I heard a great story at lunch today. My friend Vance's Aunt Aileen was at her local liquor store in the Atlanta area to get her Vodka. Now Aunt Aileen is nearing 90 and a bit daffy. She grabbed two bottles and shuffled up to the checkout counter where she proceeded to ask the young clerk if she had "enough." He replied, "Well, ma'am, it depends on how much you drink each day." She replies, "Two drinks a day. One shot with each drink. Will this be enough." Unexpectedly an interruption comes from Aunt Aileen's side. The gentleman next to Aunt Aileen puts his arm on her shoulder and says, "Ma'am, you have just the right amount of Vodka." With that brief encouragement, he exits the store. Aunt Aileen returns her attention to the clerk and remarks about her gratefulness for the assistance from the stranger. The stunned clerk looks at Aunt Aileen and quizzes her, "Don't you know who that was?" "Why no!" says Aunt Aileen. "Ma'am, that was Elton John...." "Who?" replies Aunt Aileen.
my brother-in-law has had the opportunity to meet Elton John on numerous occasions and remarked that he is always cordial and gracious...always smiling...seems like a nice guy.
One funny encounter with a local sports legend...with a witness! rockHEAD and I went to see the Olajuwon retirement game together, and really had a great time. Near the end of the game, we witnessed a really hot looking blong chick walking up our aisle. Naturally, we stared harder than we should have. Just as she was passing us, we noticed the guy walking up with her...Jeff Bagwell! It was too late to say anything to him. You guys think he has such a hot wife just to keep a low profile in public?
Let's see...famous encounters... Oh yeah, when Rocketman95 met Trader_Jorge at the Smeg thing, I say that was a famous encounter. Also, when giddyup met Rocketman95, that would qualify too (although this may have not happened because giddy had to leave early).
No, I met RM95; but he did arrive late so I didn't get as much visiting in as I would have liked. I got to hear the full detail about his Jaywalking Legacy and The Price He Paid. I made a point to walk across the driveway to meet you Manny (since I've ruffled your feathers before) and you looked at me funny. Did I scare you or something?
I used to work with someone who's step sister married Bernie Taupin. Also, I've met: Phil Collins Mike Rutherford Tony Banks (all from Genesis) Alex Lifeson (Rush) James Young (Styx) John Anderson Rick Wakeman (Yes) Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) Robin Trower Joe Walsh (he hugged me!) Robin Zander Rick Nielson (Cheap Trick) Harriet Wheeler (the Sundays) Eric Johnson Steve Morse Louis Gonzales Warren Moon Matt Bullard
When I worked at a BIG SportsBar here in town during college I met a lot of famous athletes and knew the "promo guy" Floy that worked with a lot of the Rockets and Oilers at the time. Coolest guy ever - Payne Stewart, went to go see the Shell Houston open when Oilers were still here. Payne was practicing putting and is wearing his knickers with the Buffalo Bill slogo on them (this was just before the biggest playoff comeback...) A guy says "Hey Payne, you know the Oilers are going to win the SuperBowl this year..." He says "I guess everybody has a dream! " Whole crowd laughs at aforementioned redneck goof. Close second - Jeff Bagwell. Met him at a party at Doug Draybeck's house, asked us where in Woodlands there was a place to party. Biggest jerk - Big surprise here... Warren Moon. There was a girl who worked as a bartender in the bar I worked at when the Oilers were doing an appearance. She loved the guy. Needless to say we were very busy so she couldn't go get an autograph from him during the designated time. So I went up there about 10 minutes after they stopped with an offical jersey that she used to wear every Sunday to get him to sign it for her. He said "No. Autograph time is over, pal." I explained to him that they girl it belonged to was working downstairs and was a really big fan. Still he refused. I said you can't just sign one more? I can come back a little later?" He looked at me and said "Are you still here?" Needless to say the bartender cried her eyes out and was devatated. What a prick a-hole.
Nah, you didn't scare me, giddy, but you weren't what I expected. I knew you were an older guy, but I thought you would be this retired military type who detested slackers. Seriously, it was weird seeing these people in person when you, at least I do this, had this picture in your mind of what (or think) they look like. Also, I am really a shy individual and that was a big reason why I didn't say much. There was so many people at that thing that I wished I talked to more, mainly Smeg, Mango, Pued, etc.
I've met a ton of musicians, but these are the most interesting: I got to do a three-hour show with Zakk Wilde from Ozzy. He came to the store where I worked and instead of doing a clinic, he just wanted to play. We played Allman Brothers, ZZ Top and Hendrix covers for three hours on a flat bed trailer truck outside for about 500 people. That was fun. I also went to Billy Joel's soundcheck at the Compaq Center in 1990. Liberty DeVito (drummer) did a clinic at the store and invited me. I played with the band a little on stage at Compaq during soundcheck. Pretty cool. I played with Bruce Kulick from KISS. He did a clinic similar to the Zakk Wilde one. Not as long (about an hour) but same type of stuff - Jeff Beck, Hendrix, etc. I got to know Doug Pinnick from King's X pretty well in the early 90's because my roommate and he were very close friends. Doug was at my house once having dinner and the phone rings. My roommate picks up and the guy asks for Doug, which we thought was hilarious because how would anyone know Doug was even there? Turns out it was Kip Winger. By the way, Doug is a bad ass at musical trivia. Also, spent one entire night playing a gig with Dimebag Darrel from Pantera standing in front of me, drunk off his ass, screaming "BASS SOLO!!!" in between every song. Those are the biggies though I've met a ton of other musicians. One sports-related: I once gave Kelvin Cato directions to an event during the arena campaign. One of the Rockets media people asked if I knew how to get to where we were from downtown and I said I did. She shoved the cell phone at me and said, "Here. It's Kelvin Cato. He's lost." So, I gave him directions.
I met Warren Moon just hours after his last game in Columbia Blue (the K.C. playoff debacle) I waited around for hours after the game to talk to him, seeing as how I was and still am his BIGGEST fan. I once referred to him as the "God of football" in an editorial in the Houston Chronicle. I've never seen or spoken with a more depressed human being. I imagine manning a suicide line is the only thing worse.
Partied with Stevie Ray Vaughan backstage at Fitzgerald's in 1981, back when he (and I) were into the sniffly krill. Partied with Ron Wood at the Coconut Teaszer in Hollywood in 1994....massive amounts of alcohol. Met George Thorogood at a wedding...I was a groomsman....he was a pure unadulterated f*ckstick a$$clown (no surprise). Partied a few times with Ivan Neville. He likes to bum cigarettes. Partied a few times with Phil Alvin (lead singer from the Blasters). He likes his whiskey straight up. Partied once with Nick Lowe. Opened for, and met: Screamin' Jay Hawkins (a huge big old bunch of fun, may he rest in peace) Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (a very very nice guy) Johnnie Johnson (Chuck Berry's longtime piano player...ditto) Dwight Yoakum (ditto) Rosie Flores (sweet lady) David Lowery (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker) Adam Durwitz (Counting Crows) Met (never opened for): Jimmie Vaughan Kathy Valentine (Go-Go's) Dave Alvin Aaron Neville Dave Edmunds Chris Isaak Adam Ant Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) Non-musician celebrities I've met: Ben Davidson (the old Oakland Raider) Dan Castallaneta (sp?...the voice of some of the Simpsons) Harry Shearer Jack Nicholson Sylvester Stallone Ruth Buzzi (from the 60s TV show Laugh In) Tom Hanks Robert Reid Calvin Murphy Rudy Tomjanovich Craig Biggio and a couple of OLD TIME Oilers...Ernie Ladd and Garland Boyette!
I met, briefly talked, and got autographs with: David Robinson Hakeem Olajuwon Mario elie I got an autograh, but did not face-to-face meet: Charles Barkley Rick Mahorn Moses Malone I had a somewhat lengthy chat with Luis Gonzales and I got to shake hands with George Foreman (Surprisingly, strong heavy hands) ...All encounters took place at the airport when I worked there...I don't count famous encounters such as Rodman, or Mutombo, or Cassell among others where I just pass them up and that's it...
Honestly, outside of Roger Clemens and Ricky Williams, I can't think of anyone. Darrell Royal, I guess. Zac Maloy, former lead singer of The Nixons...nah, that doesn't count (will one day, though). I'm just holding out for meeting Dave Matthews, Boyd Tinsley, Leroi Moore, Stefan Lessard or Carter Beauford one day!!!!
I met Charles Barkley and Manute Bol during their practice in Houston in when they were both playing basketball for the 76ers. The same year, I met Chuck Nevitt, not popular, just funny to meet him and Manute Bol in the same year. I used to date a girl whose mother was A.C. Green's first cousin. Never met him, but she told me her whole family thought he was gay.
I've ran into: The Rolling Stones Dan Quayle Brian Adams Chris Rock I bussed a table for Bad Company I smoked a cigarette with: Axl Rose Izzy Stradlin Duff McKagan I've had a drink with: Slash Ace Frehley I've jinxed: Ryan Young. I met him before the inaugural season started at Krogers, and welcomed him to Houston and wished him a healthy season. I ran into him again at the Rolling Stones concert, and the lady he was with that night, was NOT the same lady I saw him at Krogers with.
