# Band of NON-Assholes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 10, 2019, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657 "2019-12-10T18:12:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/21 "2019-12-11T06:18:01Z")
I used to work in a store with Brendan Canty, the drummer of Fugazi. He is one of the most straight forward cool guys you will meet. Completely unpretentious and kind. If you get a chance, check out his new band, The Messthetics. It’s very different, and he’s exploring his talents in a way he couldn’t with his old band. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/22 "2019-12-11T07:33:06Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I believe Springsteen is the genuine article. Came in to say this. As I posted a few weeks/months ago, I came in to the middle of a broadcast interview on NPR with some musician whose name wasn’t restated, so I didn’t know who it was. The guy was funny, self-effacing, charming, witty, and generally delightful. All I could think was, “who is this guy? I want to hear his music, he’s an awesome human being.” Turns out it was Bruce. I’ve never been a huge fan of his music, but damn, he seems like an extraordinarily decent person. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/23 "2019-12-11T09:44:47Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I believe Springsteen is the genuine article. From the Graham Norton Show (which I know is broadcast in the US) - specifically one of the Big Red Chair interviews with the public. An Irish guy told the story of how he took his girlfriend out to a very expensive restaurant in Dublin and found himself a couple of tables away from Bono, his hero. When Bono went to the washroom, our awestruck diner went over to Bono’s table to ask the man that Bono was dining with if saying hello and a photo with Bono might be possible? To which Bono’s pal said, well, wait til the end of the meal and then come over, OK? When Bono and his pal had finished eating, they did the photo and had a little chat, and then Bono and pal left. When our awestruck diner and his girlfriend had finished and it was time to pay, he was told by the waiter that the bill had already been settled. _What_, he asked the waiter, \*Bono paid for us? \* _No_, said the waiter, _Mr Springsteen did_. OK, the story is funny because our guy was so overawed that he didn’t recognise that Bono’s pal was Brucie, even though he talked to him. But IMHO that just makes it reflect even better on Springsteen. j ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/24 "2019-12-11T10:36:42Z")
Of course I’ve never met him in person, and I’ve never even saw him on stage, but from all I’ve heard I think that Tom Petty was a real nice guy. At least that has always been my personal impression. ---
**Author:** ![Author\_Balk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Author\_Balk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Author_Balk)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/25 "2019-12-11T12:21:46Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > (Won’t meet the edit deadline) > > My sister is a big Stevie Wonder fan, and saw him in concert a few years ago. He had about 20 backup musicians, and introduced all of them by name over the course of the show. She could tell that he gave them the same respect as he did his regular backup band, and knew that a lot of performers aren’t that way. I know a guy (blind) who went to school with Stevie Wonder. He had a story where Stevie Wonder was the asshole. But, this was back when he was in high school. Also, maybe the guy that I know had some bias. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/26 "2019-12-11T12:53:32Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > Willie Nelson by all accounts spent a huge amount of time after shows meeting with fans. He also seemed pretty open to getting high with just about anyone based on a Colbert bit I saw a while back. I had a beer with Willie! ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/27 "2019-12-11T16:41:53Z")
Brian May for sure Bruce Dickinson ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/28 "2019-12-11T16:55:31Z")
Brian May “storms” out of interview. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/39xfxFtK3bw/hqdefault.jpg "Brian May - Rotterdam Interview (walks out)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39xfxFtK3bw) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/29 "2019-12-11T17:11:46Z")
Along with Bruce, I’d nominated the rest of the E Street Band. I got to hang out with them once after a concert, and they were all sweet guys. Clarence Clemmons in particular was extremely nice. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/30 "2019-12-11T18:26:29Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > From the Graham Norton Show… Everything is on the internet. I got most of the details right. [Here it is](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hWBDMtuK54), if anyone is interested. Story starts at 4.58. j ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/31 "2019-12-11T20:55:48Z")
Bonnie Raitt has the reputation of being nice to everyone: band members, stagehands, fans, security people, ticket takers. . . She also will invite local musicians up on stage to perform with her. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/32 "2019-12-11T22:58:54Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > I used to work in a store with Brendan Canty, the drummer of Fugazi. He is one of the most straight forward cool guys you will meet. Completely unpretentious and kind. If you get a chance, check out his new band, The Messthetics. It’s very different, and he’s exploring his talents in a way he couldn’t with his old band. I worked at his kids’ school several years back. I agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2019, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/33 "2019-12-11T23:53:13Z")
I had a conversation with **LL Cool J** during which he impressed me with how genuine and caring he was. There were no cameras or microphones in sight. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/34 "2019-12-12T00:04:30Z")
Definitely not rock, but for jazz nobody I know was nicer than Dave Brubeck. A consummate gentleman. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/35 "2019-12-12T01:02:51Z")
By all accounts **Bob Seger** is a Nice Guy. > [@China\_Guy](#): > > Willie Nelson by all accounts spent a huge amount of time after shows meeting with fans. He also seemed pretty open to getting high with just about anyone based on a Colbert bit I saw a while back. If we’re including country music, then **Charlie Daniels** certainly has a reputation as being an all around nice guy. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/36 "2019-12-16T01:29:44Z")
**Drums: Charlie Watts.** No specific stories, just an impression I’ve gotten from folllowing the Stones since 1964. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/37 "2019-12-16T01:43:56Z")
Now, while Pete certainly wouldn’t make this list, from the times I’ve met and briefly talked to his brother, Simon Townshend seems like a genuinely nice guy. Oh…Ritchie Blackmore was solidly on my “asshole” list, _ **until** _ I saw Blackmore’s Night and witnessed him actually smiling as he passed out beers to folks in the front roll. I guess living with Candace Night could change one’s temperament like that. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/38 "2019-12-16T10:06:12Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > My super-group, called The Happy Good Joy Time Project has: > > David Lee Roth - Vocals Are you kidding? Any story I hear of DLR is an asshole story. Even before the internet, I heard DLR asshole stories. He would be a great front-man candidate for the previous thread. I love his work with Van Halen, though. Speaking of, I think Eddie is an asshole as well, though not necessarily to everyone he meets, which is nice. I tried thinking of good candidates for this thread, but all the ones I thought of are taken. I’ll nominate Dave Grohl again, because he deserves it. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/39 "2019-12-16T14:13:52Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Dave Grohl. You mean the Dave Grohl whose wife divorced him after a well-publicized string of marital infidelities? The Dave Grohl whose drummer accused him of bullying, plagiarism, and denial of songwriting royalties? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2019, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657/40 "2019-12-16T16:50:12Z")
Yep. That Dave Grohl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/band-of-non-assholes/844657.md?page=3)