re: Unexpected run-ins with music people

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Was meeting up with the lead singer of another group that played that day for drinks

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Who I think it is (though they wouldn't be playing for drinks)?

I was walking down The Strip in Tuscaloosa one afternoon around 91 or 92, when I ran into a guy I went to high school with. He asked if I'd heard of The Dave Matthews Band, and I said yeah, and he said he was on his way to meet them and said come on. They were playing a show at a bar that night, and he had been trying to get them to play his frat or something. We go to a white van and talk with Boyd and Carter for a few minutes, then smoked a bowl with them and got on the guest list. Nice guys and they had great weed. I was stoned for a couple of hours.


Sat next to Martina McBride on a flight once. She was very nice, and gorgeous, but wasn't interested in any long chats. She pulled a book out and started reading after we made pleasantries, and didn't put it down the whole flight.

Went and saw Sigur Rios a few years ago, then went to a bar afterwards, and Jonsi came in a DJ'd for a few minutes. Said hey to him, but that was about it.

Worked at a hotel in college and met a ton of other musicians that stayed there. Little Richard, Notorious BIG, Harry Connick Sr, Edwin McCain, Little Texas(all douchebags), Patty Loveless, and several others I'm forgetting. We were trained not to fawn over them though, so it was mostly just checking them in and giving them their keys.

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Shot pool in a dive bar with some of the guys in REM after a show. 

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Had the exact same situation with Black Crowes in Charleston. It was actually a bar my buddy had bought that wasnt open yet. We were chilling and they strolled in around 11 thinking it was open. All my buddys top shelf liquor was pouring like water. He cried for a week about it lol

None really *un*-expected due to my long-term gig as a tech support person for radio broadcast, but I still treasure each one for the lessons they served. Some favorites:

1975, drinking my first beer backstage in Starkville with Jerry Jeff Walker. Mind you, this was only ten tears since Mississippi statewide prohibition was lifted and my 18-year-old stupid-self still retained the training that one drop of Al-Kee-Hawl would send your soul down to the Devil. God Bless You, JJW, for setting me straight.

Early 1980's, interviewing U2 backstage at Old Man River's. The Edge asked us where they could find a good American hamburger, and we dutifully directed them to -- I will always regret this -- a McDonald's on the West Bank Expressway.

Sometime in the 2000's -- may have been shortly after 9-11 -- Nickel Creek played at HOB. Something told me to hang around the Decatur St. band entrance long after the show, and sure-enough Chris Thile materialized and proceeded to play Beethoven-level scales for an hour while leaning against the wall. I was maybe 3 feet from him and his mando and still don't know how he made that wonderful sound.

I had a rather unpleasant encounter with one of the Nelson brothers when his SO accused a friend of mine of stealing her sunglasses.

Be honest, did you sneak a peek?

Ran into Charlie Watts walking down the street in the French Quarter years ago.
Nice guy and was very well -dressed in suit and tie.

Me and a friend of mine went to see Kansas years ago. We were only 14 at the time so my friends dad dropped us off at the Centroplex. After the show we went outside to find his dad but didn't see him, so we wandered back inside the arena. A cop caught us and we explained we were looking for a phone. The cop paused then said "Follow me". He took us backstage and there was Phil Ehardt and Dave Hope of Kansas and Jeff Pollard of LeRoux. They were talking about going to Leon Medica's house. We were too awestruck to say anything to them.

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Was waiting on my luggage at a carousel at the airport in Minneapolis. Large crowd standing around. I see drum cases coming down the conveyor and on them they read....Tony Bennett Show. I turn to my right and I'm standing next to Mr. Bennett.

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Was 1990or 91, waiting for my bag in Baton Rouge airport, realized Robert Plant was standing next to me waiting for his. We were both apparently on the same flight from DFW. He said excuse me grabbed his bag and hurried out to a waiting car. Read in the paper later he was in BR rehearsing for a tour with his band.

1988, my second year as a percussionist in the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. We just played at Carnegie Hall on a Saturday Night. After the concert I ended up at the Lonestar. I was on the second floor watching a band, and Jack Bruce walked up to a payphone and made a call. Surreal moment.