....disappointed you when meeting him/her/they backstage after a gig (seeking get your prized discs 'signed.' In my case, live on the air interviews I conducted for the r&b station I was with in nashville Tn
I was realy pissed off with Runrig when I went with a buddy to see them year befor last. I am not a particular fan of theirs and only went to see them as company for my friend. They perform a kind of Scottish Gaelic wafty rock sound. Very popular in Scotland (natch) and Denmark(?). I found them tedious and boring but he liked them, being a real big fan of theirs. I always preffered Big Country for that kind of music. It was winter with the snow falling and a cold wind blowing but we hung around the backstage door shivering so he could get a couple of albums autographed. There was us two and one girl waiting. After more than an hour of this they eventually showed. The first guy out was collared by the girl so we waited while they chatted but the rest of the band came out, saw us and tried to pretend they hadn't seen us and slide off behind the guy with the girl and head for their bus. I could see my friend was hurt by this. One more member of the band turned up so my friend stopped him befor he could join the rest of the band. I went over to the bus and stopped the last one getting on, the guitarist I think, and practically gave him a dressing down, telling him one of his fans had payed good money for a gig and then hung around in seriously cold weather just to say "Hello, thank you and will you sign this please?" Less than a minute of his time. I shamed him into coming back for a sullen, cursory "hi, howyadoin?" and a quick scribble and he was off again. Their attitude ruined what had been a good night for him. As for me I don't think I'd bother looking thru my window to see them if they were playing outside my house.
Thanks for the chance to vent this one out, I've waited ages.
Liam Gallagher you might know him as the former lead singer of Oasis and present lead singer of Beady Eye.
I would just like to say upon meeting him he could not have been nicer! He actually waited while I ran in a store and got a pen! He asked how to spell the person's name he was signing the autograph for. We talked and then shook hands and he swaggered off down the sidewalk....
Originally Posted By mike bryceland: I was realy pissed off with Runrig when I went with a buddy to see them year befor last. I am not a particular fan of theirs and only went to see them as company for my friend. They perform a kind of Scottish Gaelic wafty rock sound. Very popular in Scotland (natch) and Denmark(?). I found them tedious and boring but he liked them, being a real big fan of theirs. I always preffered Big Country for that kind of music. It was winter with the snow falling and a cold wind blowing but we hung around the backstage door shivering so he could get a couple of albums autographed. There was us two and one girl waiting. After more than an hour of this they eventually showed. The first guy out was collared by the girl so we waited while they chatted but the rest of the band came out, saw us and tried to pretend they hadn't seen us and slide off behind the guy with the girl and head for their bus. I could see my friend was hurt by this. One more member of the band turned up so my friend stopped him befor he could join the rest of the band. I went over to the bus and stopped the last one getting on, the guitarist I think, and practically gave him a dressing down, telling him one of his fans had payed good money for a gig and then hung around in seriously cold weather just to say "Hello, thank you and will you sign this please?" Less than a minute of his time. I shamed him into coming back for a sullen, cursory "hi, howyadoin?" and a quick scribble and he was off again. Their attitude ruined what had been a good night for him. As for me I don't think I'd bother looking thru my window to see them if they were playing outside my house.
Thanks for the chance to vent this one out, I've waited ages.
Hey Mike, some close friends of my family and me (from the bluegrass circuit) were playing the same show as Ricky Skaggs and the kids in their family (now 21 and 18) were younger then, probably about 14 and 11, were so excited to meet him, and he turned out to be MORE than errogant to them. But they are good Christian folk so it bummed the kids out for a short while until their daddy explained to them that there were alot better things to cherish in life and they didn't have to worry about someone who didn't appreciate their time as a fan. Maybe he was having a bad day?? I dont know, and I dont care...I'm a SMALL time musician compared to alot of the big timers, but if some young'n comes up after one of our shows, and loves what I do on the banjo or any other instrument, I always take the time to show him a few licks and sign a picture or autograph and anything to that effect. If people like ricky skaggs did that to EVERY single fan he had, and ticked them off pretty good or hurt their feelings, he might not be so successful. All musicians, movie stars etc. ALWAYS need to remember that without fans, they dont have an exploding bank account. But then again if thats all their worried about is the money then they dont deserve fans anyways..Just thought I'd add that Mike, and good vent!! It gave me the oppurtunity to do so as well :) Your friend, BP
Okay....had earlier met in the day Johnette Napalitano (from Concrete Blonde) she did a concert broadcasted over Lightning 100 in Nashville Tn. The concert was at 3rd and Lindsley. After the gig stayed around and talked with her. Fantastic women. (One of the reasons I hung around is that she is an animal lover. I was with an organization who was looking for someone as a 'sponsor' for their annual confab. Long story short. Told me she was going to be touring in Ireland around that time...BUT would send a video to be played at the confab. She did!)
After I spoke with Johnette I headed down to the Ryman where Annie Lenox was performing (Of course I didnt go to the show). She came out into her tour bus (after the tour bus) and just sat in the front seat!!! She had a 'spokesperson' who was 'intercepting' any kind of autographs Ms. Lennox was to sign. The only thing to this 'spokeslady' was that Annie was only signing concert stubs AND NOTHING ELSE! Once could see from the outside of the bus, where Annie Was sitting and how she just 'rushed thru' signing the tix stubs! This Po'd many folks who came with albums/pictures and this one gentleman had this REALLY beautiful 10x14 painted mural he did of her and Dave Stewart he wanted her to sign! The guy even came right near the tour bus and 'politely asked' and one could hear her saw , with an emphatic bellow, 'No I wont!' After a few more hastily written 'Annie Lenox's' her spokesperson said....that will be it, she wont be signing any more for any of you!
Phew! That blew off many people who DID go the show and man did I hear PLENTY of grumblings when the tour bus door shut and that it was for the end of the night!
It wasnt too much of a disappointment for me as I only had one Solo disc to get signed. But I know for the other folks, esp that guy with the mural....whoa nelly!
Another one was Joan Jett's road manager, Elliot. Another Long Story short......she was being 'escorted' by this guy back to her tour bus and after about 10 minutes , he came out and said in a very HARSE tone....Miss Jett is only going to sign 1 of your items that you have If you have more than one...you're going to have to get rid of it! (Wha?) Needless to say....what the vibe was most of the people who had stuff from the Runaways to her solo discs. (btw-most of the folks , at best, had what 3-4 things for Joan to sign!
What I think is quite 'amusing' here is that these people....the spokesperson(s) feel this 'moral guardianship' thing-y about the artist whom they supposedly represent!' Most of the time, its totally obstrusive in their misguided notion of he/she/them 'doing their job!'
Ive been involved with doing live interviews on the air (r&b station that I was at in nashville tn )and had a few of the above mess things up. Though in most cases...I had DIRECT CONTACT with the
artist(s) and by-passed the 'middleman/woman' so to speak!
Originally Posted By BluegrassPicker: I was realy pissed off with Runrig when I went with a buddy to see them year befor last. I am not a particular fan of theirs and only went to see them as company for my friend. They perform a kind of Scottish Gaelic wafty rock sound. Very popular in Scotland (natch) and Denmark(?). I found them tedious and boring but he liked them, being a real big fan of theirs. I always preffered Big Country for that kind of music. It was winter with the snow falling and a cold wind blowing but we hung around the backstage door shivering so he could get a couple of albums autographed. There was us two and one girl waiting. After more than an hour of this they eventually showed. The first guy out was collared by the girl so we waited while they chatted but the rest of the band came out, saw us and tried to pretend they hadn't seen us and slide off behind the guy with the girl and head for their bus. I could see my friend was hurt by this. One more member of the band turned up so my friend stopped him befor he could join the rest of the band. I went over to the bus and stopped the last one getting on, the guitarist I think, and practically gave him a dressing down, telling him one of his fans had payed good money for a gig and then hung around in seriously cold weather just to say "Hello, thank you and will you sign this please?" Less than a minute of his time. I shamed him into coming back for a sullen, cursory "hi, howyadoin?" and a quick scribble and he was off again. Their attitude ruined what had been a good night for him. As for me I don't think I'd bother looking thru my window to see them if they were playing outside my house.
Thanks for the chance to vent this one out, I've waited ages.
Hey Mike, some close friends of my family and me (from the bluegrass circuit) were playing the same show as Ricky Skaggs and the kids in their family (now 21 and 18) were younger then, probably about 14 and 11, were so excited to meet him, and he turned out to be MORE than errogant to them. But they are good Christian folk so it bummed the kids out for a short while until their daddy explained to them that there were alot better things to cherish in life and they didn't have to worry about someone who didn't appreciate their time as a fan. Maybe he was having a bad day?? I dont know, and I dont care...I'm a SMALL time musician compared to alot of the big timers, but if some young'n comes up after one of our shows, and loves what I do on the banjo or any other instrument, I always take the time to show him a few licks and sign a picture or autograph and anything to that effect. If people like ricky skaggs did that to EVERY single fan he had, and ticked them off pretty good or hurt their feelings, he might not be so successful. All musicians, movie stars etc. ALWAYS need to remember that without fans, they dont have an exploding bank account. But then again if thats all their worried about is the money then they dont deserve fans anyways..Just thought I'd add that Mike, and good vent!! It gave me the oppurtunity to do so as well :) Your friend, BP
I was working as a photographer during one of Ricky Skaggs shows just outside of his hometown and couldn't believe how rude he was to a group of college kids after the show. I think they were doing volunteer work and not from the area, but had T shirts made up with his name on them and were really into it. He totally snubbed them. Our governor was there also and I was told to get a shot with the two of them, and I don't know who acted worse. I also was asked to take grab and grin pictures of another one of his shows a couple of years later (different place) for patrons and sponsors after the show with him and he acted better, but these people were underwriting his show, so.....
Its too bad, he is maybe the most gifted picker out there.
The worst I have ever heard was told to me by a guy who was playing in a band opening for Kenny Rogers back when he was more rock. Some young girl walked up to him and asked him if he could play something and he just looked at her and said "what do I look like, an F'in jukebox?" The guy thought it was funny, but I didn't. Its funny now, my wifes cousin did a couple of Christmas tours with him and liked him, maybe 30+ years mellows one out.
I've met the Barenaked Ladies a few years back when they were doing a short tour with Guster. They were exceptionally rude and flakey. I wasn't at all impressed, especially Tyler, their drummer. I had a backstage pass and had quietly approached them. I didn't even ask them to sign anything, I just wanted to say Hi and shake hands.. But they were in diva mode..
Guster, on the other hand, are incredible people. They're extremely nice and are well aware of how important their fan base is. They're grateful, warm genuine people.
Bg and Ken, Thanks for the word on Mr Skaggs. I snap up any version of Ghost Riders I can get my hands on and when I found his I started to listen to more of his stuff and thought it was pretty good. Sorry to hear he's an
Another guy who has a similar bad rep over here altho I've never encountered him is Andrew Eldricht of the Sisters of Mercy, heard many tales but can't corroborate so I won't go there.
Liam Gallagher gets a lot of bad press but thats exactly who from, the press. I,ve seen him being provoked and goaded by these mouth breathers just so they can get a reaction and make him look bad. I've met people who have met him and just like Onestep say he's a good guy.
Love yacking with you guys but work calls me away again and I won't be around again til late November. If I can get to a cafe I will, meanwhile best wishes to y'all.
I haven't had the chance to meet very many artists but the ones that I have met have been pretty nice - Al Stewart and Drivin n Cryin to name a couple. One time that I remember fondly is the time that we met Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick. A couple of us guys were big Cheap Trick fans and at the time they released their third album, Heaven Tonight, they were opening for a headlining act whom I can't remember. We just went to see CT. After they finished their bit we didn't stay around for the rest of the concert and headed out. Out of curiosity, we went behind the arena where the tour buses were and saw a few people hanging out. We went over and shortly after, Rick and Tom came out. They hung out with us and shook our hands and talked with us for about 20 minutes or so. We got pictures and autographs and they were genuinely great guys. And funny as all heck. We never figured out why Robin and Bun E. didn't come out. We just thought that they were either busy or just not as social. But I have seen interviews since with all four guys and they all seem very amiable and witty.
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