Musicians you’ve met
Discussion
Not necessarily as buddies or fanboy, but actually had a proper chat with?
In a purely music sense:
John Lydon
Peter Perrett
Hugh Cornwell
Chris Difford
Glenn Tilbrook
Jason Newsted
In different situations (competing with them in club races):
Nick Mason
Brian Johnson
Got to say, all were lovely, Peter Perrett, Jason Newsted and Brian Johnson in particular, absolutely zero airs or graces.
In a purely music sense:
John Lydon
Peter Perrett
Hugh Cornwell
Chris Difford
Glenn Tilbrook
Jason Newsted
In different situations (competing with them in club races):
Nick Mason
Brian Johnson
Got to say, all were lovely, Peter Perrett, Jason Newsted and Brian Johnson in particular, absolutely zero airs or graces.
Few that come to mind:
Fruitbat from Carter USM at Reading festival in the mid-'90's - I was very starstruck.
More recently Sammy Ciaramitaro, singer from US hardcore band Drain before they played New Cross last year. Cool bloke.
Briefly spoke to Faith No More's Roddy Bottum & Mike Bordin at Nottingham Rock City before they played there in 1997.
One that escaped me... Iron Maiden's Steve Harris - he was having a pint in one of the lounge bars at Upton Park after a home game, didn't want to disturb him.
Fruitbat from Carter USM at Reading festival in the mid-'90's - I was very starstruck.
More recently Sammy Ciaramitaro, singer from US hardcore band Drain before they played New Cross last year. Cool bloke.
Briefly spoke to Faith No More's Roddy Bottum & Mike Bordin at Nottingham Rock City before they played there in 1997.
One that escaped me... Iron Maiden's Steve Harris - he was having a pint in one of the lounge bars at Upton Park after a home game, didn't want to disturb him.
Many years ago (June 1999) I worked the bar at the VIP room backstage at a The Beautiful South concert in Newcastle. My mate and me only had to work an hour before the support act (Barenaked Ladies) went on and then for a couple of hours after The Beautiful South finished their set. The rest of time we could drink at the side of the stage and watch the bands. The guys from Barenaked Ladies were a good laugh and seemed really nice, although I think as Canadians they had trouble understanding the locals. The Beautiful South were top people, I chatted to Paul Heaton for 20 minutes or so, he was very funny and seemed so normal. After everyone had drank the VIP room dry The Beautiful South's manager (who Paul had met in a pub in Hull and employed) invited me and my mate back to the hotel where they were staying. It all got rather messy after that, they even paid for my taxi home at 6:00am.
Been a few over the years, mainly as a teenager as generally don't bother now as I feel they should enjoy their downtime:
Phil Lynott
Motorhead (Lemmy, Philthy and Robbo line up)
Ronnie James Dio plus band
Metallica (with Cliff Burton)
UFO
Saxon
Blue Oyster Cult
Suede
Public Service Broadcasting (3 times)
Lol Tolhurst (original Cure member)
Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)
Did walk past Bon Jovi when they supported Kiss at the Southampton Gaumont back in 83 or 84, they were hanging around outside waiting to be recognised but no one was bothering!!
Probably a few more too I've forgotten, can think of a few I'd love a chat with (Robert Smith, Peter Hook for example) but would probably even at 56 be a bit star struck.
Phil Lynott
Motorhead (Lemmy, Philthy and Robbo line up)
Ronnie James Dio plus band
Metallica (with Cliff Burton)
UFO
Saxon
Blue Oyster Cult
Suede
Public Service Broadcasting (3 times)
Lol Tolhurst (original Cure member)
Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)
Did walk past Bon Jovi when they supported Kiss at the Southampton Gaumont back in 83 or 84, they were hanging around outside waiting to be recognised but no one was bothering!!
Probably a few more too I've forgotten, can think of a few I'd love a chat with (Robert Smith, Peter Hook for example) but would probably even at 56 be a bit star struck.
Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen - at the time of meeting him he was in Electrafixion - at the Reading Festival in the mid 90’s. He was very amiable, but the thing I took away and remember to this day is just how soft his hands were - when he shook my hand it was like being caressed by silk - he had clearly never done a manual job in his life, and must have a large shareholding in a very good skincare brand…
I went to a relatively small gig in Camden a few years ago to see Robyn Hitchcock and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin). It was a great concert and at the end when they were all packing up I very drunkenly wandered up to the stage and, for want of anything else to say, thanked JPJ for all the music he’d made over the years. I cringe slightly at the memory but I genuinely meant it.
On another occasion I was out shopping with my young daughter, many years ago, and was waiting for a lift in John Lewis in Oxford Street. It was a dreary Tuesday morning and I was rather wishing I was doing something more exciting. As the lift doors opened another couple with a child in a pram got into the lift with me. As the doors closed behind me I looked up to see Noel Gallagher and family. Me and his wife swapped pleasantries about our respective children while Mr G stood there looking like someone who really didn’t want to be looking at soft furnishings on a weekday morning.
On another occasion I was out shopping with my young daughter, many years ago, and was waiting for a lift in John Lewis in Oxford Street. It was a dreary Tuesday morning and I was rather wishing I was doing something more exciting. As the lift doors opened another couple with a child in a pram got into the lift with me. As the doors closed behind me I looked up to see Noel Gallagher and family. Me and his wife swapped pleasantries about our respective children while Mr G stood there looking like someone who really didn’t want to be looking at soft furnishings on a weekday morning.
Gassing Station | Music | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff