Have you ever met any 'pop stars' and what were they like

Rabbajanks

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As seasoned gig goers and music fans, I'm sure we've all had encounters with famous musicians , some good, some bad, some weird, what are yours?

Mine:

Jerry Dammers - was DJing at a gig I played with The Moderators, top bloke, really friendly, very encouraging, all round good egg
Neville Staple - proper geezer, did a few gigs with him with the Moderators, always a smile, big character
Ranking Roger - a true gentlemen, warm, friendly and funny. A huge loss.
Paul Weller - pissed up outside a bar in Amsterdam, laugh out loud funny and engaging, though I know he can be a bit moody when caught on the wrong day
Mark King - circa 84 when Level 42 were starting to make waves, in the bar at Loughborough Uni. Was a bit up himself.
Nathan Moore (brother beyond) - booked him to play at an 80s night I put on. Was nice enough, but when I asked if he just wanted to come into the venue by the normal entrance or via a back door, he said 'the back door, I want people to go "look there he is" when they see me' - which was a bit weird

What about yours???
 
Met Slade backstage at Exeter Uni mid 80's, can't say they seemed too enthusiastic.
More interested in getting pissed.
They were fucking good "live" though.
 
Peter Gabriel at Gatwick Airport. He was on the same flight as me. A total gent.
 
David Bowie outside the Metropole Hotel near Brum NEC in 1985 after a Tina Turner gig. Bowie had come on as special guest to sing "Tonight" with her. There was a big party afterwards at the hotel, which we found out about having missed the last train back to Leicester. The Thin White Duke appeared in the early hours and was really friendly. Had a brief, pleasant chat about the gig, he signed my programme and that was it. I still remember his comment "Isn't she amazing ?" I presume he was referring to her stage performance.

Also went backstage in 1981 after an Ultravox gig. Again, very friendly. I was asked to hold Billy Currie's drink while he signed my programme, which I somehow took to mean "feel free to down it in one". He was clearly surprised but saw the funny side. I've since learned that the mate I'd gone with, who is now a radio DJ, had claimed in an interview with Midge Ure that it was he who had drunk it. The scamp.
 
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Nigel Blackwell
Neil Crossley
Girlschool 1981
Burke Shelly
JD Meatyard
Gaye Advert
Dick Cuthell

All great
 
Don Letts was an absolute gent when I cornered him at a Rodigan gig.

Ben Watt from EBTG (“Hi, I’m Ben”) who I met at a friend’s birthday party, & has a tremendous knowledge about house music & Curtis Mayfield.

Met Mick Jones of The Clash on a train (he was on his way to see a fan’s memorabilia for a future exhibition) & chatted with him for around 30 minutes - again, an absolute gent.

There’s a few others...
 
Charlie Harper bought me a pint (Poly or Uni, I can't remember which). Which was nice of him.
And Don Letts was a visiting lecturer on my eldest's Uni course - he can also confirm he's an all round good egg.
I've bumped into Paddy McAloon a couple of times in Durham/Newcastle over the last couple of years. As much a gentleman as you would expect.
 
Shared a few spliffs with John Lydon at a PIL gig - surprisingly nice guy
Shared a toilet cubicle and more combustibles with Pig Youth of Killing Joke
And spent an evening with, of all people, Al Stewart of Year of the Cat fame- it was a long evening!
 
Roddy Radiation a few times. My mate was in his band after the specials. By the end of the night we had a "discussion" about artists "selling out" I told him no one was gonna contribute to the Roddy retirement fund when he's old and you do whatever to make money while you can. Met him a few years later, he was late for a gig if help organise. He was moaning like fuck that he was late because he had been over the park chasing his 14 year old daughter after someone told him she was over there with a load of mates drinking diamond whites.
Nice guy.
Screaming lord sutch. I was pissed and gave him abuse for shaking thatchers hand on election night.
He seemed really concerned at my comments and we had a good debate about politics etc. Clever bloke and a really nice guy.
Got to know a band who used to back Brian Poole (tremaloes fame)
They invited me to a gig they were doing with PJ Proby. After the gig they took me to his dressing room. He was pissed as a fart, it was the same day the notw broke the story of him running off with a 14 year old girl or something.
The band took the piss out of him and pinched him bottle of vodka. He went mental tried to break into the bands dressing room (they were pissing themselves laughing) then he went back to his own dressing room and smashed it up. Police were called and carted him off.
 
Roddy Radiation a few times. My mate was in his band after the specials. By the end of the night we had a "discussion" about artists "selling out" I told him no one was gonna contribute to the Roddy retirement fund when he's old and you do whatever to make money while you can. Met him a few years later, he was late for a gig if help organise. He was moaning like fuck that he was late because he had been over the park chasing his 14 year old daughter after someone told him she was over there with a load of mates drinking diamond whites.
Nice guy.
Screaming lord sutch. I was pissed and gave him abuse for shaking thatchers hand on election night.
He seemed really concerned at my comments and we had a good debate about politics etc. Clever bloke and a really nice guy.
Got to know a band who used to back Brian Poole (tremaloes fame)
They invited me to a gig they were doing with PJ Proby. After the gig they took me to his dressing room. He was pissed as a fart, it was the same day the notw broke the story of him running off with a 14 year old girl or something.
The band took the piss out of him and pinched him bottle of vodka. He went mental tried to break into the bands dressing room (they were pissing themselves laughing) then he went back to his own dressing room and smashed it up. Police were called and carted him off.
 
Shane Macgpwan was always around...before he was famous....good lad . .Don Letts,when he worked at Acme Attractions.top bloke,Don.
Billy Idol..the girls all loved him.everyone else took the piss. Strummer was ok. Maz Elliot / Polly Styrene...one of the nicest people you could meet..
Cosey Fanni Tutti...interesting . Brinsley Forde /Aswad...Steel Pulse...sound guys.
Chelsea were game...they didn`t seem to mind us nicking all their booze backstage at the Speak one night back in the day.
Probably there were others but it`s all a long time ago.
 
Ronnie Lane post Faces pre Slim Chance, so mid 70's...A bit sad really, he was playing at the Painted Lady, Kirby Bellars. Bit of a come down but he was in good form and went down well with the small crowd . Was allowed back stage thanks to my mate who was the DJ there, had a brief chat and he signed a couple of Faces LP's for me.
 
Also ran into Jeff Lynn of ELO at St Andrews - he was wearing aviator sunglasses needless to say. Must have been late 70's and if memory serves we turned them over quite comfortably.
 
John Densmore, The Doors, in DC 1989ish
Drank with Deacon Blue, same place, a year earlier
Jerry Dammers DJ’ed a party for me, spent the evening playing chess against each other, top bloke
Simon LeBon several times in the eighties, tosspot
Joe Leeway, Thompson Twins, lived in a mate’s house
Kirsty McCall, her drummer was a friend
Got XTC out of trouble, they then passed me off as a band member after the gig
Phil Lynott, both of us off our heads, London 83
B.B.King, DC, late eighties, stood and chatted at a party
Marty Balin, Paul Kantner, Jefferson Airplane, reminisced after a gig in Market F Harborough(!)
Train journey across country with Smokie (nice mistake)
Night drinking in Brussels with The Flying Pickets (another mistake)
 
Two biggies for me and a B lister.

Had breakfast with Boy George at hotel in Leicester after Culture Club gig the night before. My girlfriend was sleeping in and all his crew were still in bed. I was next to him in-line for a table, told him I was a fan and he said "join me". Just a small hotel, but was early days of their success and 'Do you really want to hurt me' just made #1 the week before. He was completely horse after the gig, but a very friendly and charming guy.

Second was Ian Gillan. Post DEEP PURPLE he had his own band 'Gillan' and a carfl of mates drove to see them play 'Northampton Cricket Club' for an intimate heavy metal gig.
We decided to go for a curry and few beers before driving back to Leicester, and the Indian restaurant we went in had Ian Gillan and his band mates relaxing with a meal after the show. Went up and said Hello, told him I was huge fan, and bought th table a bottle of wine.
He asked me to write my address and he'd get his PA to send me a photo, and he kept his word and I got sme signed photos in the mail two weeks later.

Pat Travers at The Rockpile Club in Toronto, 4-5 years ago. Had a quick chat - he know Leicester and said he loved touring UK as rock fans were so knowledgeable and appreciative.
 
Angry Anderson and the rest of Rose Tattoo playing football in Bernard Manning Park, they were chilling out before they supported Rainbow at the Granby Halls
 
I met all three members of The Jam numerous times after hanging around The Holiday Inn & getting let into soundchecks.
However,the morning after the last time they played Leicester, I went back down the Holiday Inn. I hung around for a bit, then was invited in for a cup of tea by Paul Weller.
Me , him & his girlfriend at the time then spent the next half hour, eating biscuits,drinking tea & having a good natter.

My dear friend Ebony, who sadly passed away in August, met Gil Scott Heron following his gig at The Jazz Cafe in 1999.
That can't be topped in my eyes
 
Met Alex Harvey when he played the 76 club in Burton around 1972,he signed my Framed album I had bought earlier,really friendly bloke.The album mysteriously disappeared when I split up with my first wife-BITCH.
 
Met my hero Steve marriott after a gig at the charlotte...signed my old copy of fab 208 with the small faces cover , met him again in rugby and bought him a rum and coke...such a lovely man.
Also Ian McLagan at the musician...gave me a signed album as he loved my t shirt (and yes he signed the fab 208)
 
My dear friend Ebony, who sadly passed away in August, met Gil Scott Heron following his gig at The Jazz Cafe in 1999.
That can't be topped in my eyes
Walthamstowefox; during Leicester's Jazz-Funk scene around 1980, Gil-Scott Heron played "Leicester Polytechnic" which was great.
'The Bottle' is an absolute classic tune.
Funnily enough, I think I would have appreciated that show much more now, 40-years on, with the more "mature & refined" ears I have today.
 
Met my hero Steve Marriott after a gig at the charlotte...signed my old copy of fab 208 with the small faces cover , met him again in rugby and bought him a rum and coke...such a lovely man.
Also Ian McLagan at the musician...gave me a signed album as he loved my t shirt (and yes he signed the fab 208)
Two gooduns there Collibosher - giants of that classic era.
 
Walthamstowefox; during Leicester's Jazz-Funk scene around 1980, Gil-Scott Heron played "Leicester Polytechnic" which was great.
'The Bottle' is an absolute classic tune.
Funnily enough, I think I would have appreciated that show much more now, 40-years on, with the more "mature & refined" ears I have today.
I agree, my 14 year old self wouldn't have appreciated him as much as nowadays
 
How could I have forgotten meeting Jimmy Page ?! In London one Sunday lunchtime. My wife asked me to see if he would agree to a photo, which he was happy to do. A guitar playing mate also found himself at the same chippy as him once and Jimmy was happy to talk to him about his band.
 
Al jardine
Joe walsh
Celine dion
Steve cropper
Booker t
Eddie vedder
Mark knopfler
Guns and roses
Kiss
Aerosmith etc etc
 
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