About three months ago I walked into a pub in Manhatten. I shimmy up to the bar, sit down and order a pint. I after a second or two, I get a weird vibe, it’s not as not as loud as usual and the white noise that I’m used to has been replaced with hushed whispers. Long story short: I turn to my right, I’m sitting next to Keith Richards.
I’m flushed, like a 16 year-old girl next to that Timberlake guy. I know I have to say SOMETHING, finally, I decide on my opener:
“Do you guys ever give Mick shit about that ‘Dancing in the Street’ duet he did with Bowie?”
Keith looks at me and smirks “No, mate.” And looks away.
And Once my girlfriend got Sean Penn to say “Aloha Mr. Hand,” though I wasn’t there for that one.
Thats my best celebrity story, what about you guys?
I met Kurt Cobain at the first show Nirvana played in Chicago. He was a very sweet,funny,self efffacing man. And those eyes…MEOW KITTY KITTY
Me and my friend met some of the WWF wrestlers last time they were in Chicago…Chris Jericho,Edge,Christian,Test,Albert and both Dudley Boyz. My friend is a HUGE Y2J fan. He walks in and she starts freaking out. I had to walk over to him and say “See the tall blonde girl over there? Can I take a picture of you with her? Please?” He walked over,put his arm around her,told her to keep breathing and smiled while I took the picture.
Next time the WWF’s in Chicago (8-13-01)…
Jeff Hardy,here I come.
I had dinner with Margaret Court (arguably the greatest female tennis player ever), while she stayed in Melbourne.
I’ve talked to Puff Daddy (he’s a dick) in a Melbourne nightclub… Also, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Rodman… I’ve danced near Lauren Jackson (she’s huge), in the same club… and Kylie Minogue, in a cafe on Chapel St, South Yarra. (I didn’t dance with her though ) I’ve met a few Aussie celebs too, but you guys most likely won’t know them, so I won’t mention names.
During a clinic, I got Sinjin Smith to spike volleyballs at me. After giving me a couple of Spalding tattoos, he stopped and said, “You realize I’m not a power hitter, right?”
I had drinks with Eve once. Granted, there were a bunch of other Dopers around, but I was part of the love.
My cousin Fred is the former CEO of Ben & Jerry’s – he even wrote a book about it. Out of print but if you’re interested it’s also available for audio download.
I had a drink with one of the guys who broadcast CNET Central on the Sci-Fi channel (the games correspondent with the blue hair, can’t remember his name) a few years ago at CES.
That’s about it. I really don’t seek celebrities, and I don’t attach too much special import to the meetings (except for Eve, of course). There may have been more encounters, but I don’t remember them.
Played pinball once with Robin Williams. He sucks. But very amusing. He also very graciously recorded an off the cuff and outrageously funny radio station ID for me. I was actually seeing and interviewing Bo Diddley upstairs.
Met plenty of musicians, although mainly of the punk rock variety. Had all of the Red Hot Chili Peppers going wild on the air for about an hour in 1984. DOA were a lot more fun, though.
A grad school classmate of mine went to high school with Trent Reznor. Said he was weird even then. I never met him, though.
My cousin used to play with Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots (and I do mean play - they were seven at the time). Might have met him at a Christmas, once. Twenty plus years ago.
Met Thom Brennaman - Voice of the Arizona Diamondbacks (and a guy whose dad was just inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Broadcaster’s Wing), and he remembered me a week later.
When I was in college, Lech Welesa visited as part of the Artist/Lecture Series. Testament to my education, I had no clue who he was. But I was to write an article on his visit for the college paper. I got a quick crash-course in his significance from some of my more history-minded friends, then went to the interview.
Luckily for me, the education reporter from the local paper was there, too, asking intelligent, well-researched questions. I cheated, yes. I just wrote down her interview. Basically all I said to the Important Historical Figure was, “Hi, welcome to MSU.” Which was interpreted for him, as Lech Welesa doesn’t speak English.
Other than that? When I was about 10 years old I went to see David Copperfield and got his autograph afterward. Didn’t get to talk to him, though.
Let’s see…I’ve met Beck, Blondie, Luscious Jackson, the Verve Pipe, Collective Soul, Edwin McCain, Sister Hazel, Train, Better Than Ezra, Live…and bunches of lesser-known bands.
The only one that was very disappointing was Edwin McCain. He was rather boring.
Beck was definitely the strangest one; Blondie (the whole band) was the crudest (but hilarious); Better Than Ezra and the Verve Pipe were the nicest. Sister Hazel comes right after them in terms of niceness.
i met Kronos Quartet the last time they came to the old pueblo here. i also hung out with a bunch of chamber musicians at an after party for the winter chamber music festival. the members of the american quartet were there, as well as benny kim, they were all funny as hell.
I managed to get a friend of mine in studio during a radio interview with Terry Pratchett. The host slapped a mic in front of my friend and said “Okay, so you belong to the cult of Terry Pratchett. What’s so great about this guy in the hat?” After 60 seconds Terry has a big grin as he watches my friend wax eloquent. After 3 minutes Terry mimes holding a gun to my friend’s head. After 10 minutes Terry looks at me and sez “You brought this guy in? Thanks for the ego boost!”
When Lee Aaron (Heavy Metal Queen!) was on my show she opened a conversation with “Haven’t we met before?” I then proceeded to be totally clueless, and the camera guys said later that she was shamelessly flirting with me and why was I such an idiot…
Round about 1975, I was working at the flying club at NAS North Island. I don’t recall all the details, but Cliff Robertson was to land on base and leave his plane at the club overnight. I had to help him fuel his plane and put in some oil. He was a jerk until the cameras came out - then he was all smiles and love - I’ve got a photo somewhere of my friend Val and me standing on either side of him. Then after all this, he stiffed the club for the price of the avgas and oil - kept saying somebody else was supposed to cover the bills. The club had to eat the cost. Jerk.
Jimmy Buffett randomly showed up for a tour on my last day as an intern last summer. We still don’t know why he came, but he was there. He was very pleasant–went around and introduced himself to everybody, shook hands, and whatnot. So now I get to tell my friends that not only did I meet Jimmy Buffett, but he introduced himself to me.
I once took a computer course in Manhattan, at 11 W. 42 St. I walked up to the front entrance one day, and had to wait, because a scene from “Bright Lights Big City” was being filmed. Michael J. Fox did several takes where he goes through the revolving doors. He stopped right in front of me to talk with someone, the director maybe.
I have had several literal brushes with celebrities. On 14th Street, I bumped into Steve Van Zandt (Little Steven from the E Street Band).
About an hour after a show at the Ritz, Bob Weir bumped into me as he walked out of a side door.
In the airport of Huntsville, AL of all places, I was almost knocked over by David Crosby.
I met Mark Jackson and Chris Mullin once when they were with the Knicks and doing a basketball clinic at a High School where I worked. Man, those NBA guys are tall!
I interview a lot of celebs for books and magazines, but only a couple have become friends. Lillian Gish was like my surrogate grandma, we stayed in touch from about 1975 till her death. She was a lot wittier than people gave her credit for! Great old gal.
Roy Clark (of Hee Haw fame) was probably the NICEST celebrity that I have ever encountered. We sat down together in his tour bus and talked for a while, mainly about possible family connections since my last name is Clark as well. He signed an 8x10 color glossy photo for my grandfather, personalizing it…
Alabama (the entire band) was a great bunch of guys, but the most fun was the Coasters (Charlie Brown)! I was working at a fair in Massachusetts and happened to walk by the main stage. They were having sound issues, and since I had some experience in that area, I pitched in and fixed the sound system in time for them to perform. I ended up partying with them that evening. For a bunch of old musicians, they sure could throw down with the best of them!
Live I thought put on a good show when I saw them. I love Norm MacDonald’s “Weekend Update” joke about Better Than Ezra:
My best celebrity encounter was dependant upon your point-of-view. George Carlin was really cool. Signed autographs, posed for pictures. Even dropped by a local comedy club and did about 10-15 minutes. I ran into him by the backstage door after one of his concerts (I was just walking to my car), and talked to him for a while. I told him that I was a comic myself, and that he was one of my biggest influences. He ended up having my friend and I ride over to the comedy club with him in his limo, just talking like old friends the whole time.
My favorite one was where I told off Michael Stipe from REM. I’ve mentioned that story before, so I won’t repost. But if anyone wants to know, email me and I’ll tell ya.
When the band I was playing with went to Nashville, we stopped for fun at Virgin records to check out cds. I remember noticing one guy there, kinda short, but very striking-looking. The guy we were crashing with ran up to me after this particular gentelman walked away and asked, “do you know who that was? That was Him!” I had just excused myself around Trent Reznor in a record store. feh…
Just recently had two books signed by Neil Gaiman and had my picture taken. Not really a spontaneous “running-into” but I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.
) I’ve met a few Aussie celebs too, but you guys most likely won’t know them, so I won’t mention names.
I suck from a celebrity perspective.