Close Encounters of the Music Kind

[Chef Jim]

I have a few but I’ll start with this one…..

 

Korn…….I was the Chef at Hollywood Athletic Club at Universal Citywalk in the early 90’s.  Korn and Nine Inch Nails were playing at the Amphitheater.  We did the NIN after show.  We did the the Korn pre show meet and greet.  No one showed up. 😔. I went to the bar to check on the food.  The band was at at the bar looking sad.  I walked up and pointed to the music coming from the bar sound system and asked “is this you guys?”  They nodded yes. I say “love it!!”   They perked up.  🤟🏻

[Punching Bag]

I saw Dizzy Gillespie at an appearance in Buffalo.

He made a surprise stop in Buffalo and asked club manager if he wanted to set up a one night appearance.

The manager offered me standing room only ticket since he knew I was a fan and I helped out his club a number of times.

 

Dressed in a suit, my only suit, (proper attire was required) I listened him to play for 75 minutes and during performance not sound was made - waiters did not serve customers, no glasses clinking, no talking, etc.  At end of performance there was applause for 5-10 minutes and then waiters started serving pent up demand.

 

I noticed he seemed a little tired and was just sitting there so I walked up and asked him if needed anything.

"Just some water please" he said.

I think he thought I was a waiter for my suit was similar to theirs.

 

I went up to the bar and talked to a bartender I knew who was busy like all of them telling him that the star wanted some water.

He gave me a pitcher of water, an empty glass and a glass of ice and returned to other customers.

I brought to him and he said "Thank you."

 

Later after closing (I was getting a ride from kitchen staff member) manager said he saw what I did and it was nice.

Then he asked why I did not ask for an autograph.

I said I did not want to bother him and he said he he would not have minded.

[Just Jack]

Was at a Super Bowl party at a home of a friend of my then girlfriend, the year of Nipple Gate.  During halftime was talking to some guy in the kitchen.  After the game on the way home she asks me if I knew who I was talking to, I said no.  She says that was Todd Hobin. I knew the name having heard of his band, but did not know that was him. 

 

Maybe 2004, I would house sit for the brother of my boss, while he was out of town for work, and watch his dogs.  Through his travels for work he'd meet a lot of people.  One person was Spencer Bohren, kind of folk, blues, southern music. Well, one time when Spencer was in the area, he came to the house and did a private show for just family and friends of the owner.  Maybe 10 years later I was in New Orleans for work and saw Spencer was doing a show at a local art museum, so I stopped over.  He actually remembered me from that house show 10 years earlier. 

 

I don't remember the year, it was sometime after I got season tickets, so after 2000, when you could still stand by the players entrance of the stadium before a game.  I'm there with Cindy (rip) and we see one of the Bills front office people coming towards us with some guy.  We both recognize this guy but can't think of a name. They walk by us, we say hi, they say hi back.  They are about 50 yards away from us when it hits us, that was Chuck Mangione!  He was there to do the National Athem that day. As tempting as it was to chase them down for a picture, I did not. 

[Chef Jim]

I was skiing in Big Bear Mt.  They were doing an MTV thing. As I walked down the slope Rob Zombie was standing at bottom of the slope alone staring up at the the ski slope….

 

Chef Jim:  Hey Rob

Rob: hey

 

Like we were buds. LOL 

[GETTOTHE50]

theres a park next to the office i worked in at nashville and one day when i was driving into the parking lot, i saw a homeless dude run up behind two hunnies and put his arms around their shoulders

 

i yelled HEY and it turned out to be steven tyler.

[muppy]

oh my. I have a list of memorable happenstances like this. I saw Leon Redbone at the Pembroke NYS Thruway gas stop. And yes he was wearing fedora and sunglasses,  Big mustache.  I immediately recognized him.

[Gugny]

I went to an Experience Hendrix show at the Albany Palace Theater back in 2014.

 

My buddies and I were walking around, killing time and went to check out one of the tour buses.  They're decorated with huge pictures of Hendrix ... very cool.

 

When we walked by the bus, there was a woman standing outside of the bus smoking this mammoth cigar.  We exchanged pleasantries and kept moving along.

 

Fast forward to the beginning of the show ... the emcee welcomes us, then introduces Janie Hendrix - Jimi's sister.

 

As soon as she came out, I realized that she was the woman smoking the cigar outside the bus.

[Draconator]

I've had a few. 

 

My best is I used to do the website for Alex Lifeson's bar (The Orbit Room) in Toronto in 1999-2000. When Alex would show up (once every two to three weeks), he would always get there early and bartend for a couple of hours. One night I got there early myself, and Alex was behind the bar. He sees me enter, and says "Hey Hoffman, come here!" I walk up to the bar, he pours two shots of Tequila, and simply says "Drink". I reply, "Alex, that ***** will kill me". He then leans towards me to where his face is about 3 inches away from mine and says "Then you can tell all your friends you died drinking with the guitarist of Rush! Drink!" So I had the shot. 

 

Later in 2000 I moved to California and my ex and I won a contest to have breakfast with Geddy Lee. There were a total of 20 people there. Everyone asked Geddy about Rush, and he was so nice to answer every question. My ex and I started talking to him about kids and baseball, and he literally shut everyone else out and focused on us for a solid 30 minutes, talking about kids and baseball. 

 

in 2001 I was in LA meeting with Rush's security lead. He tells us to go to this laundrymat in East Hollywood and look for a big guy. Sure enough, my ex and I get to the laundrymat, and there is this mountain of a man standing at a door next to the laundrymat. We ask for Michael (Rush's security lead), and he says "He's right inside", and ushers us in. It was one of those true Hollywood hidden bars. I'm talking with 4 guys, nice conversation. Michael comes over and says, "so you're getting along with Limp Bizkit?" 

[muppy]

there is a band that is popular with the indie crowd called Tame Impala.  I met the lead guitarist in Hollywood CA on New Years eve. My sons band at the time Cults played there that night and this was back stage. This guy had on a red snakeskin belt. I had no clue about thst band at the time. I think they've been nominated for a grammy. though

 

I made quite a strange encounter with the band MGMT but it's kind of long to type.

 

Bad Religion anybody? Their drummer Jamie Miller I met at a show, again my son playing in a band with him. We bonded over our shared love of pittie dogs.

Edited June 30, 2022 by muppy
clue

[Johnny Hammersticks]

When I was like 12 I met the entire Cypress Hill crew at the Rochester train station whilst my mother and I were picking up my brother.  They were coming up from NYC for a show, IIRC. This was just after their first self titled hit album was released.

 

I instantly recognized B-Real from the music video that had just come out.  They were all very nice.  It’s almost like  they were shocked that someone recognized them.  I didn’t have anything for them to autograph, so this guy in a suit (who I assume was their tour manager or something) went to his bag and gave me a little tour poster and they all autographed it.  I think I still have that somewhere.

 

 

[Bad Things]

I once pissed in a urinal next to Eddie Money.

 

Top that!

[Bills4everNY]

I was working in a hotel in 1982 and Bonnie Raitt and her band and road crew stayed there. I saw them checking in at the front desk and I saw Ian McLagan, the keyboard player for The Faces, The Small Faces and the Rolling Stones on their 78 and 81 tours. I went up to him and said I was a big fan and asked him for his autograph.  He said he was happy that I recognized him. He said "It boosts me ego." Several hours later it was 11PM and I was done working and ready to leave the hotel and I saw Ian walking into the hotel bar by himself. He saw me and asked me if I was still working. I said no I'm done for the day. He said: Care to join me in the pub for a few drinks? I did and talked and drank with him until the bar closed at 2AM. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

10 hours ago, Bad Things said:

I once pissed in a urinal next to Eddie Money.

 

Top that!

The lyrics "Baby, hold on to me" come to mind.  There are too many repercussions to consider in the juxtaposition of lyrics and situation.

🤔

[muppy]

3 hours ago, Bills4everNY said:

I was working in a hotel in 1982 and Bonnie Raitt and her band and road crew stayed there. I saw them checking in at the front desk and I saw Ian McLagan, the keyboard player for The Faces, The Small Faces and the Rolling Stones on their 78 and 81 tours. I went up to him and said I was a big fan and asked him for his autograph.  He said he was happy that I recognized him. He said "It boosts me ego." Several hours later it was 11PM and I was done working and ready to leave the hotel and I saw Ian walking into the hotel bar by himself. He saw me and asked me if I was still working. I said no I'm done for the day. He said: Care to join me in the pub for a few drinks? I did and talked and drank with him until the bar closed at 2AM. 

as soon as I read Bonnie Raitt my heart froze.  I have never had personal contact with her. The closest i came was in Denver CO. She was playing a gig in of all places downtown Denver for a street music festival. It was the end of her set and the crowd had thinned down quite a bit. I was center in front of her dancing In my absolute Glory. I LOVE HER I love everything about her. I have been a fan of hers since the 70's. And have seen her the most times of any artist Period. Which says a Lot.

I have to google and see if she has a biography or documentary about she and her life. Having that happenstance convo with Ian McLagan was a welcome respite from touring and being on the road away from home and friends for him too. Good eye for Ian there that sounds like it was an awesome experience 🙂

[Gugny]

14 hours ago, Bad Things said:

I once pissed in a urinal next to Eddie Money.

 

Top that!

 

Sounds like someone gave him some water.

[Bad Things]

5 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

Sounds like someone gave him some water.

Mate, it would've been more like a ticket to paradise for him.

Wait, what?

[17islongenough]

Talked with Head of Korn after one of his solo shows for at least ten minutes.  Was really down to earth. 

 

Got to play a game of poker with the members of Disturbed 

[Bad Things]

20 hours ago, Bad Things said:

I once pissed in a urinal next to Eddie Money.

 

Top that!

Do you know what he did when he stopped peeing?

 

He did some Shakin'!

😀

Edited June 30, 2022 by Bad Things

[Gugny]

On 6/29/2022 at 12:40 PM, Draconator said:

I've had a few. 

 

My best is I used to do the website for Alex Lifeson's bar (The Orbit Room) in Toronto in 1999-2000. When Alex would show up (once every two to three weeks), he would always get there early and bartend for a couple of hours. One night I got there early myself, and Alex was behind the bar. He sees me enter, and says "Hey Hoffman, come here!" I walk up to the bar, he pours two shots of Tequila, and simply says "Drink". I reply, "Alex, that ***** will kill me". He then leans towards me to where his face is about 3 inches away from mine and says "Then you can tell all your friends you died drinking with the guitarist of Rush! Drink!" So I had the shot. 

 

Later in 2000 I moved to California and my ex and I won a contest to have breakfast with Geddy Lee. There were a total of 20 people there. Everyone asked Geddy about Rush, and he was so nice to answer every question. My ex and I started talking to him about kids and baseball, and he literally shut everyone else out and focused on us for a solid 30 minutes, talking about kids and baseball. 

 

in 2001 I was in LA meeting with Rush's security lead. He tells us to go to this laundrymat in East Hollywood and look for a big guy. Sure enough, my ex and I get to the laundrymat, and there is this mountain of a man standing at a door next to the laundrymat. We ask for Michael (Rush's security lead), and he says "He's right inside", and ushers us in. It was one of those true Hollywood hidden bars. I'm talking with 4 guys, nice conversation. Michael comes over and says, "so you're getting along with Limp Bizkit?" 

 

Geddy is a HUGE baseball fan, which makes him even more awesome.  Everything about the guy is just great.  This is an absolutely amazing experience!!!

[T&C]

22 hours ago, Bad Things said:

I once pissed in a urinal next to Eddie Money.

 

Top that!

I pissed in a urinal next to Daryl Talley 2 days before SB25...