So, you bump into your musical hero...
Discussion
TheExcession said:
Who would it be?
What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
My cousin is friends with Miles, she's a bit of a band stalker! I'll ask her to mention it I've been drinking with the band minus Miles and Erika after a gig in Newcastle. Nice chaps.What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
Edited by TheExcession on Monday 9th January 20:02
For me it would Tom Smith from Editors. The conversation wouldn't be too deep, I'd just ask him about the End Has A Start album and then I'd probably get a bit fan boy and sickly with praise until he felt uncomfortable and shuffled away.
A couple of years ago, I went to see the reformed 'Dodgy' with a few women I know. They are friendly with Nigel Clark, and we all went backstage afterwards with the band.
I ended up chatting to Nigel on a balcony off the main room where the rest of the band were, but I was a bit too star-struck to ask anything vaguely interesting. Nice guy though.
I ended up chatting to Nigel on a balcony off the main room where the rest of the band were, but I was a bit too star-struck to ask anything vaguely interesting. Nice guy though.
TheExcession said:
Who would it be?
What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
Go and see one of Miles and Erica's gigs plenty of chances to ask your question. Met him a few times and what a top bloke he is.What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
Edited by TheExcession on Monday 9th January 20:02
lockhart flawse said:
niallf said:
I worked with Troy a tiny bit in the late eighties, a very talented person. Accomplished guitarist, Uilleann pipes and low whistle player. I was playing bass with The Enid at the time, he did some work on one of the albums, and we played a couple of gigs at the Dominion together. His sister was the girlfriend of Steve, the Enid's guitarist. Amongst other many other things, he went on to form the Bad Shepherds with Adrian Edmondson. I've not seen him since those gigs in 1988.
Well you live and learn - I always thought Steve Stewart was gay? Saw The Enid first in very late-76 and most recently at the Barfly a couple of years ago.For me it would probably Dennis Brain, who is a real hero of mine - British french horn player who set the musical bar that horn players the world over have been trying to reach ever since. By all accounts a lovely chap and really into his cars - often to be found with a copy of Autocar on his music stand. Sadly killed in 1957 on his way back to London after a gig in Edinburgh when his TR2 left the road
vournikas said:
Very kindly, Tony did sign it
Clearly had mellowed since the early 70s then. Did PA and lighting for them for a gig in 72 and he was so far up his own arse that my extremely shy and reserved GF declared him to be a "Grade A That's a shame. If I can balance that?
Early '76. Friars in Aylesbury upstairs in the bar.
Got myself a beer (was 16/17 but looked 14 haha) and sat down ... next to Tony McPhee of all people having a pre gig beer. I don't think anyone else had spotted him. He talked to me about his music and the set list for at least 10 minutes. Really nice guy.
He was absolutely excellent on stage too.
Unbusy said:
vournikas said:
Very kindly, Tony did sign it
Le TVR said:
Clearly had mellowed since the early 70s then. Did PA and lighting for them for a gig in 72 and he was so far up his own arse that my extremely shy and reserved GF declared him to be a "Grade A
.That's a shame. If I can balance that?
Early '76. Friars in Aylesbury upstairs in the bar.
Got myself a beer (was 16/17 but looked 14 haha) and sat down ... next to Tony McPhee of all people having a pre gig beer. I don't think anyone else had spotted him. He talked to me about his music and the set list for at least 10 minutes. Really nice guy.
He was absolutely excellent on stage too.
Hope the quotes are formatted now.
NiceCupOfTea said:
lockhart flawse said:
niallf said:
I worked with Troy a tiny bit in the late eighties, a very talented person. Accomplished guitarist, Uilleann pipes and low whistle player. I was playing bass with The Enid at the time, he did some work on one of the albums, and we played a couple of gigs at the Dominion together. His sister was the girlfriend of Steve, the Enid's guitarist. Amongst other many other things, he went on to form the Bad Shepherds with Adrian Edmondson. I've not seen him since those gigs in 1988.
Well you live and learn - I always thought Steve Stewart was gay? Saw The Enid first in very late-76 and most recently at the Barfly a couple of years ago.For me it would probably Dennis Brain, who is a real hero of mine - British french horn player who set the musical bar that horn players the world over have been trying to reach ever since. By all accounts a lovely chap and really into his cars - often to be found with a copy of Autocar on his music stand. Sadly killed in 1957 on his way back to London after a gig in Edinburgh when his TR2 left the road
Back in the very early eighties me and some mates went to see Motorhead at the Bournemouth Wintergardens (now buried under the BIC). they were supported by Saxon and needless to say it was a blistering high octane noise fest'.
After the gig, we blagged our way into a now defunct dive called Whiskeys Nightclub and after getting the beers in, retired to a corner table where we spotted the unmistakable figure of the man himself, Lemmy, hammering away on the pinball machine. There was a matchbox open on the machine next to his right hand into which he periodically dipped the tip of a penknife, which he then lifted to his nose and took a good snort. Eventually, after much nudging and "no you go over" we plucked up the courage to wander over and burble some star struck incoherent drivel at him. He grinned warmly/wildly at us, said he was glad we enjoyed the gig, had a drink with us, then after about ten minutes of chatting, went back to his pinball, chat over. We sidled back to our table and left him to it and he was still hard at it when we left. I never realised it was possible to cram that much sulphate into a matchbox!
After the gig, we blagged our way into a now defunct dive called Whiskeys Nightclub and after getting the beers in, retired to a corner table where we spotted the unmistakable figure of the man himself, Lemmy, hammering away on the pinball machine. There was a matchbox open on the machine next to his right hand into which he periodically dipped the tip of a penknife, which he then lifted to his nose and took a good snort. Eventually, after much nudging and "no you go over" we plucked up the courage to wander over and burble some star struck incoherent drivel at him. He grinned warmly/wildly at us, said he was glad we enjoyed the gig, had a drink with us, then after about ten minutes of chatting, went back to his pinball, chat over. We sidled back to our table and left him to it and he was still hard at it when we left. I never realised it was possible to cram that much sulphate into a matchbox!
vournikas said:
Back in the late 1980's, I'd just started learning the guitar and was very into classic 70's rock. Just before I moved to Shrewsbury, I bought a copy of this:-
It was out of curiosity if nothing else due to the album cover. Anyway, I loved it and Tony McPhee's gritty blues fusion guitar work.
Not long after moving into my first (bedsit) in Shrewsbury, I walked to one of my favourite pubs for a couple of beers. As I sat at the bar, I kept looking over to my right at another guy reading a magazine at the bar. After the guy left, I asked the landlord, 'Don? That guy over there at the bar just now, does he play guitar?' Don confirmed he did, and it turned out my suspicion was right; Tony McPhee often enjoyed a beer at The Swan in Frankwell! So I rushed back to my hovel, grabbed my copy of "Who Will Save The World......." and asked Don if he could kindly ask Tony to sign it for me when he was next in.
Very kindly, Tony did sign it
My first band (1970's) used to start our set with 'I love you Miss Ogyny' It was out of curiosity if nothing else due to the album cover. Anyway, I loved it and Tony McPhee's gritty blues fusion guitar work.
Not long after moving into my first (bedsit) in Shrewsbury, I walked to one of my favourite pubs for a couple of beers. As I sat at the bar, I kept looking over to my right at another guy reading a magazine at the bar. After the guy left, I asked the landlord, 'Don? That guy over there at the bar just now, does he play guitar?' Don confirmed he did, and it turned out my suspicion was right; Tony McPhee often enjoyed a beer at The Swan in Frankwell! So I rushed back to my hovel, grabbed my copy of "Who Will Save The World......." and asked Don if he could kindly ask Tony to sign it for me when he was next in.
Very kindly, Tony did sign it
My late father worked in Ladbrokes bookies in Newmarket, early to 70s to 76.
Dad said "smashing chap comes into the bookies to have a bet he's name is Dick, he's a musician, plays saxophone, he's going off soon playing with that pop group Mott The Hoople", anyway Dick returns back to the bookies a few months later and said to dad "Mick I'm back on tour soon I will be gone a few months again, this time I'm with Marc Bolan" Dad said "Couldn't ask you a favour and get his autograph for my son he's a huge fan" "of course" was the reply.
Little did we know this true gent around this time had played some of the most famous saxophone pieces in music history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDbeqj-1XOo
Dad said "smashing chap comes into the bookies to have a bet he's name is Dick, he's a musician, plays saxophone, he's going off soon playing with that pop group Mott The Hoople", anyway Dick returns back to the bookies a few months later and said to dad "Mick I'm back on tour soon I will be gone a few months again, this time I'm with Marc Bolan" Dad said "Couldn't ask you a favour and get his autograph for my son he's a huge fan" "of course" was the reply.
Little did we know this true gent around this time had played some of the most famous saxophone pieces in music history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDbeqj-1XOo
TheExcession said:
Who would it be?
What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
As mentioned above, any Wonderstuff gig these days, Miles will be at the merch stand afterwards chatting with fans, very approachable.What would you talk about?
Me, I'd love to catch Miles Hunt, and also Ian Anderson, and Troy Donockley.
I'd buy them all a pint, but I'd really want to ask Miles how he/they wrote that album called 'Never Loved Elvis'.
I think maybe he was a few semitones out, but hey!
Paul Weller was my icon for ages, I saw him at Coachella in 2009 (with Johnny Marr as a guest, see link below, I was front row for it).
Next day, me and my mates were at the gate at LAX about to get on our Virgin flight back to Blighty, and who should roll up but The Modfather and his entourage. I was completely starstruck but went over and mumbled something about being a massive fan and how much we'd enjoyed seeing him. He was cool about it, but his then girlfriend now wife just stood staring daggers at me and a couple of other blokes. It's not like we were massively inconveniencing them - they were milling around waiting for a plane.
At Gatwick we then got to baggage reclaim and had a slightly awkward chat about the state of the current music scene at the time, before his (or, I suspect, hers) set of matching Louis V luggage arrived on the belt, he departed with a "nice chatting to you mate, be lucky" and that was that.
I say was my icon because his last few albums have gone creatively down the toilet for me. Am going to see him live again just before Easter, am hoping the break from listening has revived my Weller mojo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVm0Eq40C68
conkerman said:
S10GTA said:
Meat Loaf. I'd ask him what he wouldn't do for love.
He Won't do that. (you dirty, dirty bugger) MitchT said:
conkerman said:
S10GTA said:
Meat Loaf. I'd ask him what he wouldn't do for love.
He Won't do that. (you dirty, dirty bugger) "forget the way you feel right now"
"forgive myself if we don't go all the way tonight"
"do it better than I do it with you"
"stop dreaming of you every night of my life"
Met David Gilmour years ago in a very secluded hotel in Mallorca. I was heading to get a paper. He'd got his. And was heading Straight Towards Me.
I looked up. There he was. "Morning" I managed. "good morning. Lovely day" he countered. Then he was gone. My chance to praise Wish You Were Here, how it was a mainstay and opener to all those coach journeys up north back to University, his chords of Have a Cigar echoing around my head as the coach made its start up the M1, usually on a Sunday evening. Or The Wall, how he kept it together with an increasingly fractious Waters, yet got on board with the concept somehow, adding his still rich and angelic voice, and guitar. Oh, the guitars!
Nope. Moment shared and passed. Lovely day though.
I looked up. There he was. "Morning" I managed. "good morning. Lovely day" he countered. Then he was gone. My chance to praise Wish You Were Here, how it was a mainstay and opener to all those coach journeys up north back to University, his chords of Have a Cigar echoing around my head as the coach made its start up the M1, usually on a Sunday evening. Or The Wall, how he kept it together with an increasingly fractious Waters, yet got on board with the concept somehow, adding his still rich and angelic voice, and guitar. Oh, the guitars!
Nope. Moment shared and passed. Lovely day though.
Slightly more contrived, I suppose, but I went to see the Manic Street Preachers at a signing in Cardiff with my sons. They're not overly keen on them but I've been a fan since 1993 and have most of their albums. Long queue outside the store, long queue inside the store too and after what seemed like two hours in which I could have composed any question I'd have liked, I could only grin like a doofus and say "Hi" in a tiny voice.
James said, having seen my lads Yeovil Town jacket on, "Ooh, you've come a long way" and I could only mumble back "Not really, we live in Bristol" before the moment disappeared into a hazy memory.
Ah well. Another time maybe.
James said, having seen my lads Yeovil Town jacket on, "Ooh, you've come a long way" and I could only mumble back "Not really, we live in Bristol" before the moment disappeared into a hazy memory.
Ah well. Another time maybe.
I was at a Ben Watt gig last Friday and a couple of blokes in front of me were waxing lyrical about Gibsons and J this and J that and I didn't know or care what they were on about.
About 2/3rds of the way through, Ben mentions a guitar shop has closed and he heard that someone had bought a J somethingorother for £100 and the crowd gasped and he said "Well, not £100, but you know what mean".
Anyway, the point is that I like listening to some musicians, but I'd have nothing to discuss with them, so I find that I don't really have any great urge to meet anyone.
I would like to hear Ben's missus sing live though, but it seems she's pretty much knocked it on the head!
He was pretty good though!
M
About 2/3rds of the way through, Ben mentions a guitar shop has closed and he heard that someone had bought a J somethingorother for £100 and the crowd gasped and he said "Well, not £100, but you know what mean".
Anyway, the point is that I like listening to some musicians, but I'd have nothing to discuss with them, so I find that I don't really have any great urge to meet anyone.
I would like to hear Ben's missus sing live though, but it seems she's pretty much knocked it on the head!
He was pretty good though!
M
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