I've had the opportunity to meet a bunch of "pros" and a few of my actual influences.
Jake E Lee: hung out for a while...super cool guy, very down to earth, lots of cool stories. He was still very bummed over the death of Ray Gillian at the time.
George Lynch: Ditched a few groupies to talk shop for a bit...very cool although very stoned (post Lynch Mob show in Pittsburgh)
Zakk Wylde: Hang out for the better part of a day when he did an "in-store" where I worked. Drank a 12-pack before taking the stage and another 12-pack while performing. Then we went out for the evening where he proceed to pound beers, buy shots of Jager, and take over a solo performer's (keyboard/vocal) gig and belt out southern rock classics (the man can rock the keys). A truly stellar day...he's as cool as they come. He even wore one of our store hats for a GFTPM photo shoot not long after.
Reb Beach: We've hung out and talked shop on a few occassions. As nice a guy as you could ever hope to meet and extremely humble. When I still lived near Denver, Winger was playing a club where my band played so the owner let me bring my son (16 at the time) in to watch the closed sound check since it was a 21 and over show (my son was/is a HUGE Winger fan). After talking to Reb for a bit my son asks if he can meet Kip. Reb says sure and heads back to the green room to get him. Next thing we know Reb is sprinting across the club, yells at us to follow him, and proceeds to run out a fire door (setting all of the alarms off). He then sprints about 100 yards across the parking lot and down a side street just in time to catch up to a rental Mustang carrying Kip back to the hotel. How many "rock stars" would have done that for a fan? Kip was very cool too, although obviously very tired.
First time I took my son to meet Reb, post Night Ranger show when Reb was filling in:
And post-sprint at the Winger soundcheck:
Les Paul: As nice and cool as you could ever imagine. Talked before his show (had dinner at the table next to him) and after (on the sidewalk outside of Fat Tuesday's in Manhatten). The man was simply as gracious and humble as they come...perhaps the coolest concert event of my life. I have a ton of pics but none scanned,
Vernon Reid: My only real negative experience...a complete douchebag. He came into the record store (incognito...big hat with his dreads tucked in and a scarf that really only let a minimal part of his face show...it wasn't cold out) that I worked at the afternoon before playing a show. He was very full of himself...said he wanted to be left alone when first approached and then continued to ask for help moments later, kept asking about obscure cd's, most of which were out of print (we were a chain store with no used stuff), tried to haggle on price, etc. When he was checking out, I wished him a good show that evening. He looked shocked that I recognized him and asked how I knew who he was. I simply said "you're who I think I you are correct?" to which he replied in a smug, arrogant tone "that depends who you think I am". I replied that I was trying not to blow his cover and my wishing him a good show should have made it apparent who I thought he was. He then said in a disgusted tone "I suppose you want my autograph now?" to which I simply stated "nope" and he walked away shaking his head. There was a bit more to this one but you get the gist of it.
Rick Nielsen: Incredibly cool guy. Met him at a bar after a Cheap Trick concert. My self and a few friends hung out at the bar with him where he told stories to us like a grandfather does to his grandchildren while we just stood there laughing and having a great time. He bought us round after round of beer and shots of ouzo. A very cool evening. Robin Zander was kind of quiet and mellow, and Tom Peterson wasn't talking to anybody who didn't have a vagina. Their touring keyboard player (Todd Howarth...rhythm guitar in Frehley's Comet) was also extremely cool...we had a great conversation with him about the music biz and the best ways to make a living short of the proverbial "making it big".
Acr Frehely: I did front-of-stage security for him at a club where I usually tended bar. He seemed like a zombie...was very out of it. And this was during one of his supposed sober periods (summer '94). He was kind of a dick but I put that more on his road manager than him...he was like a puppet being led around and told what to do. He was charging $50 a head for a meet and great after the show and additional $$$ for anything to be signed...weak. I partied with his band/crew that night after the gig...they all hated him. Ace's playing was so bad that evening that I felt embarrassed for him...just awful. The other guitarist in the band (Richie Scarlet) was killing it though and did half or more of the solos.
Lemmy: Friendly but disinterested...was looking for chicks and booze, seriously.
Tom Arraya: Very friendly. Didn't talk long but he was very cool.
Dave Mustaine: Stood beside him at a COC show. Nice enough but surprisingly fairly quiet...chatted a couple of times between songs about playing, tones, etc.
Doug Pinnick: Very reserved and humble but super nice guy. Met him in the audience at a Biohazard show.
Joey Ramone: Seemed completely out of it...not sure if he was messed up or not. He had a harem of 4-5 very hot chicks with him.
Buddy Guy: Sat in with him at a blues fest. He was a drunken mess and couldn't even play or speak intelligibly. Friendly though.
I'm sure there are others but these are the ones that come to mind.
