Sightings

[Mike Bear]

So I try not to think I'm one of those crazys. But I do believe at times I see signs or just coincidences from time to time in my life.

 

So I'm sing there eating outside at PF Changs with my friend Bill. This older guy walks out with a long grey beard and reminds me of Lee Skalar. Not him obvioudly. Not before I can even turn my head to pay attention to my rightous orange peel chicken does Randy Jackson walk out. He ends up talking to some girl he seems to know at the table next to us. I opt not to tell Bill about it until after Randy leaves. Once Katie Homes was sitting behind us and I told Bill, he kept turning back and looking at her.

 

Any how, Bill believes in this case it was my bassplayer intuition by seeing the man who reminded me of Lee bringing my eyes in the direction to see Randy Jackson. I wasn't very star struck like I am with some folks, but it's always cool to see some friendly guy you see on TV so much, you think you know them. lol

[LLroomtempJ]

Did anyone follow him or create some kind of crowd?

 

I've never really had a chance to meet anyone that i've REALLY admired. I think the only person that would leave me starstruck would be conan o'brien...and possibly stokely from mint condition.

 

i was really surprised to find out that randy jackson was a bassplayer. I wonder what he's like in the studio..."yeah dog, we should redo this track".

 

does anyone know anything that he's played on? I'm sure that he's done a lot that i've heard, but the thing is that he works with big name artists; so it'll never be like mariah carey f/ randy jackson or something.

 

jason

[ArwinH]

Hes played with journey, mariah carey, and many may others, bp did an interview on him and it featured a looooonnngg discography.

[g.]

Lee Skalar? - Isn't that Quasi Modal's cousin?

[g.]

I did see Rip Chord in front of Grauman's the other day.

[way2fat]

I believe Lee Skalar is also related to Melody Minor and R. Peggio, if the tabloids are to be believed.

[getz out]

Originally posted by Gospel7theZealot:

I've never really had a chance to meet anyone that i've REALLY admired

What are you talking about? We met.

[bruiser_dup2]

I'm about 99% certain I really did see Lee Sklar in Pasadena, CA, several months ago. He was waiting to check out at a Trader Joe's market. I looked at him, he gave me a "You know who I am, don't you?" look, and I left him alone. But I went home at looked at some pictures and I'm pretty sure it was him.

 

And this past Monday (Dec. 19th) I was waiting to board a plane at Chicago-O'Hare Airport, and Jimmy Haslip walked by, talking to another guy. Haslip was carrying a bass-sized gig bag over his shoulder and wearing a black "SWR" jacket.

 

Bruiser

[Dave Martin]

Does it count that I chatted with Dave Hungate and his wife April last night? While "Too Slim" (From Riders In The Sky) was subbing with the band that we were both there to hear?

[Nicklab]

I've run into a bunch of famous people. It's kind of a weird side-effect of my job. But it's not all that glamorous when you see someone in the men's room, or they're on their cell phone or whatever. I mean, when you pass Levon Helm (The Band) in the hall at work, are you just going to strike up a conversation? I also ran into the bass player from The Spin Doctors at Manny's one time. Big deal.

 

A funny instance was that we had this model named Giselle come in for an interview. All of her handlers are telling people "Please, no photos!" or "Don't even look at her" and so on. She passes by the room where I work with this gaggle of people and I'm snickering about just how many people does a model need to assist her? Fastforward a little while later, and I'm getting lunch later that day. I'm walking down the stairs from the cafeteria, and coming up the stairs at the same time is Giselle and her entourage. Her comments as we pass? A big sniffing sound and "Mmmmm! French fries!" in this bizarre Brazilian accent. I guess it was remarkable to her because she probably hasn't eaten a french fry in 10+ years. Overall impression? She's by far the hottest woman I've ever seen in person, but the vacuous comment really knocked her down a few pegs for me.

 

The only time I can genuinely say I was starstruck was when I ran into PJ Harvey at a record shop. I just didn't know what to do. She's one of my favorite artists, and I think she's done some of the most original music out there in the past 10 - 15 years. I really would have liked to have her autograph something, but I was just at a loss.

[Tenstrum]

Nothing to do with bass but...

 

I met Lex Luger one time. He was freaking huge! I'm 6'2" and I barely came up to his shoulder and not to mention that his forearms were the size of my thighs...

 

I'd like to meet Robert DeLeo, Geddy Lee, Les Claypool, Flea, Steve Harris, and Robert Trujillo just to name a few...

[ArwinH]

Well...bump.

I was at a local coffee shop witha group of my friends to jsut hang out and play a board game and get a break from the weekdays, and there's a guy setting up to play acoustic guitar and sing. We end up staying for awhile and striking up conversation, requesting songs, and talking music for a while. So he called us up on friday to tell us he'd be playing again on friday, and if he wanted to sit in me and my guitar playing friend were welcome.

He's been a super nice guy so far, and that jam went well. But later on we talk about meeting up at his place and jamming and hanging out. My friend starts freaking out that night and saying, you never know he might be molester or something you gotta be careful. I figured I'd just check his name on google, since I had gotten his last name that night. It turns out he's an actor and he'd got some good credits to his filmogrophy. He starred in dirty dancing havane nights, the tv show felicity and some other stuff.

I'm still shocked by how down to earth he was, he didn't even mention anything about his career. I'm still thining about kind of messing with him the next time we jam, calling him on it . We'll see what happens I guess!

[jcadmus]

I met Forrest Tucker once -- he played Sarge on F Troop.

 

And I got Butterfly McQueen's autograph for my girlfriend the same night -- she played Pittypat in Gone With The Wind and my girlfriend was a huge fan of the movie.

 

And I made a cheese sub for Todd Rundgren once -- we were so busy that day (lunch hour) I didn't even notice. Someone told me right as he was leaving.

 

And I bumped into Al Sharpton in the men's room at LaGuardia Airport once -- he was coming out and I was going in. I said, "Excuse me," and he said "Excuse ME." He was very polite.

 

Oh, and I met four-time Olympic speedskating gold medalist Johann Olav Koss and Prince Phillipe, the crown prince of Belgium, on the same day. Introduced them to one another in fact. That's kind of a long story, and a bit surreal.

 

That's all I've got.

[letsfret]

I drive a cab and a limo part time. Over the years, Ive met plenty of celebs and have picked up Pearl Jam, Barenaked Ladies, Melissa Etheridge and been involved in transporting some of the Rolling Stones. Too many to mention or remember.

 

My favorite meetings have been Percy Jones of Brand X and Anthony Jackson. Saw Percy in concert about 10 yrs ago and met him backstage. Nice guy. While I was waiting for a passenger, I saw Anthony Jackson at Newark airport looking all slimmed down. I didn't know what to expect when I approached him but he was cool and surprised I knew who he was. When a band I was with opened up for the Bad Brains two times in 1992, bassist Darryl Jenifer gave me advice on my tone. Opened up for GWAR too. hahaha

[Whacked]

I met James Hetfield in a extremely small bar in 'Frisco. No clue the name of the place or even if I could find it again other than it wasnt too far from Pier 39. It was right after Cliff died, and I was there for Fleet Week. the USS Kitty Hawk was tied up almost directly under the Bay Bridge (had Marshall Tucker and Charlie Daniels play for us navy-folks). My ship was tied up at Pier 3.

 

Was a great time. 18 years old and drinking and playing pool in a bar with a member of my favorite band, even tho he played the gee-tar

Very cool, very down to earth. then again, was before they really made it huge.

[rumpelstiltskin.]

being from grand rapids, anthony kiedis is seen all the time around there. the first time i saw him, at the bowling alley, i talked to him and made an ass of myself, so now i leave famous people alone. but he's around all over the place. he came to a coffee shop near my parents' house, too. he used to go the movies at a theater i used to work at.

 

robb.

[SpookyKid]

once I was grabbing a bite with friends at a whole in the wall mexican resturaunt in NYC. I went to the bar to get a drink and noticed a cop in uniform sucking down a Margarita. I turned to my friends and said "Don't you find that odd? that a cop is drinking at the bar in uniform". Then it happened....the cop jumped on top of the bar and started taking it off...Bam... We had to get a look at the table who ordered such a thing and low and behold, sitting at the head of the table was David Lee Roth. Next thing you know, my band grabs a tape and heads him off at the rest room. Boy! Let me tell you...he gave us the riot act after that. He said I am not touching your tape...next thing you know you will be sueing me for steeling your songs....Let's put it this way...he wasn't pleasant. he, he,

 

The next year my friends were playing at Jones Beach on a big bill and I hung out with them. David was on the Bill too....I saw him backstage, but I didn't bother him...I respect him for what he's done, but he's still a prick.

 

[jeremy c]

Sigourney Weaver walked right by me one day in San Francisco.

 

And once in the early 70's when I was playing in a club in West Hollywood, John Lennon and Mae Pang came in and sat down and stayed for two or three songs.

[Quinn]

Originally posted by jeremy c:

And once in the early 70's when I was playing in a club in West Hollywood, John Lennon and Mae Pang came in and sat down and stayed for two or three songs.

You're definitely a pro, Jeremy.

 

I would have pooped my drawers!

[jeremy c]

Fortunately, I was wearing brown pants.

[cloclo]

Originally posted by Nicklab:

The only time I can genuinely say I was starstruck was when I ran into PJ Harvey at a record shop. I just didn't know what to do. She's one of my favorite artists, and I think she's done some of the most original music out there in the past 10 - 15 years. I really would have liked to have her autograph something, but I was just at a loss.

i agree with everything you say. erm, in this quote that is

 

before i forget: YOU LUCKY B*ST*RD!

[wraub]

Between my last job at a recording studio, and just living in this metropolitan playground, I have seen lots, worked with some, and gotten to know a few...

 

I have escorted Jack Bruce's basses from the studio to his hotel...

I have scored weed for a Reggae legend...

I have met a Ghostbuster, several recording/ engineering stars, and Jack Black.

Additionally, I have seen Bjork, Matthew Modine,

Hillary Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, Lara Flynn Boyle, Crispin Glover, and many others on the streets...

 

Just for starters...

 

Peace,

 

wraub

[Nicklab]

Originally posted by cloclo:

Originally posted by Nicklab:

The only time I can genuinely say I was starstruck was when I ran into PJ Harvey at a record shop. I just didn't know what to do. She's one of my favorite artists, and I think she's done some of the most original music out there in the past 10 - 15 years. I really would have liked to have her autograph something, but I was just at a loss.

i agree with everything you say. erm, in this quote that is

 

before i forget: YOU LUCKY B*ST*RD!

You should've seen me. I'm standing almost next to her, my mouth kind of moving a little and no sound coming out. A truly humbling experience.

[Snowdog79]

My first bass was a cheap Cort that has a lot of sentimental value, so I've retired it from active duty and am now using it to collect autographs. So far I've got Marcus Miller, Lynn Seaton, and Vic W. Met 'em all and got 'em to sign. I would have Michael Manring's too, but I didn't bring the bass to his show. . .silly me. . .

 

I've gotten to meet some cool people through my band as well. We've run into Billy Joe Shaver on 6th Street in Austin, hung out with Jeff Tweedy and the rest of Wilco several times in Boston when we stayed at the same hotel, and had dinner with Lucinda Williams in L.A. Pretty cool stuff as far as I'm concerned.

 

My all-time favorite, though, was at the 2006 NAMM when I met Steve, Mike, Jeremy C, and. . .

 

(to be continued after next weekend)

[Funktopotamus]

I went to the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators) Conference last week in New York. There a couple friends and I went to see Conan O'Brien (my friend shook his hand and I was actually on TV). The next day I went to a discussion at the conference and Marcus Miller was up there. After the discussion I went up there and we talked about his bass (since I own a MM signature) and he gave some suggestions to me, he autographed my 'Jaco' book and took a picture with me and a friend that I'm still trying to put on the computer. Those two experiences alone made the trip worthwhile not to mention the awesome performances including two by Chick Corea.

[bassaddik]

Randy Jackson, cool... and with Michael getting all the publicity lately, I can understand how he went fairly unnoticed.

 

I have met Jeremy Cohen, though.. I'm not lying!

 

and once, Dan Lakin sat in with a band i was playing with and sang Mustang Sally.

 

Seriously, the most admired persons I have ever met ( outside of some of the great bassists ) has been Stevie Wonder at a Superbowl I played with in (bass, not football) , his bodyguard wanted to kill me, but Stevie was way cool.

And once, at the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, a gentleman asked me what time the band would start, i turned around and it was Quincy Jones. " Any time you's like, Mr Jones! " i said. Then I thought about asking him to remind me of the bridge changes to Killer Joe.

[bassaddik]

oh!! and Jaco almost trashed my bass onstage once, TRUE!

[Bottomgottem]

O.K. I cannot out do Jeremy and Adrian (not even close IMHO) but here's my list:

 

A band I played with in the late eighties opened up for the Gregg Allman Band, David Allen Coe, and Blackfoot.

 

Blackfoot isolated themselves till we were offstage.

 

David Allen Coe came onstage halfway through "Sweet Home Alabama" (gag) and shared the mike with me during the choruses. Real nice guy. Partied with his band and crew after the show.

 

Gregg Allman actually let us share a dressing room with him. His bassist was there with us, but I cannot recall whether or not it was Allen Woody. Mr. Allman was also very nice until our singer started asking him about Cher.

 

Our singer had minimal social skills.

 

Tenstrum brought up wrestlers. When I lived in Charlotte, my Dad ran a convenience store near one of the main practice facilities. I have sold beer and/or gas to Ric Flair, Ole and Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat, Wahoo McDaniel, and the King Daddy of 'em all, Andre the Giant. He could drink alot of beer.

[ArwinH]

Oh, let me add,

I met Michael jackson near the restroom of the ceasars place with an entourage of 7-10 yr olds... :roll eyes:

I met bunny brunel, when buying my carvin.

 

I got to meet Timothy B Schmitt at NAMM, as well as Stu Hamm and some others.

I've opened up for the suicide machines, who are fairly big.

Hmmm, I've met Jeff jarvis when he conducted out jazz band. And before the school year's up Jeff coffin of the flecktones will be visiting us.

 

I'm trying to remember more. I'll probably add some as time goes on!

[Max Valentino]

A funny story about Q:

A couple of years ago I was asked to do a session for a contemporary gospel/R&B act (Tonex). The call came from the 2nd engineer, who I had worked with before. I was not expecting much...until he mentioned the tracking was to be at O Henry Sound in Burbank (those of you who know know that this is one of the great studios in the world!)

 

So I am doing my bit...it's funky gospel and pretty cool. Not playing in a section but reading off a chart and replacing some scratch synth bass lines.

 

The lead engineer likes my feel and tells me, via intercom, that he'd like me to try some new tracks. The artist had just scored a top ten hit and the label, TommyBoy, had brought in a new producer to "fill things out", and he would be in after lunch and could I come back. Of course I could.

 

I came back early and was going over bits on one of the new charts. I re-worked a bit of it giving it some space, some grease and little mo' funk (so I thought). Then I hear a voice over the com "hey, what are doing?"...In comes Q (he is the new producer), looks me dead in the eye with a VERY serious tone and says "Don't re-write my charts". He grabs the paper off my stand and quickly marks it up...changing the original to what I had just played...and hands it back to me. Smiles and says, "only I can re-write these motherf***ers", then flashes a huge grin and says "that, my man, was FONKY! But, we don't have the budget to give you an arrangerment scale..."

 

Amazing man, with the biggest ears I have ever seen in work (he hears everything), and has the skills to notate, arrange and score the traffic at an intersection.

 

Anyway...the album did come out, it was a hit...I think they used me on two cuts.

 

Max