Ever met a famous guitarist?

[Kap'n]

I've met Chris Neel.

[NTBluesGuitar]

Ummm....does Dave Matthews count?

[Franklin]

I've met Chris Neel.

The CJ Neel!!?!?!?

Ummm....does Dave Matthews count?

Well he was probably the highest grossing guitarist of the 90's!

[guitar george]

I had a burger with Les Paul at the Iridium in NYC a few years back.

An interesting and fun guy.

[pseudocat]

I once hung out with Richard Thompson for an evening. Really nice guy; very down to earth.

He kept cracking jokes about Elton John's popularity, and his own relative obscurity. I suggested he get some outlandish rhinestone glasses or something; he went off on quite a tangent about Richard Thompson, the glam rocker -- feather boas, eyepaint, etc. Funny guy.

[57HANK]

I met Vince Gill in a bar near Detroit around 1980. He was with Pure Prairie League at that time. I complimented him on his great playing and singing and he was half way friendly. I didn't realize he was a `famous' guitarist till maybe a year later when I was reading a Guitar Player Magazine and recognized `Vince`in the picture. He was by then a bigshot.

[FromTx2]

in 1976 i got to play a couple hands of poker in a barn with
Willie Nelson and Waylin Jennings nice guys

we quit playin because Augie Myers tour bus pulled up
I watched him take a header from the third step

his guys on the bus just picked him up and put him back on the bus

in the 80's just before ZZ Top came out with the Eliminator tour
I met Billy he stopped by the car repair shop I worked at to see
an old friend one of the owners of the shop seems they went way back he even showed us the drawings of the car he was having custom made for the album cover a real down to earth guy

[Huckleberry]

Hi!

Just wanted to share a little story with you.
about one year ago I had the chance to see Walther Trout playing a concert here in Denmark. I was with my friend and his uncle (which is a famous actor here in Denmark) We were standing in the frontrow and the show was just KILLER!
It turned out that my friends uncle knew Walter Trout personally and after the show we got backstage and stayed there for almost 1-11/2 hour, chatting and drinking beer with Mr. Trout and the other guys in his band. At one time he (Mr. Trout) handed us( me and my friend) his 70' stratocaster and we played it a little.
It was just a REALLY great experience and I really hope this woundn't be the last time I'll geat a chance like that!
The whole vibe was very "down to earth" Really cool people!

-Any other great stories? It doesn't necesarilly have to be about Fender users, any stories would be appreciated!
Anyone ever meet Joe Perry or Richie Sambora????? Those two people are MY biggest idols at the time!

Best Regards
Torben

I've met Joe Perry. Really quiet, mellow guy. It was backstage on the Pump tour in 1990.

[CJ Neel]

I've met Chris Neel.

I'm not nearly as famous as Bob Feather.

Been on more records and movies and TV shows, played with Elliot Easton, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Wilsey, Danny B. Harvey, Allan Ruess, Hilton Valentine, Tony Gilkyson, and a host of others, mixed Micheal Stipe, but I'm not nearly close to being that famous.

[Cygnus X1]

pwned?

[Rickenjangle]

Bob Feather? Yeah, that guy is awesome!

[Jonnda]

I met Phil Keaggy backstage once. nice guy, but he was really tired and sweaty and wanting to change (and probibly shower), so didn't really get to talk to him much.

Also met Glenn Kaiser of Resurrection Band not too long ago. He has a blinding heart of gold. I can just tell this guy is filled with the love of God... What a guy. Wouldn't mind being more like him.

[elicross]

Yeah. Regardless of your faith or lack thereof, everybody could stand to be as humble and nice as him.

When I met him, it wasn't because I had any special access. My friends (bandmates) and I were just the guys who stayed behind after the Rez concert, until he came back out and sat on the edge of the stage to meet and talk with whoever stuck around. That's just the way he was back then; probably still is. I don't think he considered his work done just because the music had stopped. Not that he was there to proselytize or anything; his way of reaching people was (or is) just to show them a man of deep faith who isn't breathing fire about how everyone who disagrees with him is going to hell.

[Jonnda]

I think I met Keaggy because I was persistant.

I met Kaiser because he is a friend of a freind and my dad was running the board. But it's like you said elicross, and I just want to let you know he still is that way. I'm not sure I have evr felt more cared about by a fellow christian then by Glenn. He hugged me like he was my own father and prayed for me.

one amazing guitar slingin' guy.

[Erock_Germany]

I had the pleasure of meeting Matt Guitar Murphy when his band played (of all places) a dance club in Binghamton, NY. I'm not quite sure how this booking ever happened, but it certainly was to my liking.

The place was packed with the dance crowd set. At the break several of my friends went outside so as to not have to endure the damce music pumping from the hugh club sound system.

Well making his way through the crowd is none other than Matt himself. I say hello. He extends a hugh and powerful hand for a friendly handshake, and proceeds to sit down and talk with me for most of the break.

The show was incredible. He had a smoking sound. I asked him what he was using for an amp. His reply was that he wasn't sure. The guys in the band gave it to him for his birthday, and he just plugged in and went with it.

Matt was incredibly friendly, just great to talk to.

So Ray, are you from Binghamton? I am.......

Anyway, I have a decent list from over the years.....from recent to dark ages - Nick Mason (OK he is a drummer but he said he played guitar sometimes) - Robert Cray (together on tour with Clapton and Derek Trucks - shook Eric's and Derek's hand but I can not say I "met" them in the real sense) - KK Downing - Joe Walsh with Glenn Frey - BB King - Mick Taylor - Hank Marvin - Bob Weir and Jerry Garcia - Rick Nielsen - Mick Jones - Eddie Van Halen

Those are the main one. Some half knowns after small gigs but nothing exciting.....

I have been lucky I guess. Sometimes right place at right time and sometimes knowing someone to get back stage passes....

[Doc W]

I met Muddy Waters when I was in my mid teens. Also Brownie McGhee, Bruce Cockburn, Les Paul. And when I was doing an article on Chuck Berry, he told me to f**k off on the phone. Does that count?

I saw Jimi Hendrix play really close up. It was a concert in an old movie theatre and I had a front row seat, about 15 ft directly in front of him on a low stage. That was quite the experience, if you will excuse the pun. Like a private lesson and although I was pretty young, I soaked up as much as I could (which probably wasn't much).

I think there are a few more but my geezer brain can't retrieve the memory.

[Franklin]

I'm not nearly as famous as Bob Feather.

Been on more records and movies and TV shows, played with Elliot Easton, Howard Roberts, Jimmy Wilsey, Danny B. Harvey, Allan Ruess, Hilton Valentine, Tony Gilkyson, and a host of others, mixed Micheal Stipe, but I'm not nearly close to being that famous.

I was unaware that either of you were famous! Oh, I guess there is an inside joke there I don't get.....

[Power_13]

I'm not nearly as famous as Bob Feather.

Famous? Or notorious?

[Cogs]

A band I was in opened for Duke Robillard once here in Seattle. After our set he came up to me & asked about my Strat (the Bastardcaster). I told him, "I'm not sure what it is; it's got an Allparts neck & Van Zant pickups, & bla bla bla..." He laughed & said his was just like that. This neck, those p'ups, everything that was replaceable had been, it seemed. He was totally laid back & very gracious for someone who was about to take the stage. He had a pedalboard w/more pedals than Van Kamp's got beans. This was about the time I quit being a "Plug Straight In" nazi. He burned, too!
I've never met Glen Kaiser but I did hear him preach once at a Rez show in the late '70s. It was withering, & I mean that in a good way.

[elicross]

Famous? Or notorious?

I get the impression the right word is "infamous."

In a good way, I mean.

[NeoFauve]

My cousin was road manager for the Marshal Tucker Band back in the 70's & 80's. When he got married, I met George McCorkle (rhythm gtr) at a lunch which, I think, was at Paul Riddle's (drums) family's. I met Tommy Caldwell there too. I just sort of said hi to Toy Caldwell at the wedding reception. I might have been 12 pr so at the time.

Shook Vernon Reid's sweaty hand at Toad's Place.

Encountered GE Smith twice. Once in Cutler's Records, a few hours before Dylan's famous 4 hour set around the corner at Toads. The second time, he was sitting on a Bassman, eating take-out in Chelsea Guitars.
He was enjoying some regular guy time and I just didn't want to bug him.

Also, I have an amp that was built, for a guy who composed a regionally famous radio jingle for a county fair in the Greater Fort Wayne area, by a guy who once played Andy Summers' red Strat and had his own Strat damaged by Steve Jones.
I forget the details, but yeah, we've all met, via solder and mojo.

[CJ Neel]

Also, I have an amp that was built, for a guy who composed a regionally famous radio jingle for a county fair in the Greater Fort Wayne area, by a guy who once played Andy Summers' red Strat and had his own Strat damaged by Steve Jones.
I forget the details, but yeah, we've all met, via solder and mojo.

[Franklin]

A band I was in opened for Duke Robillard once here in Seattle.

I took a class with Duke at the National Guitar Summer Workshop. Great guy!

[FrankJohnson]

I took a class with Duke at the National Guitar Summer Workshop. Great guy!

Yeah.....we were taking Hawaiin shirts 101 a couple of years ago.....

I DID get to play on stage with Franklin too!

[NTBluesGuitar]

Also, I have an amp that was built, for a guy who composed a regionally famous radio jingle for a county fair in the Greater Fort Wayne area...

I have the original cab from that very amp. And I also used to go to that City Festival regularly in which I heard that jingle on TV every summer I lived there.

Now I hang out on this BB with all the previous mentioned parties. So how many degrees am I separated now?

[Franklin]

Yeah.....we were taking Hawaiin shirts 101 a couple of years ago.....

Nice! You both know what colors work for you!!!

[IMG]
I DID get to play on stage with Franklin too!

Hmmm. You do look familiar!

Let me see, bass guitar in one hand and a burger in the other?? It's hard to keep track with 1,000s of guys clammering to perform with you. Don't be offended. Perhaps if you can provide a pic or two, perhaps some audio to refresh my oh-so famous memory???

[Spudman]

Did a clinic with John Jorgenson.
Played Chris Duarte's 63 Strat and watched football with him.
Played Larry Coryell's signature Cort before his sweat dried on it.
Played Foosball with Derek Trucks on his 18th birthday.

So...ya.

[honkytonks]

brad paisley a few times, he's always been ultra nice and quick witted.

keith urban was wearing shades and a bit aloof, but this was years ago and given his rehab...

jerry reed (rip) was cantankerous but funny.

met vince gill twice, both times at the wildhorse, always polite and conversational.

carl perkins true gentleman.

larry carlton, met him at a 4th of july concert, didn't know who he was until he soundchecked.

thom bresh (merle travis' son) awesome player great guy, great chet atkins stories.

marty stuart, spacey but smart, talked guitars and tone for an hour.

some more come to mind, but if you can't say something nice...

[teleman55]

Smoked a joint with Muddy Waters in my younger days. He told me music comes from the heart. Met Rick Nielsen when they were local. Nice guy. Met Otis Rush. Played with Left Dizz. Met Johnny Ramone and Johnny Thunders. Opened for the both of 'em. Nice guys. Thunders was a bit buzzed, but boy could he play a guitar.
Oh and I met the Kinks, They kicked our ass in a soccer game.

[MMP]

I met Franklin and Frank Johnson at a "Let's Be Frank" Convention on August 30th. They were eating franks by the grill.

I've also met and or worked for:
Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton (twice)
Martin Barre
Willie Nelson
Jerry Jeff Walker
B.W. Stevenson
Pete Townsend
Stephen Stills
David Crosby
and a few others......

when I was a sound man for AST Sound and Showco in the 70s.

[FrankJohnson]

Although not a great shot...I played with this guy like .....A LOT......




I was afforded an opportunity to play the Frank2 Miles for Nick Fest in 0808

waht a great gig, all proceeds benefiting the Frank2 miles for Nick Foundation

[juniorspecial]

David Bromberg! Cool!

[NTBluesGuitar]

Yeah! You should hear some of the stuff Frank does with Dave...it sounds GREAT!

Frank's becoming quite the bottom-end groove-meister lately.

[Franklin]

Wow!!

[Huckleberry]

I used to work in the record biz (in distribution). I got to meet a lot of people. Among the guitarists:

Nuno Bettencourt
Neal Schon
Steve Stevens
Dave Mustaine
Marty Friedman
Joe Perry
Brad Whitford

[doc540]

Got to know both Albert and Freddie King pretty well, but my most treasured friendship was with Clarence Gatemouth Brown.

[Franklin]

Got to know both Albert and Freddie King pretty well, but my most treasured friendship was with Clarence Gatemouth Brown.

I remembered that you were talking about Gatemouth a few years ago, right at the end there. It was obvious that you were very close. One of the most under-rated entertainers ever.

[Tube_Amp]

I met Brian Setzer when he walk into Rizzo's Pizza in Glenside, PA. It was sort of weird.

[EJG]

I've met Tommy Emmanuel (briefly) and Les Paul. I have a picture of my son, age 10, sitting on Les Paul's lap, playing Les Paul's Les Paul. He played the Smoke on the Water riff, and Les laughed and told him to keep at it (which he has done).

[jerryjg]

Paul Kantner in traffic court, and got his autograph. Thats about it.