the situation who are the ones who get a golden opportunity to meet Ringo or paul. Frankie, what period was this when you saw Ringo in the elevator? Are we talking decades ago, in the 70s or 80s ? This took place in the 80’s during Ringo’s ponytail phase. He was very low key without any sort of entourage. I was in a waiting room which was adjacent to the newsroom so he may have been there for an interview. There was no big pronouncement upon his arrival; he simply strolled by with another gentleman (a publicist perhaps), going about his business. Had I been flipping through a magazine I wouldn’t have even noticed him. When he got into the elevator he was speaking in a very low voice with his partner and most of it was mumbles. The only thing I could detect was something about going to a recording studio. We were the first to get on the elevator so he was standing in front with his back to me so it was hard to detect what he was saying. Everything happened so fast it was over before I knew what happened. I wasn’t going to ask for an autograph because I didn’t have a pen nor did I have anything to sign. I completely understand anyone who thinks I was a bit of a hipster doofus for not seizing the moment and that’s fine. That’s not my personality. If an artist I admire has a meet and greet opportunity after a concert or a book signing, then I’ll take the time to say hello and ask something related to the music. I mentioned on another thread about one of the times I met Richie Havens and I told him I thought the song “What About Me” was a perfect fit for his style, not realizing that he had already recorded it. I felt like a bit of a knob but Richie figured I must have been a fan of Quicksilver Messenger Service so he told me that he was great friends with Dino Valenti (guitarist and singer of QMS) and then proceeded to talk about their relationship. The conversation was unexpected but it was a really nice moment and I’m glad I took the time to speak with him. It becomes even more meaningful since he has passed away. On the other hand, meeting a celebrity on the street or in any other kind of social situation has the potential to turn sour and I don’t want an unfortunate incident to tarnish my opinion of that person. My mom met Tony Bennett in the 1950’s after a club date and she asked for his autograph and he denied her. To this friggin’ day she holds a grudge against Tony Bennett. I even took her to see him at a jazz festival about 10 years ago and it was one of the best concerts I have ever seen. It was in a beautiful park on a gorgeous summers evening and the stars were aligned just so. They closed down the streets so there wouldn’t be any traffic noise and the atmosphere was hushed as you could hear every whisper and every note that was played. It was enough to give you goose bumps. And yet in spite of how fantastic that evening was my mother decided to trot out her time worn tale of how Tony Bennett snubbed her when he was an up and coming artist and perhaps a bit too brash and arrogant. Cripes, let it go ma. Sometimes it’s better not to know. Besides, I’m not all that bothered about having an autograph. A photo would be nice along with a massive gratuity but hey, buggers can’t be choosers.
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 5, 2013 6:42:14 GMT -5
I met Richie Havens and I told him I thought the song “What About Me” was a perfect fit for his style, not realizing that he had already recorded it. I felt like a bit of a knob but Richie figured I must have been a fan of Quicksilver Messenger Service so he told me that he was great friends with Dino Valenti (guitarist and singer of QMS) and then proceeded to talk about their relationship. The conversation was unexpected but it was a really nice moment and I’m glad I took the time to speak with him. It becomes even more meaningful since he has passed away. Great story! Well, y'see, here was a case where making the effort turned out well for you. It's true when you say a chance meeting can also have negative consequences and turn sour, so it is a risk. But just think of the positives, had Ringo been cool and cordial to you! Well, it is a gamble. In the case of Tony Bennett you say it was after a club date, and not "just on the streets"? So even when "it's part of the gig" you never know if they will be cordial or not. When I was 21 I was a huge fan of Joan Jett. It just so happened that she was at the height of her popularity, and her managers Kenny Laguna and Meryl Laguna lived about 15 minutes from my house. I had also heard strong rumors that the Lagunas allowed Joan to have a space of her own and lived with them (she was only 24 herself then). At first I scouted the area a bit and I talked to a couple of neighbors who confirmed that Joan actually DID live in with her managers. So I started dutifully writing some fan letters at first, and mailing them to the house. These letters were very reserved, not at all "crazy", and very respectful. I made sure to mail them to "Kenny Laguna" (not "Joan Jett") just so that nobody coming across the envelope would find out that Jett lived there... After a few months of this I received a signed photo from Joan Jett, but with a nice personalized note in her handwriting written on the back saying "I hope to see you someday". I was so happy that shortly afterward I made a brave attempt with a lump in my throat to approach the door and ring the bell. I took a friend with me for moral support and both of us looked well dressed and "normal". When the door opened it was answered by Meryl Laguna who, at first it seemed, looked a little perturbed that another couple of fans were ringing her bell. However, as soon as I told her my name, her entire facial expression and demeanor changed and she shook my hand and told me they had received my letters and she told me "Joe, you write beautiful letters". She then told me that Joan Jett was not about, but to check out an upcoming appearance Joan would make at the Malibu Night Club in the area. When the night came, it was very close and intimate, and I met Joan for the first time. As soon as I told her who I was, Joan too recognized the name, immediately lit up like a Christmas Tree, and shook my hand with a firm grasp which she would not release during the entire length of our conversation (which lasted about a minute or two). She immediately recalled where I lived without me telling her, and confirmed that she sent me that 8x10 on her own, and was thrilled to autograph 2 LP covers I had with me ("Nice Meetin' Ya!" she wrote). About one year later, I was at a public NYC Tower Records signing with Joan in 1985, and her manager Kenny Laguna said to me: "Are you coming to the gig this month? Since we know you I'll get you backstage" . When the date arrived, Kenny kept his word -- I told a roadie about the arrangement, he went backstage to confirm it with The Boss, and the roadie returned and slapped a backstage pass on my jacket and whisked me to behind the scenes. As it turned out, this was after the concert and it wasn't very successful because the sound system was faulty and a few times during the show Joan openly expressed upset about it between performances. So when I saw her backstage she was kind of sitting and sulking in a corner all by herself, and I didn't want to approach her. She eventually picked herself up to get a snack from a buffet table, and it was then that I introduced myself and asked for a photo with her. She seemed kind of tired and not into it, but she asked me what kind of camera I had and I assured her it was "just a little kodak instamatic, a real piece of shit"... so she mumbled "sure". I got her manager to snap the photo, but he took two photos because on the second one he joked: "Come on, SMILE, Jett!!". So I had a photo of us together, but with Joan kind of grinning. It wasn't comfortable because I could see Joan was just not in a good mood, and I'm sure it was due to the problems during the concert. Still, she did take the photo with me, and none of this would have happened if I had not made the effort. I would always choose having my photo taken with Paul or Ringo over an autograph, if I had the choice. I still hope I may realize that dream one day. Meanwhile, I make do with a framed 11x14 photo of Paul outside his hotel from 1993, with me in the shot!
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Post by Joe Karlosi on Jun 5, 2013 9:33:22 GMT -5
On the other hand, meeting a celebrity on the street or in any other kind of social situation has the potential to turn sour and I don’t want an unfortunate incident to tarnish my opinion of that person.. -- just to continue this from my other response right above ... yes. This definitely happened to some degree with me and Paul McCartney in my eyes. To see someone you've admired your whole life just turn wild and yell at a fan for "daring" to stand on a public street where Paul's limo was, telling her she was "not supposed to be here!" as if he owned America, was really ugly to witness. And then to follow this up by angrily seizing the little crystal gift the girl passed through the limo window and flinging it out onto the ground was much added horror. For me to have been dissed by Paul eye-to-eye two years prior, when I asked him for an autograph pleading "Please, Paul, I came all the way from Canada!", and then having him raise my hopes at first with a spirited: "Didja?", [my hope soared...!]... and then continuing with a shrug: " -- I came all the way from England!" ... Now, if it had been anyone else but Paul McCartney I would have maybe had a "F Him" attitude. But I do know that there have been times where Paul was cordial to fans, maybe these were not his best days. I gave Paul a pass on the occasion where he went crazy at the girl because it was June 1995 and the year Linda was diagnosed with cancer (however, upon research I've since learned that Linda wasn't diagnosed until December '95). I also figure there is something actually cool about me having been playfully "dissed" by a Beatle that other time! (I say "playfully"... but I'm not really that sure he was playing ) . Then we have that inexcusable (IMO) piece of London footage of Paul and Nancy in 2008 being followed by an unseen woman and man, where we hear the man saying "Come on Paul, we love you"... to which Paul mocks him by imitating him in a silly voice: "myah, myah..."... and then says "you sound just like a big school kid", after which he looks over and addresses the female with hostility: " and YOU -- are a big, fat school GIRL!!".... then he keeps walking with Nancy, as the two are followed, and as the female says things like "how dare you? you're a loser! I hope you feel big in front of your girlfriend". Paul is heard to say "she just showed her true colors, didn't she?", to which the girl (accurately, I'd say) replies to Macca: "YOU just showed YOURS!". Paul just ignores her after this and walks, but occasionally says "Okay, Fatso... sure, Fatso... okay, see ya later, Fatso!" (wow, talking about acting like a "school kid"!)... Just awful. So yeah .... sometimes it's.... not a great idea. But it's one helluva risk!
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 5, 2013 13:47:11 GMT -5
I am convinced more than ever that if I run into Paul I won't approach him, I won't look him in the eye, call out his name or otherwise acknowledge him directly but rather I will simply yell, "Take it Tony!" and hope that prompts Paul to burst into scatting guttural lyrics and engaging in the ferocious air-guitar of "Mumbo!" Maybe Paul would then let me air-guitar with him but I won't press my luck with scatting the nonsensical lyrics.
If Paul ignores that famous form of count-in and just glares at me, then I will shrug and point at some other guy and say, "I was talking to him" and get the hell out of there!
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Post by acebackwords on Jun 5, 2013 16:55:22 GMT -5
I am convinced more than ever that if I run into Paul I won't approach him, I won't look him in the eye, call out his name or otherwise acknowledge him directly but rather I will simply yell, "Take it Tony!" and hope that prompts Paul to burst into scatting guttural lyrics and engaging in the ferocious air-guitar of "Mumbo!" Maybe Paul would then let me air-guitar with him but I won't press my luck with scatting the nonsensical lyrics. If Paul ignores that famous form of count-in and just glares at me, then I will shrug and point at some other guy and say, "I was talking to him" and get the hell out of there! Ha ha. You got your bases covered, John. I met Johnny Rotten backstage when I interviewed him for a newspaper article. In some ways, Johnny was the anti-Paul. Paul pushes that Nice Guy image so people are disappointed if he turns out to be an asshole. While Johnny Rotten pushes that asshole image so people are disappointed if he turns out to be a nice guy. Thankfully, he didn't disappoint. The bass player told me that Rotten hated it when interviewers asked him about the Sex Pistols so of course thats the first thing I had to ask him. Ha ha.
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Post by sayne on Jun 6, 2013 1:31:37 GMT -5
. . . So even when "it's part of the gig" you never know if they will be cordial or not . . . If you're with a companion, I think the trick when one is in an elevator or something is to not notice the famous person and start a conversation about something you know the famous person is interested in. For example, if I was in an elevator with Joan Jett, I would say to my friend, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got tickets for the Oriole game. They're pretty good, near the 3rd base dugout." Joan Jett is a huge Baltimore Oriole fan. If Paul was in the elevator I might say to my companion, "Wanna go try that new Filipino vegetarian restaurant? We've been trying to get over there for a long time and we have the time now." I think that would get the famous person to start a conversation with you.
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Post by vectisfabber on Jun 6, 2013 5:41:10 GMT -5
Comments to make casually when in the vicinity of Paul McCartney no 1: "I see that wooden leg shop in Brighton has closed."
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Post by mikev on Jun 6, 2013 8:40:50 GMT -5
Comments to make casually when in the vicinity of Paul McCartney no 1: "I see that wooden leg shop in Brighton has closed." You are a cruel dude
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Post by vectisfabber on Jun 6, 2013 9:03:54 GMT -5
Comments to make casually when in the vicinity of Paul McCartney no 2: "I've always thought that artistic credibility comes a very poor second place to commercial success."
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Post by John S. Damm on Jun 6, 2013 9:07:53 GMT -5
. . . So even when "it's part of the gig" you never know if they will be cordial or not . . . If you're with a companion, I think the trick when one is in an elevator or something is to not notice the famous person and start a conversation about something you know the famous person is interested in. For example, if I was in an elevator with Joan Jett, I would say to my friend, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got tickets for the Oriole game. They're pretty good, near the 3rd base dugout." Joan Jett is a huge Baltimore Oriole fan. If Paul was in the elevator I might say to my companion, "Wanna go try that new Filipino vegetarian restaurant? We've been trying to get over there for a long time and we have the time now." I think that would get the famous person to start a conversation with you. sayne you are 100% right about that and in fact I did play the Baltimore Orioles card when meeting Joan Jett in 1983 at Notre Dame after she opened for Loverboy. My buddies and I blew off main act Loverboy to go stand outside Joan's bus. Her handlers were trying to get rid of us but Joan came out and talked to us and signed our ticket stubs! She was awesome and is the biggest Rock Star I ever talked to. Hell yeah I threw out Orioles references and Pro Keds' hightops, her favorite footwear! The Orioles won the World Series that Fall(it was a Fall concert) and I had read she was a huge baseball/Orioles fan. She lit up on the mention of the Orioles and said something like "Hell yeah" or even "F_ck yeah" when I said "Go Orioles" and nothing impresses drunk 21 year old guys like a hot female rock star swearing, not at you but with you!
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Post by scousette on Jun 6, 2013 10:05:12 GMT -5
If you're with a companion, I think the trick when one is in an elevator or something is to not notice the famous person and start a conversation about something you know the famous person is interested in. For example, if I was in an elevator with Joan Jett, I would say to my friend, "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I got tickets for the Oriole game. They're pretty good, near the 3rd base dugout." Joan Jett is a huge Baltimore Oriole fan. If Paul was in the elevator I might say to my companion, "Wanna go try that new Filipino vegetarian restaurant? We've been trying to get over there for a long time and we have the time now." I think that would get the famous person to start a conversation with you. sayne you are 100% right about that and in fact I did play the Baltimore Orioles card when meeting Joan Jett in 1983 at Notre Dame after she opened for Loverboy. My buddies and I blew off main act Loverboy to go stand outside Joan's bus. Her handlers were trying to get rid of us but Joan came out and talked to us and signed our ticket stubs! She was awesome and is the biggest Rock Star I ever talked to. Hell yeah I threw out Orioles references and Pro Keds' hightops, her favorite footwear! The Orioles won the World Series that Fall(it was a Fall concert) and I had read she was a huge baseball/Orioles fan. She lit up on the mention of the Orioles and said something like "Hell yeah" or even "F_ck yeah" when I said "Go Orioles" and nothing impresses drunk 21 year old guys like a hot female rock star swearing, not at you but with you! Great story, JSD. Sayne's advice is solid, and it requires one to be more than just a casual fan--you have to have some knowledge of the performer's outside interests. Not quite stalking, but a healthy curiosity about what makes your favorite celeb tick.
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Post by scousette on Jun 6, 2013 10:06:40 GMT -5
Comments to make casually when in the vicinity of Paul McCartney no 2: "I've always thought that artistic credibility comes a very poor second place to commercial success." LMAO!
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