Meeting with Music Idols

[dpeterson]

Yngwie a few times... first time 88 (i think) ... friend and I were waiting at the venue and could hear sound check.. once it was done, we saw a bus pull out and start going towards where I knew a lot of bands stayed, so we took off and go there before the bus. I stood between the bus and the door. Joe Lynn Turner came off the bus, (short guy) I was standing there with my strat, he said nice guitar.... Yngwie got off the bus and I litterally could not speak.... my friend said "hey can you sign his guitar", he grabbed it and said "nice strat" signed it and walked on.

Met Yngwie again in 92ish at Namm and he shook my hand as he walked past me... awesome.

Met Satch a few times, always nice and talkitive.

King's X, all of them are super friendly and down to earth... many many times i've met them.

Dream Theater meet and greet in Wisconsin (Black Clouds)... felt like hearded cattle through the line, but i realize they are short for time... seemed nice, Portnoy was trying to be a dick... we met him before the show across the street at Boarders books, and he signed the cd for my son, and when he saw us in the line said "I alreday signed stuff for you.. get out of here...", I said for what I paid to be back here you'll sign all of it

Met Grover Jackson when i worked at Guitar Center in California in 91-92... Only person who knew who he was haha!

I know i'm forgetting someone... Still need to meet EVH, Johnson, Gilbert, and Vai... oddly enough I really want to meet King Diamond

Dave

 

[RSRD]

I met Bob Savage once. I heard his Bogner clips and stalked him for about 3 years. I finally met him in an all night deli. What an Ahole! He saw me eating a tofu dog and told me to 'go take a shower you dirty hippie'

You think he would have been more appreciative of all the Bogners I've bought because of him over the years. Ever since then I refuse to buy any of his amazing woodsheddings.

 

[Bob Savage]

I met Bob Savage once. I heard his Bogner clips and stalked him for about 3 years. I finally met him in an all night deli. What an Ahole! He saw me eating a tofu dog and told me to 'go take a shower you dirty hippie'

You think he would have been more appreciative of all the Bogners I've bought because of him over the years. Ever since then I refuse to buy any of his amazing woodsheddings.

Hey now, I was fine with the tofu dog, it was your smelly dreadlocks that I found repulsive. I actually thought they had a gorilla in the back or something.

Speaking of Bogner... I'm wanting a Panama and maybe a pedal or two, especially the Ecstacy Blue. Lots of cool stuff from Bogner over the last few years.

 

[Mailman1971]

I met Bob Savage once. I heard his Bogner clips and stalked him for about 3 years. I finally met him in an all night deli. What an Ahole! He saw me eating a tofu dog and told me to 'go take a shower you dirty hippie'

You think he would have been more appreciative of all the Bogners I've bought because of him over the years. Ever since then I refuse to buy any of his amazing woodsheddings.

Hey now, I was fine with the tofu dog, it was your smelly dreadlocks that I found repulsive. I actually thought they had a gorilla in the back or something.

Speaking of Bogner... I'm wanting a Panama and maybe a pedal or two, especially the Ecstacy Blue. Lots of cool stuff from Bogner over the last few years.

I also met Bob once.....He... like Yngwie ....was going up some stairs...I yelled "Bobbo!!" ....
and like Yngwie....he told his bodyguards..."Take care of him..."
And they threw me down the stairs like yesterdays trash. But Bob did give me an Autograph so it was worth it.

 

[MYLILSS]

i met all the guys from sevendust last time they were near my town. they were cool as hell, and totally down to earth. they signed a few things for me and talked for a bit. i was nervous to meet them at first, because i am such a big fan. i knew if one of them was a douchebag i would get rid of all my sevendust stuff. luckily that was not the case at all. cool mofo's if you ask me !

 

[Anonymous]

Music and personnality have nothing to do with each other.
If Dave Gahan would headbutt me in the face, I'd still buy the next DM album if it was good.
Soulja Boy could buy me a Ferrari, I still wouldn't pay a dime for his music.
Not being a social person doesn't make someone a bad human being either.
Some guy can be a dick to people in general, but the best husband/father/friend in the world. And vice versa

 

[SouthernShred]

I coach youth football...one of the dads is one of the biggest rap producers & artist development guys in the business...he's totally cool...not a hero or influence, but a really nice guy in the music business...his kid's 9th birthday party was the most insane children's birthday party I've ever been a part of

 

[Bob Savage]

I also met Bob once.....He... like Yngwie ....was going up some stairs...I yelled "Bobbo!!" ....
and like Yngwie....he told his bodyguards..."Take care of him..."
And they threw me down the stairs like yesterdays trash. But Bob did give me an Autograph so it was worth it.

My bad... I thought you were calling for Bobbo the Idgit, who was working down at the bottom of the stairs. That's why you were tossed down the stairs.

 

[rupe]

I also met Bob once.....He... like Yngwie ....was going up some stairs...I yelled "Bobbo!!" ....
and like Yngwie....he told his bodyguards..."Take care of him..."
And they threw me down the stairs like yesterdays trash. But Bob did give me an Autograph so it was worth it.

Bob is such a badass...one time he tossed me up the stairs!

 

[TeleBlaster]

I had a blast at NAMM, everyone I ran into was super friendly and chatted for a few minutes, it was a great week!!!
Stu Hamm was the best, but I did not have a negative experience with anyone.

 

[koury73]

Met Dime a few times back in the day. Will always be my favorite guitarist. This time in particular was my favorite meeting with him, he signed my back with a sharpie which I got tattoo'd the next day. Also, went out on the tour bus with them to a strip club which I was too young to get in, and shared a couple of cold beers with everyone but Phil. He had his own bus that tour.

 

[Mailman1971]

I also met Bob once.....He... like Yngwie ....was going up some stairs...I yelled "Bobbo!!" ....
and like Yngwie....he told his bodyguards..."Take care of him..."
And they threw me down the stairs like yesterdays trash. But Bob did give me an Autograph so it was worth it.

Bob is such a badass...one time he tossed me up the stairs!

Wow......That is badass.

 

[chunktone]

When I was living in Tulsa I saw Garth Brooks in Best Buy. I decided to walk up to him and shake his hand saying 'Hey Garth my name's Quinn" and he replies "Alright the Mighty Quinn" and I said "Yep just like the Eskimo". That was a pretty good day.

You'd be amazed how many people run into Garth in the Tulsa area... of course, I haven't. Heard many stories though, every single one was cool. The guy is well grounded and doesn't travel around in a entourage or with bodyguards/etc.

Ya, I've never heard a single bad thing about Garth Brooks! I used to work at a large music store here in town. We had a vintage Gretsch Country Gentleman. His guitar player had his eye on it, and must have told him. Garth Came in one day so he could buy it for him!

 

[Red_Label]

Not much of a "Classic" rock story......
But back in 1990 I was a Instructor at a Health club that had a agreement with the Sheraton Hotel that guests could come over and work out for free. Well we get this call that Richard Marx and his band were coming over to the Health club.
They were playing in town and it was on a Sunday so the club was pretty slow. You gotta remember that this was when he was HUGE.
So this limo pulls up.....he and his band comes in the club. Everyone was really cool. They hung out for a couple hours. I was mostly talking to the Guitarist Jon Walmsley who was also the Actor who played Jason Walton on "The Walton Family". He was super cool. When they left Richard asked for my name and said he would leave some tickets at the front for me. Picked up my Girlfriend at the time that night and we went to the show. It was really good actually.
Richard was one of the biggest names in the US at that time and he was very cool and down to earth.
So that was my only brush with a real famous star.

I must've stashed the memory of going to see Marx live somewhere deep in my brain, cause I totally forgot about that. My ex was a big fan of his back in the day. I remember seeing "Jason Walton" up there doing his thing with long hair. It was weird.

 

[Red_Label]

Yngwie a few times... first time 88 (i think) ... friend and I were waiting at the venue and could hear sound check.. once it was done, we saw a bus pull out and start going towards where I knew a lot of bands stayed, so we took off and go there before the bus. I stood between the bus and the door. Joe Lynn Turner came off the bus, (short guy) I was standing there with my strat, he said nice guitar.... Yngwie got off the bus and I litterally could not speak.... my friend said "hey can you sign his guitar", he grabbed it and said "nice strat" signed it and walked on.

Met Yngwie again in 92ish at Namm and he shook my hand as he walked past me... awesome.

Good to hear some good Yngwie stories. He is and always has been my "guitar hero". He's always been pretty full of himself, but he's MUCH better as a mature adult than when he first exploded on the scene. The story of him playing the Star Spangled Banner in Brazil around 9/11 (audience boo'd him for it, went back out and gave them MORE of it) always warms my heart. Guy values America more than many Americans (and of course, he's a Swede!). Despite his narccism, I just can't help but love the guy. Sometimes in spite of himself.

 

[squank]

Yngwie Malmsteen: I met Yngwie at his soundcheck at the toy tiger club in Louisville, KY back in the 90's. He was walking around playing at extreme volumes with a sandwich (no kidding)in his right hand and just shredding his ass off with his left hand...I was stunned at how much command the guy had over the sandwich.

Fixed that for you

 

[Devin]

I've met the guys from King's X - all very cool and very gracious.

Jens Kidman and Thomas Haake from Meshuggah - could barely understand anything they were saying lol but they were jolly as hell and signed some ticket stubs for me.

Jed Simon from Strapping Young Lad - without a doubt one of the coolest musicians around. We hung out for about 15 minutes bullshitting....he asked if we had any smoke but the car was parked like 5 blocks away. Still to this day regret not goin grab a blunt to blaze with him

Dax Riggs - I've heard lots of bad stories about the guy but he was always super cool to me. Invited me and my friends backstage to hang out and blaze after a show. Very cool!

Kirk Windstein from Crowbar - as cool as they come. Crazy mofo!

There are probably lots more that I can't think of right now

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

Met Dream Theater guys, Liquid Tension guys, King's X, Vai, Satriani, Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan, Arch Enemy - all super nice.
brother went to school with Rusty Cooley so see him in Houston on rare occasions.

 

[Superunknown]

Yngwie Malmsteen: I met Yngwie at his soundcheck at the toy tiger club in Louisville, KY back in the 90's. He was walking around playing at extreme volumes with a sandwich (no kidding)in his right hand and just shredding his ass off with his left hand...I was stunned at how much command the guy had over the sandwich.

Fixed that for you

Perfect!

 

[RevDrucifer]

I love hearing these stories....

I've met a lot, especially after going to NAMM, I met more people outside while smoking than my girlfriend did waiting in lines...

Vai was extremely gracious. I met him when I was 16 and completely in awe of the dude, on the Ultra Zone tour in 99'. I kinda ambushed the poor guy twice (once while he got out of a cab and then again when he was in the ticket booth at Irving Plaza)...I just REALLY wanted a picture with him. I wasn't bummed, but it was the first time I realized that virtuosos/celebrities/people of power are all just regular humans. Sounds silly now, but back then, it was pretty life changing.

All the Dream Theater guys several times, except Petrucci. First time was after the first SFAM show at the Roseland in NYC. Everyone but Petrucci hung out all night and signed every last autograph. (Petrucci said he'd come back, never did...a few of us on his forum said something about it and were then asked for our addresses, to which we got signed glossy 8x10's...pretty cool!). I was the last one to leave, right before Portnoy got on the bus he turned and said, "You got a ride home?"....always wonder what he would have said if I said "No....I don't!".

Rod Morgenstein is REALLY cool. Took an Amtrak from Boston to NYC around 96/97. My dad noticed the guy next to him had a bunch of Berklee papers so he struck up a conversation about music. About 2 hours after talking drums and bands, Rod says to my dad, "Maybe you've heard of my band, the Dixie Dreggs..." (funny he didn't mention Winger)....then my dad realized who it was. I had JUST borrowed one of my uncle's Dreggs tapes so that was pretty cool....

...and Rod told us an Yngwie story.....(not kidding)....

Winger was playing some big festival in Miami. A lot of the bands were practicing at a rehearsal space nearby the venue where Yngwie was practicing across the hall from Winger. One day out of no where, Winger's rehearsal room door was kicked open, Yngwie walks in with his Strat on, hooked to his wireless with his amps in his room but still blaring into Winger's now open room. He walked around the room soioing, walked up to the members as if this were his introduction, then stood in front of Reb Beach, got on one knee and pulled his guitar over his neck to display it in front of Reb.....so Reb looked down and slowly started clapping, very unamused-like.