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I will guess that the show must have been at Jones Beach, although I suppose it could have been at the Nassau Coliseum, either way, I always do my best to avoid putting the band at a hotel out there. Last time we spent the night in Philadelphia and drove in early afternoon directly to the venue for sound check, then headed out straight away after the show to the next city (and hotel). When forced to stay somewhere close, that's the same hotel I have used. |
Jones Beach.. great night...
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I can't say I am a metalhead by any stretch. I like a song or two by the Scorpions, Judas Priest and a few others. The heaviest show I have ever been to was a Dead Kennedys show with original drummer Ted just before he left (The Channel, Boston). My musical tastes are all over the place and have gone to concerts ranging from New Age (George Winston) to traditional jazz (Ron Carter), folk (Arlo Guthrie), soul/r&b (James Brown), arena rock (Queen) and hardcore punk (the aforementioned DK's).
The one constant has been my 'Rock Book'. It is a book called 'The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock' compiled by two writers from NME (New Musical Express) the best music publication in the 1970's and 1980's out of England. I have been getting the book signed since 1979 when I was a poor college student and could not always afford the $6.99 - $7.99 vinyl. Since then I have gotten it signed by over 500 musicians. Every signature except for one was signed in front of me and I will not divulge that one. I was not as vigilant in the beginning, but I have a list of date and venues where it was signed and in the last 16 years I have also saved tickets, flyers and the such from events where it was signed. There have been a few people I did not realize had entries and forgot to bring it when I met them (Andrew Gold, Wendy Waldman) and a few who flat out refused to sign it (Van Morrison - me and him alone outside the downstairs bar at the Hard Rock in Boston after a show "I'm done working for the evening." and Robert Fripp, a pseudo-intellectual dick, "This is probably a piece of rubbish"). As the years go on inevitably some who have signed the book have passed away including a lot of good names (David Bowie, Jerry Garcia, Miles Davis, Carl Wilson, Paul Butterfield, Link Wray, Lou Reed, John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Joe Strummer, Leonard Cohen, Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Phil Everly, Maurice White, Tom Petty, Carl Perkins, Robert Palmer etc.). This year alone 6 people who signed it have passed, two of them within a week of each other in October. Here are their signatures in no particular order: Charlie Daniels - signed May 19,2006 at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA Attachment 425970 Dave Greenfield of the Stranglers. Died of Covid-19 - In store record signing Strawberries Records, Kenmore Sq. Boston October 14, 1980 Attachment 425971 Little Richard - October 5, 1984 in the lobby of Channel 4, Boston. He also signed his autobiography Attachment 425972 Helen Reddy - April 26, 2008 Olsson's Books Alexandria, VA Attachment 425973 Spencer Davis - June 15, 1996 Royal Sonesta Hotel, Cambridge, MA Attachment 425974 Jerry Jeff Walker - September 21, 1989 Nightstage, Cambridge, MA Attachment 425975 Sorry for the long tale. I think I could talk an ear off a stalk of corn. Michael 'I may have almost as many stories as Doug G.' B. |
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The Garden City Hotel has a long history of discrimination. 47 years old, I've never been inside. But if you don't stay there, where are you going to go? The Long Island Marriott? Fun thread. Only set lists I have are of recent vintage from shows at Brooklyn Steel (best music venue to hit NYC in years). |
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Bravo! I think you should start on page 1 and start telling us stories. And I call dibs when you decide to part with it... Doug |
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I usually put bus drivers at the Best Western in Bar Harbour... which I suppose makes it plan "C". |
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I first saw Van Halen in 1978 when they opened up for Black Sabbath at MSG. I was staying in a hotel in Long Island in 1995 ...on... Whats wrong with staying in Garden City?? Well for one whenever I am in Long Island I tend to meet one or two Stuffy folks among the thousands of cool people. And it is 100% worth the effort to stay in Manhatten and comute. I am from jersey and that's the way we say it. When I am in cape cod I am in cape cod (not on the cape) |
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Garden City also put up quite a fuss when Wang was trying to put up a new arena in Uniondale. As for Long Island and things to do, you need a vehicle. I moved into Queens in 1995 and moved back to raise a family in 2014. Now Queens...that's the place to be. Sigh... |
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It is odd that you mention selling it. As you can imagine I have become very protective of it. Other than laying in on a table for someone to sign it has only left my hands exactly 3 times: The previously mentioned time a merch person who worked for the musician offered to get it signed for me. We met at the club I was working at as a bouncer in Boston - Spit. It was in 1980 so I did not think of the book as I do now. Brought it to me at the club after a show. I got the person several years later in person and the signature was the same. Very big name. Joan Armatrading at Lupos in Providence, RI - standing at the stage entrance which was a glass door allowing you to see inside. I asked one of her stage people if she was coming out after the sound check as I wanted to get my book signed. He said "I will take it to her for you." I watched him walk up to her and get it signed. Charlie Daniels at the Birchmere in Alexandria, VA - He walked out to the bus after the show which I believe was SOP for him. The driveway to the backstage also led to a daycare attached to the building. Unless the Alexandria PD was there you could always walk up the driveway. Walked up to the bus and one of his people said that he was happy to sign anything and he would bring it on to the bus. All of that being said I have been asked many times what it was worth and would I sell it. I try not to say value out loud but I would sell it under certain conditions. It is just a thing and I have the stories. Every time a person dies the price goes up. It is not only 6 people who died this year, there were also at least three others last year - Paul Barrere of Little Feat, Art Neville and Dr. John. Watching the RRHOF inductions tonight and saw that there was one other person who signed the book and died about 7 weeks ago - Rocco Prestia of Tower of Power. In the vintage card section Leon always says there should be a card in the thread. This one should have concert photos: Rick Derringer - circa 1980 The Paradise, Boston Attachment 426120 James Brown - Summer, 1980 Jonathan Swift's Harvard Sq. Cambridge, MA Attachment 426121 Cab Calloway - late 1980's New England Conservatory of Music, Boston MA. He received an award and the played while his grandson who taught at the school played guitar Attachment 426122 Phil Lynott - circa 1981 The Paradise, Boston. One of my favorites to shoot. He was a ham and would pose on stage and point his bass at me. Attachment 426123 |
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And Spit. My first show ever in Boston was at Spit in July 1985. I was driving the equipment truck, with a guy from Wales, and selling merch. I wanted to get to the venue early so that I would have time to go to Fenway, but we kept getting lost. Each time we did we got new directions from somebody different. Finally, I gave up and decided to just go to Fenway first, the Wales guy asked how I expected to find "this Fenway place" I told him the Citgo sign would make it easy. Nobody had told me in their various sets of directions that Spit was across the street from The Monster. |
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Doug my Family is from Maine and asking for directions in NE is an adventure all it's own.
Thin Lizzy love the Whiskey in a jar Video with the girls dancing in prom dresses (check it out classic) and such a great song. I apologize for bringing in the grammer police. Guess my reference to "stuffy people" went over some heads. But first time I ever read a thread with multiple references to Merciful Fate that included a grammer correction. I give a F... how folks refer to where they live. I enjoyed much better The Ramones reference to Queens in Happy Family. I will take my own advice and post a stub or pic with each post. Music Addicts come in all shapes and sizes no wrong or right. But if one of your top ten musical experiences was Rocking to the touring group of Jersey Boys at Westchester theater, then I understand the grammer posts completely. Souvenirs of fun in on and around NJ. |
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I've been at the cape, just barely, twice. And one of those was for work. |
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Spit was originally a new wave dance club only. They did some surprise concerts while I was there in 1980 - The Neighborhoods a popular Boston band, The Modettes ("White Mice"), Chelsea an original U.K. punk band and The Skatt Brothers (Walk the Night). A few musicians dropped in - Daryl Hall, Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith), Frank Zappa and John Lennon. They also asked me to come back to work the WBCN Rumble in 1981. One of the bands I saw during that week was the Young Snakes. Their lead singer was Aimee Mann a few years before she formed 'Til Tuesday. Once they started doing regular concerts it changed quite a bit though. I only went twice - The Fall, U.K. new wave and The Waitresses. I interviewed Chris Butler after the show. It was a great place to get autographs in the early days of concerts. I remember getting The Divinyls, Buzzcocks, Michael Schenker, Ace Frehley and the Georgia Satellites. While waiting for the Georgia Satellites I struck up a conversation with the lead singer of the opening act Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. I have an interesting tie between The Paradise and sports collecting. I went to a concert there in 1978, maybe Rick Derringer. The opening act was a local act called Fox Pass and they announced it was their last show. At the end of the show the drummer tossed both of his sticks and they landed at my feet as I was sitting in one of the bolted down seats right in front of the stage. No one reacted so I just picked them up and kept them. I put a sticker on them to remember where they were from. A few years later I found their indie single and bought it. Fast forward 10 years or so. I was in a baseball card store in the Boston suburbs. I knew the people who ran it and there was one other person there. I started talking to him and we got to music and he mentioned that he used to be in a band - Fox Pass! It was Jon Hall of Hall's Nostalgia. He used a stage name as there was already the well known John Hall of Orleans and a U.S. congressman. I mentioned I had the drumsticks and single and gave them to him. Every post needs at least a photo. Mick Jones - Clash on Broadway, Bonds, NYC, 1981. I went two nights the first week. Attachment 426275 Mark E. Smith of the Fall Spit 1981 Attachment 426276 Johnny Ramone - The Paradise. One of my favorite photos of the ones I have taken. Attachment 426277 |
The Clash at Bonds casino. I waited in line for tickets and grabbed 6 for me and friends first night. We drive into the city early grab food (2nd ave deli) and hear on radio that we have to come back later in the week due to tickets being oversold. Clash added shows so everyone who bought a ticket saw a show. So we see that Palladium has a show and we go and scalp for half price to U2. You could tell they had stage presence played I will follow twice. Saw them next in Hawaii in 85 Joshua tree tour. Both great shows.
And Clash at Bonds was great. But Asbury park in 82 with original drummer just after release of combat rock they all seemed at top of their game. Your signed book is epic if you could show clash auto's |
rock memorabilia
Hi can someone let me know a couple of good people or good sites that sell authentic rock memorabilia at a fair price
i have a kid who is into a lot of the older rock from 70's/80's thanks |
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I toured with a band called Magnapop in 1994, supporting The Fall for 13 dates across the US, including one at the Avalon in Boston, that was the same building as Spit, right? Or am I getting a couple of the vast assortment of Boston venues I've been to confused? Spit, the old Garden, Paradise, Channel, The Rat, Narcissus, TT Bears, Avalon, Roxy, Landsdowne Playhouse, Great Woods, Harvard Square, Harbor Lights, City Hall Plaza, Suffolk Downs, Axis, Foxboro Stadium, Orpheum, Gillette Stadium, the new Garden, Wang Theater, B of A Pavilion, House of Blues, Wilbur Theater, Chevalier Theater. |
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Where to start.
Jonathan - you posted a couple of tickets from the David Jo / Ramones Tour. I saw them in Boston with Willie Alexander and The Neighborhoods as the opening act. I will scan a couple of photos in a day or so. Doug - pretty good on the clubs/venues. There was also Cantones and The Underground in Boston. Next to TT the Bears in Cambridge was the Middle East upstairs and downstairs. Cambridge also had Ryles, Jonathan Swifts and Passim. Somerville had Lillies where I saw The Dictators. The Wang Center was previously called the Music Hall. The Roxy, on the second floor of the hotel across the street from the Wang Center was first a concert venue called the Bradford Ballroom. I believe that is where I saw Gang of Four. And the Opera House, almost forgot that one. Some history for the buildings on Landsdowne Street behind the Green Monster of Fenway Park. The main building was originally a horse barn then a car garage. It became the second incantation of the Boston Tea Party. In the mid/late 1970's it became a disco called Boston Boston. It's name was changed to The Metro and in 1980 Spit opened up to the right of it at the alley. They were owned by the same person. There was various remodeling and Spit became Axis and The Metro became Citi then Avalon. A club called Mama Kin (Aerosmith connected) opened to the left of Avalon. They were all eventually purchased by Don Law torn down and the House of Blues was built there. I may be a bit off on the Avalon/Citi history, but fairly close I believe. Jonathan, here are The Clash autos in a similar book. The first one can be a bit fragile and I don't like to open it flat too much. It is a 200 +/- page paperback book with a glued spine and they tend to wear down. I got Joe Strummer at Tower Records November 13, 1989 during an in store record signing. I was first in line. He signed my two books, multiple Clash albums and a photo or two. I got Mick about 7 weeks earlier on September 28 when Big Audio Dynamite was in town. He went to WBCN, one block from Fenway Park, for an on air appearance and that deserves a story. Attachment 426426 I am sure Doug with all his experience has run into all kinds of people who feel it is their business to protect the musician. Most of the road crew people I have met have been okay. Stay out of their way and don't act like your trying to cause trouble or steal equipment and you are usually okay. It is the chauffeurs who cause the most problems. They fancy themselves important. WBCN was a one story brick building on Beacon Street across from the McD's in the movie "The Town" where Jeremy Renner was shot. The entrance was a small stairway about 20-25 feet from the street. For most of their time there the musicians came in the front. Knowing that you could meet pretty much anyone who was going there. About 4 or 5 of us were out front when the limo with Mick Jones pulled up. This 5' 5" driver jumps out and starts yelling at us to leave him alone as he has to get inside. Mick gets out of the car and proceeds to sit on the front fender and sign autographs for everyone. He was cool like most musicians. My friends did not know I had an in at the Channel and I took them down there after that for the soundcheck. No Mick but the rest of the band including Don Letts, Doug Roberts and Leo "E-Zee Kill" Williams. More stories to come. Photos for the day Jackson Browne at some sort of fundraiser Strand Theatre, Dorchester Attachment 426427 Fee Waybill lead singer of The Tubes in character as Quay Lude. Orpheum Theatre. My favorite type of photo. I took the photo, printed it in a darkroom and got it signed in person. Attachment 426428 |
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Do you mean passes like the ones they stick on their jeans? Attachment 426429 Set Lists? Attachment 426430 Picks? Attachment 426433 Signed tickets? Attachment 426431 or ticket stubs? Attachment 426432 You can find a lot of legit ticket stubs on ebay. It is just finding ones that are good and show the bands. Laminated passes from the 80's and 90's are all over the place. I would suspect that they are still being remade. I don't have many picks any more and sold off my drumsticks. I had some decent picks - Ted Nugent, Link Wray from his last show in the U.S. which was his only show that year in the U.S. and some decent drumsticks - Mick Fleetwood, Ted from the Dead Kennedys, Roger Earl from Foghat, Dave Roberts from Big Audio Dynamite, Don Brewer from Grand Funk, Simon Kirke from Bad Company. I got all of them by asking the musicians directly. Picks are pretty easy as many guitar players have them in their pockets. Sticks are more challenging. I got most at sound checks though a few left a pair for me at the their hotel desk. The second time I met Ted Nugent was at an auditorium across the street from the courthouse where I was working. I got him walking in. He stopped to chat and said 'hold out your hand' and dropped about 20-25 signature Damn Yankees picks into it. Drumsticks can also be challenging if they have very specific sticks for the tour and they cannot get them while on the road. Less likely to give one up. |
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I have worked shows at those venues. You made me laugh out loud with that chauffeur comment. So true. Once upon a time I was working for Green Day. I was eating dinner with our head of security in the catering area, which was behind and kind of under the bleachers at an arena somewhere. There was a tarp covering the seats for one wall of the area, my back was to it. While we were eating the security guy nodded his head towards the wall with one finger to his lips, so I turned my head and watched as two kids somehow managed to squeeze themselves thru the seats and under the tarp at the far end of our row of tables (which was empty besides us). The initial looks on their faces were "F yeah, we made it!" then they saw us looking at them and their faces changed to "oh shit". The security guy did his best imitation of a mean security guy and said "Come with ME" and we led them up the hall talking to each other about promoters and police and expulsions and arrests and whatever we could think of to scare the kids until we walked them into the band dressing room and asked the guys who were there "What should we do kids who sneak backstage?" One suggestion was "Give them a beer!" but neither kid looked old enough to drink so instead they settled for autographs and pictures, then we tossed them back into the crowd. Fun times. |
When I saw the Hendrix experience show here in Lowell last year they had a whole "handing out picks to pretty much anyone " thing right when the show ended. Pretty cool, but I didn't go get one.
When my sister was in college, she got to see a couple good bands because the school had them in. One trip down to visit she told me she'd seen a band she thought I'd like, and that she'd gotten a pick tossed into the "crowd" of maybe 150! "I don't remember the name, but you'd like them" "What songs? " "If I can't remember the name you think I'd remember a song? " "Yeah, good point. " "Oh! there was one thing... the guy had a guitar shaped like a big hand" " You saw Cheap Trick and didn't remember the name?!" "Oh, yeah, that's the name. You've heard of them? " U Conn apparently could book some great bands and hardly draw anyone. |
Security and drivers and roadies oh my!
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A couple of quick stories.
One of the hotels where many musicians would stay in Boston was the Four Seasons. We called it The Fours. The hotel had an overhang so cars could pull up to the front door and not be on the sidewalk. The overhang was also the outside of the hotel and the edge of their property They had one simple rule: Don't come onto their property unless you were told you could. Nice and simple. One day we were waiting for Rod Stewart. He comes out, sees us and waves us to come over. As we walk over to the car for him to sign the driver starts blocking us. I had to point out to him that we were called over. Rod signed for everyone. Another time we were waiting for Kenny Loggins, all time nice guy. He was in town for a concert on Boston Common. He comes out of the hotel walks over to us on the public sidewalk and says 'Hey guys, how's it going? What is a good direction to go for a walk?" Hotel security comes running out onto the sidewalk and demands that we not bother their guests. Loggins with a straight face looks at him and says something like 'Why are you bothering me and my friends' and waves him off. Interestingly that also happened with basketball player David Robinson outside the Marriott Copley Hotel. A few of us were standing with him in the median halfway across Huntington Ave. and he was signing autographs. Two hotel security people come running across the street and tell us to leave him alone. He said something very similar and I believe mentioned that this was not hotel property. Massachusetts has a public accommodation law. It pretty much says that if you are a place of public accommodation, ie a hotel, you cannot bar people from using your facilities. Great to know if you want to use a bathroom. Also good if you want to sit on a couch in the lobby and rest. We were waiting for Gloria Estefan, one of the nicest musicians I have ever met, outside the Fours. I went inside to sit down and relax. I was dressed decently so no problem. I am sitting there and she comes off one of the elevators all alone. She looks at me and I smile. She walks up to me and asks if I want her autograph. Of course I said yes and she signs. After she walks away security reminds me that we are not supposed to ask for autographs in the hotel. I told them what happened and they said that's okay. It was still funny as that is not the norm. One more. Anyone who has gone to the Orpheum in Boston knows that it is at the end of a very short dead end street. Not an alley as it has sidewalks on both sides and two cars can fit side by side. There is an alley on Bromfield Street, but no one really uses it. Musicians go in the front door. Good to know if you want to catch a musician coming or going for sound check. I was waiting outside for Lou Reed while he was doing his sound check. Some person, either a band person or theatre person I am not sure which one, maybe Doug!!! Opened the door and said 'Don't bother Mr. Reed when he leaves'. I've never been one to listen to a functionary. Lou Reed walks out. I ask him (I always use Mr.) if he would mind signing an autograph. He walks right over and signs. Not a problem. All the time that turd was standing in the door stewing. More stories to come. Now a few photos. Lou Reed at an in store appearance Strawberry Records Kenmore Sq, Boston Attachment 426736 Danny Johnson playing with Derringer. Jaxx here in Springfield, VA. The former home of Swedish death metal on the East Coast. Attachment 426734 John Kay of Steppenwolf playing outdoors at a sort of biker bar in North Brookfield MA Attachment 426735 Buck Dharma of BOC. Providence, RI Night of Healing benefit concert for the families and victims of The Station nightclub fire. I had been to that club a few times. Thankfully not that night as not a fan of Great White. Attachment 426733 |
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Great pix. I'll bet that you and I have crossed paths over the years. |
Venues
Which places have had the best sound from your vantage points? Small, large, etc?
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rock memorabilia
My kids favourite bands are
1 motley crue 2 van halen (david lee roth version) 3 def leppard Would love to find something authentic from the period late 70's to mid 80's to put on his wall thanks |
Security stuff can be weird. I'm not the guy waiting for autographs or anything, so I hardly ever run into them.
Did have a funny one as a kid though. I was maybe 12? The family went to Tanglewood (Boston pops summer place and about the least metal venue there is if you didn't know) Weekdays they sell tickets to practice, so you get a sort of reduced experience way less crowded though. The place was nearly empty, back then they had the center seats where the acoustics were best painted white. So that's where I sat. all by myself, nearest person was maybe a hundred feet away. Guess who security wants to talk to? Yeah. "What are you doing here" "Listening to the music" "Why are you in these seats instead of somewhere else." (them pretty much saying they want to sneak off, but have to keep an eye on the geeky kid in the good seats) "These are the seats with the best acoustics right? " "Yeah, so" "That's why I'm here. The band is going to start again soon, my parents are over there" (Me basically telling them to get lost) Later on we got thrown out of a closed indoor practice.... hey, door wasn't locked and there was no sign... |
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There is one particular guy who I have worked with on multiple tours who can make any place sound good. I have worked over 4100 shows, over 3700 of them as a tour manager / accountant, and this one particular guy has more than anybody else caused local promoters, stage hands, fans, etc come up to me to say "this place usually sounds like shit, but your band sounded fantastic tonight, you need to give your soundguy a raise" I prefer smaller venues, but not because of the sound, but because of the intimacy. They can be a major pain in the butt, because often big bands & crews get used to big venue comforts, but if the band and crew can get over themselves, small shows are always the best. They have the best marquee signs, too : |
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rock memorabilia
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https://www.rogerepperson.com/ |
rock memorabilia
thanks for info will do
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I've been going to shows since the late 80s, did the arena rock thing then I wound up seeing Tony Bennett at the Mercury Lounge in 1994. That was great. Avoid big venues for the last 25 years. Right as The Strokes hit, I started going solo to shows and caught the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jonathan Fire*eater, TV on the Radio. All the while missing out on LCD Soundsystem. I finally saw them at Webster Hall in 2010 (?) and was completely blown away by their sound. Probably the best sounding band I've ever seen live.
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LCD Soundsystem is great. Have you heard/seen Shut Up And Play The Hits/The Long Goodbye? One of the best live albums I've seen/heard.
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The Who
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Sept 12 1979,I had seen The WHO at the Capital Theater (About 3k seats) the past 2 nights First night in First row Second night 6th row, Standing in front of Hotel on Central park south ( I cought the name in a Rolling Stone interview ) Eric Idle walks out and is talking to fans I am watching this and look up and Pete Townsend is standing in front of me 17 years old and star struck I hold out my picture he signs it upside down laughs and asks if I have anything else for him to sign. I do he signs a ticket stub a program and I am a happy camper.
Fast forward to 1982 I have been to about 30 Who concerts by then I am in portland in an elevator and Mick Ronson steps on. I ask politely if it is him and mention that I had seen him with Ian Hunter a couple of times as well as with David Bowie. He signs a nice auto and offers to get me backstage at his next gig. With the Who and Clash in Oakland. I have a wonderful day talk with Joe and Mick from Clash and later after show was over I got some more Who Auto's. The purple ticket is signed by Pete Roger John KennyJones and Tim Gorman who played keyboards. Mick Ronson was playing with T Bone Burnett and had no reason at all to be so nice to a couple of kids from NJ. Forever grateful that he was. |
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We were lucky to catch one of the Terminal 5 shows before MSG. Seen them a bunch at Brooklyn Steel. What a fantastic venue. But they sound fantastic. We have Shut Up and Play the Hits on Prime. My 4 year old is really into it, believe it or not. |
I can believe it. Their beat is really solid and i can see it would get the little ones going.
I pretty much stopped going to concerts for years, just got back into it a few years ago. COVID kinda messed up my summer concert plans this year, but i guess i have killer seats for Green Day next year. |
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https://wearetheinterrupters.com/ |
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A few stories and a pre-Thanksgiving feast of photos.
Like most women, my mother was a fan of George Benson’s popular music of the 1970’s and 1980’s. I like his jazz work on Verve in the 1960’s and the recordings he did for Creed Taylor in the supergroup Fuse One (Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Marsalis, Ndugu, Ronnie Foster, Stanley Clarke, Dave Valentine, Tom Browne, Eric Gale). He was doing the summer tent circuit in the late 1980’s and came to the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, MA. A friend and I drove down to get him after the show. The dressing room was a small building separate from the actual performance building. We got there after the show and after most of the cars had left the parking lot, walked up to the building and the door was wide open. There is a large room that was almost like a reception area for the musicians and fans. George was standing there with a group of women fawning over him. We walked up and got his autograph on a few items. One of the items I got was a CD of some of his Verve recordings. As with many of the studio jazz recordings in the 1950’s and 1960’s they did not keep track of all of the musicians. We got into a deep conversation about that. My friend said that the women went and stood in a corner until we were done as they did not understand. I think he appreciated it. Henry Rollins was scheduled to do an in store appearance at the Tower Records in Boston on a Sunday. Rollins was a singer in the punk band Black Flag, he also gives spoken word performances, is a writer and photographer. My now ex-wife and I had planned on going into town for the Newbury Street open gallery day. It was good timing as Tower Records sat at the intersection of Mass Ave. and Newbury Street. We could go to the galleries and I could then drop into Tower after. I walked into Tower and he was standing near the front door talking to a couple of thrashers (skateboard kids). The first floor of the store was mostly for checking your bags. There was a small area of items, but the records were up the escalator on the next three floors. The kids were talking to him about skating, tatoos and hardcore music. I started asking him about the D.C. music scene as I was aware of bands that never travelled up to Boston like Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers (Bustin’ Loose), Trouble Funk and Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band. He was talking about the go go and r and b scene down there and the records available – most of Trouble Funk’s records came in a white sleeve. It was an interesting conversation and he suddenly states: ‘James Brown is God’. The kids give him a look like he just spoke in Sanskrit. It was the funniest thing as they did not know what to say and wandered off. I don’t ever fawn over musicians or call them the greatest. They are normal people and when I meet them and treat them that way the conversation can be great as they are relaxed. The Bee Gee’s were in Boston to play the KISS-108 concert. An all day radio station concert that was usually the first event of the year at what was then called Great Woods in Mansfield, MA. Most of the big names would stay at the Four Seasons in Boston for the show. The better people would play later in the day and at night. A handful of us were waiting for them to come back from the venue. Their bus pulls up and parks on the street. They get out and start to sign autographs. I got my Rock Book signed. They posed for photos with those that wanted them. One brother was still standing there signing and the others walked away. One person had not gotten a photo and said he would like one. The brother still standing there yelled to the others, who were about 30 feet away, that they had one more photo. They gladly walked back and posed for one more. Really nice guys. I have never been one to get photos with musicians. I think I have 3 – George Benson, Lionel Ritchie and Rick Derringer and one photo of Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats signing something for me. Now some photos. George Clinton of Parliament Funkadelic in store record signing Tower Records, Washington, D.C. Attachment 427691 Ritchie Blackmore while in Rainbow Harbor House Lynn, MA 1980-81 Attachment 427692 David Johansen at the Orpheum Theatre Boston opening for The Ramones 1979 Attachment 427693 Evelyn 'Champagne' King at Woodrow Wilson Plaza Washington, D.C. Attachment 427694 Noel Redding while playing in Cork with Corky Laing Plantation Club, Worcester, MA circa 2002. Whomever printed this for me did a poor job. Attachment 427695 The Rockats opening for the Clash Bonds NYC 1981 Attachment 427696 Roger Steen of The Tubes Orpheum Theatre Boston 1979 Attachment 427697 |
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Michael You mentioned in a previous post that you had seen Gang of Four. I saw them at the Roseland Ballroom in NYC and Black flag was on the bill as was REM. To be honest I definitely remember Black Flag but REM not so much. I saw REM again in 1990 Brendon Bryne Arena.
The David Johanson Ramones double bill I saw as well.Back in his Frechette days. Great shows.. thanks for sharing. |
I've seen David Johansen at various times. Twice with his band opening for the Ramones (Orpheum 1979, Brandeis University in my hometown), as Buster Poindexter (Boston Common late 80's), Buster Poindexter in Spanish (Wolf Den, Mohegan Sun Casino, CT) and twice acoustic (Jammin Java, Vienna, VA and Nightcat, Easton, MD 2010)
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Tim Bogert has passed away
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Bassist Tim Bogert passed away earlier today of cancer at the age of 76. He is best known for his work with Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert and Appice. He also did some work with Bob Weir. I had the opportunity to see him play twice: The Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary Show at MSG in 1988 and at Jaxx here in Springfield, VA, October, 2006.
This is him and Vinny Martell with Vanilla Fudge at Jaxx. The opening act that night was Cactus. Cactus included 3 original members - Bogert, Carmine Appice and Jim McCarty. Bogert and Appice formed Cactus after Vanilla Fudge broke up. McCarty had been with Mitch Ryder and in the late 70's in the Rockets who had a radio hit with a cover of 'Oh Well'. Attachment 435403 Ticket from the show. Attachment 435405 From my Rock Book. Bogert signed it 3 times - BBA, Cactus and V. Fudge. Three of the people on this page have passed away, Bogert and Robin and Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees Attachment 435404 3/4 of Vanilla Fudge on the television cue sheet for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary show. The full item is about 15 pages. My ex Father in Law was president of Madison Square Garden at the time. I got to spend part of the night backstage. I started getting this signed while chasing musicians around Boston. At first I got them on the first page then got smart and had them sign the page that listed their performance. Appice signed the first page. I also have two programs from the show with multiple signatures. I know that Vinny Martell did not play at the show, but he is part of the original band so I had him sign it. My favorite signature on these items is LaVern Baker. She was great and so happy to sign autographs at a small club in Somerville, MA called Johnny D's. Attachment 435406 |
Nobody is getting any younger...
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We lost another one on Wednesday, January 13. Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls passed away. Not only did he play rhythm guitar in the Dolls, he was responsible for their look. Coming from a family that worked in the clothing business he designed the spandex pants and androgyny that became their signature style.
Though we think of him as a New Yorker, he had lived in Atlanta for a number of years. I guess that is where some of the NY punkers find refuge. Wayne/Jayne County, of Wayne County and the Electric Chairs also moved there. I knew he was battling cancer. It is still strange when it is people you enjoy seeing perform. Very talented and a nice guy. I got to meet him twice. The first time was 2010 at the Black Cat in Washington, D.C. when he was with the Batusis. The second time was in 2013 at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA when he was doing a punk acoustic tour with Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols. Sylvain at the Black Cat Attachment 435715 Sylvain at the Black Cat. The other guitar player is Cheetah Chrome of the legendary punk band the Dead Boys ("Sonic Reducer"). On drums is Lez Warner of The Cult. Attachment 435716 Sylvain with Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols - Jammin Java Attachment 435717 Sylvain at Jammin Java Attachment 435718 Neither Jammin Java nor the Red Room at the Black Cat uses tickets. I rely on these: Attachment 435721 Attachment 435719 I thought I had a signed copy of his first solo album. I either traded it or sold it. My favorite song on it was "Teenage News". He told me his favorite was "14th Street Beat". Here is a signed copy of the 45 'Fool for You Baby" b/w "Pills" live. This was a 2011 Record Store Day release Attachment 435720 |
Every time a rock star dies I now think of you, as I did 3 days ago with Sylvain.
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WOW I just read through this thread... absolutely epic! And not something I expected to see on this forum. One band I'd.like to ask Doug about is Sacrilege B.C., because I think their Party with God album is one of the best from the Bay area thrash scene, but I almost NEVER hear them talked about or see pics from back in the day. I've got this old flyer from a show they did with Sadus (before my time) but that's it.
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That poster is from 1987, I had seen Death Angel / Forbidden Evil / Hellhound at the Stone in October, but then gone to Europe with Attitude, and had only been home a couple days (about 100 miles from SF) so the 200 mile round trip didn't appeal to me (and my mom would have been pretty annoyed, haha) If you like "absolutely epic" you may enjoy : https://haggisbuffet.blogspot.com/2004/03/ Start at the beginning and just keep going, there are some legendary posts on that blog. |
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MITFR is like a year book for me. Among my other appearances, I'm the guy in the Devo shirt.
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Well this thread inspired me to pull some gems off the record shelf...this should keep me busy for the next week or so.
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There are some pretty great records there, but the best pictures in this thread are always going to be from Michael's book. None of the rest of us can even get close
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Doug,
Thank you for the kind words. I just collect which is a passion. Enjoy meeting and photographing the musicians and getting autographs. I have had some good conversations with them as I treat them just like anyone else. None of them are heroes to me, but I do appreciate the talent. For those who may not read the whole thread; almost all of the signatures I show are in one single book. All of the photos are my own slides and negatives, being 'fans eye view. Usually from the perspective of the crowd. At Doug's suggestion I will start at the front of the book. I will not show everyone, but will show ones that may interest people. Now a few signatures - Greg Allman - signed at the Worcester (MA) Auditorium May, 1987 Attachment 437995 America - Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley signed at the Birchmere, Alexandria, VA November 1, 2006. They are very fan friendly and sign every time they are there. Attachment 437996 Argent - Rod Argent and the late Jim Rodford. Signed at the State Theatre, Falls Church, VA October 16, 2004. Rodford also played with the Kinks for many years. Attachment 437997 Joan Armatrading - Lupos, Providence, RI October 29, 1995 Attachment 437998 Joan Baez - Borders Books Cambridge, MA October 11, 2003 Attachment 437999 Dickey Betts - Tower Records, Boston March 5, 1992. The Allmans were there for an in store signing. It was a madhouse. I got him outside after the signing. Attachment 438000 Bachman Turner Overdrive - Lowell (MA) Auditorium July 20, 1988 and Simon Kirke of Bad Company Providence (RI) Marriott (early '90's) Attachment 438003 Attachment 438002 Eric Burdon of the Animals - The Channel Boston MA 1991 Attachment 438004 Paul Carrack - gained more fame as the new lead signer of Squeeze and Mike + the Mechanics. Had a #3 hit with Ace in 1974 - 'How Long' Attachment 438005 I got very enthusiastic the other night and started pulling out negatives and scanning them. One of my problems starting from the beginning was very poor eyesight along with severe astigmatism. It made it difficult to for me to sharp focus. I am very critical of a lot of my photos, but happy that I did it. The autofocus camera my first wife purchased for me in 1989 helped considerably as my eyesight got worse. I finally had cataract surgery a few years ago and they were also able to correct my vision - went from about 20/2500 to 20/15. They also gave me two types of lenses. One eye for close and one eye for distance. My shooting eye is the distance eye. I am waiting for it to be safe to go out and shoot again as I had stopped due to the cataracts. So some photos Alvin Lee, James Burton and Nokie Edwards at the James Burton Guitar Festival, Shreveport, LA August 22, 2009. I have a friend who works for a casino in Shreveport and he told me about this event which is also a birthday party for Burton. Burton played the great intro/lead guitar on 'Suzie Q'. Nokie was in the Ventures. On the left of the photo you will also see part of Al DiMeola's guitar. Attachment 438006 Joan Armatrading at the Virgin Music Record Store in Harvard Square Attachment 438007 Joan Baez at Borders Books Cambridgeside Galleria Cambridge, MA October 11, 2003 Attachment 438008 Elvin Bishop at the Paradise, Boston 1979 Attachment 438009 Debbie Harry of Blondie in store appearance for Parallel Lines Strawberries Copley Square, Boston 1978 Attachment 438010 Attachment 438011 Blue Oyster Cult - Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma and the late Allen Lanier Night of Healing Concert for the victims of The Station nightclub fire Providence, RI April 22, 2003 Attachment 438012 Graham Bonnett - with Rainbow Harbor House, Lynn, MA 1981 Attachment 438013 |
Wow those Debbie Harry shots are phenomenal!
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Amazing stuff.
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Doug,
We will never approach the pennant, pins or Cincinnati Reds threads, but this one still has some legs. Let's keep it going. Some more autographs from 'the book' and some photos. Carl Wilson and Mike Love signed June 6, 1989. I remember Carl being very laid back. Attachment 438910 Elvin Bishop signed at the Meriden, CT Daffodil Festival April 24, 2004. They would bring in good musicians for this event. Attachment 438911 Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma and Allan Lanier of Blue Oyster Cult. Buck signed at the Providence (RI) Performing Arts Center in 2003. The other two signed at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA in 2005. Attachment 438912 Neil Innes - better known as a member of Monty Python. He was also a member of the Bonzo Dog Band. Signed May 6, 2011 at Jammin' Java in Vienna, VA. I also found a promo copy of one of their albums and got it signed. Attachment 438928 Rick Danko of the Band. Signed this when he was a member of the first Ringo Starr Travelling All Star Band. Signed in Boston August 15, 1989. Attachment 438917 Booker T and the MG's - Booker T. Jones, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Steve Cropper at the Mohegan Sun Casino in CT February 6, 1999 Attachment 438914 Attachment 438915 Now a few photos Bill Bruford - best known for his time with Yes. This is with the progressive group UK. The Orpheum, Boston October 7, 1978 Attachment 438918 Harry Chapin - Hotel Penta, NYC. There was this group called Rock Ages that ran these record conventions. They had one at the hotel across the street from MSG. I think it is now the Hotel Pennsylvania. This record convention was as large at the baseball card shows they had in that hotel. The Ramones had a merch table and showed up. Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group and producer of the first 'Nuggets' compilation album) was there selling his 45. Chapin was interviewed by well known D.J. Pete Fornitale then he performed a few songs. Attachment 438920 Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick The Orpheum Boston December 15, 1978 Attachment 438921 Robin Zander same show. Attachment 438922 Rick Derringer and Bruce Waibel during the 'Live at Cheney Hall' concert. Waibel played in the Gregg Allman Band for 7 years including the 'I'm No Angel' album. He committed suicide before the DVD and CD for this show came out. Attachment 438923 Rick Derringer The Paradise, Boston March 26, 1980. Attachment 438924 |
Incredible photos! Enjoy reading it all. Thank you!
How was Harry Chapin in person? He would of been an interesting concert to attend. Seemed like a funny, laid back guy. My dad used to play his music all the time...and I have to admit.. thought his music was boring as a kid, but have grown to appreciate his art, lyrics, and storytelling style years later. |
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Friday night during the chaos. No live music and not much else to do other than some work so we may as well post.
Andy - glad you liked the Debby Harry photos. When I do my next scan I will do my favorite one from that shoot. Gary - It was great to see Chapin in that setting. He also performed a song that at that point he said he had not recorded. It was called either 'The Factory Song' or 'The Day the Factory Closed'. He was pleasant enough as he signed for me though I was stupid and did not get him in my book. I had it with me and did not check it. I got Lenny Kaye from the Patti Smith Group to sign it that day. First a sports/music connection. Jim Weatherly was a star quarterback at Ole Miss. In 1962 they went undefeated and won the national championship. He became a songwriter. Most of us have heard at least one of his compositions - "Midnight Train to Georgia", Neither one of Us" (on my personal top 500 songs) and "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me" all hits for Gladys Knight and the Pips. He passed away Thursday at 77. His songs were also recorded by Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers and Garth Brooks. Now to some visuals. David Bowie - in 1990 he was doing either an arena or stadium tour. We were at his hotel in Boston to wait for him after the show. He came back, but the car parked under the overhang of the hotel and we did charge after him to stay in the good graces of the doorman who occasionally give us tips. He did not go to his room. Instead he went into the bar and sat at a table next to a window that faced my car parked on the street. Four of us sat in my car for 2 hours or more watching his group drink. When we saw them start to get up we ran inside and got him at the elevators which were just outside the bar. I got to tell him that my father also had the same eye colors. Though with Bowie it was caused by trauma. Heterochromia runs in my family. I also have two different colored eyes. Attachment 439164 James Burton - became well known for his guitar playing on 'Suzy Q' by Dale Hawkins. He was with Rick Nelson for many years and was Elvis Presley's last guitar player. I got him at his office in Shreveport, LA in 2009 when I was in town for his birthday party/guitar festival. Attachment 439165 Paul Butterfield - a true blues legend. Considered one of the greatest blues harp players of all time and leader of the self named Paul Butterfield Blues Band. There was a small basement club in Harvard Square called Jonathan Swifts. It was a bar during the day and I figured out that I could go in there, buy a coke (I'm not an alcohol person) sit and read and wait for the musicians to come in for sound check. I would get autographs and leave before they closed the doors prior the show. The bartender knew I would leave so he never bothered me. I got Butterfield there in August, 1984. He walked in with his young son. He was pleasant. He is one of the 'we're not worthy' signatures in the book. You show fans of a certain band or genre a signature and they go 'Oh, wow!'. This is it for blues fans. Attachment 439166 Byrds - Gene Clarke signed at The Old Vienna Kaffeehaus in Westborough, MA May, 1989. A great venue, but so small they could not afford to keep bringing in name people. It sat less than 100 people. Roger McGuinn signed at Nightstage in Cambridge, MA July,1990. Another great small club to see music and get autographs pre-soundcheck. Attachment 439167 Phil Chen - not someone most people would know. After Jim Morrison died the remaining members of the Doors tried to continue. They got Phil Chen to join and they named themselves The Butts Band. He was touring with I don't remember, probably an 'all-star' band. I got him after a show at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston March, 1990. I was probably the only person who knew who he was. I would guess he was also surprised. The Butts Band has an entry in the book. In the ancient days before internet I went through the book and wrote down every name that is how I found him. He also played bass on Beck's 'Blow by Blow' and on Brian May's Starfleet Project. Attachment 439169 John Cale - the other big name in Velvet Underground. Signed at the aforementioned Nightstage in March, 1989. Attachment 439168 Bobby Whitlock - keyboard player for Derek and the Dominos. Got him at a radio station in Boston sometime in the 1990's. I forgot to note the date. Attachment 439175 Leonard Cohen - reknowned poet and songwriter. Hundreds of musicians have recorded his song "Hallelujah". I had read that he was very private and a bit of a recluse. Quite surprised when he did some concert dates in the U.S. I got him at the Berklee Performance Center, Boston May 4, 1985 after the show. He was quiet, but stood and signed for a very long time for the 20 or so people that were there. Attachment 439170 Judy Collins - got her the same night as Leonard Cohen. Two blocks away at Symphony Hall. Attachment 439171 Commander Cody aka George Frayne - got him at the previously mentioned Old Vienna Kaffeehaus. His guitar player from that band, Bill Kirchen, plays in this area all the time and may live around here, but I still haven't gone to see him. Once the choas is over... Attachment 439172 Lionel Richie - one of the other Boston collectors told me that Richie was quite unfriendly. Despite being a school teacher he could be a bit pushy so I ignored him. Richie signed after a radio station concert at his Boston hotel June 1, 1996. Attachment 439174 Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwarz - Many people know Lowe as a solo act. He was in Brinsley Schwarz prior to his solo success. I got him when I was in college radio and went to a press conference March, 1982 in Kenmore Square near Fenway Park. Asking for autographs at a presser is considered bad form. I was in college what did I care? I got Brinsley when he was touring with Graham Parker at one of the clubs behind the Fenway Green Monster, June, 1989. Attachment 439173 You can only download 18 items for a post so there will only be a few photos. I will probably add more later today or Sunday. Elton John - Back in the USSA tour October 16, 1979 Music Hall, now the Wang Center, Boston. Just him and Ray Cooper. Back in the early 2000's my photo lab guy asked to borrow a few of the negatives to make some high end prints. He misplaced them. Lost my best shot of the show. Attachment 439176 Attachment 439177 Freddie Mercury - Boston Garden November 13, 1978 News of the World Tour. In the water cooler section one of the topics is 'Unpopular Music Opinions'. One of the posters wrote "Queen is the most overrated band of all time. There were never very popular. Then their singer dies and people start pushing them as a good band." Definitely someone who does not know music. I respect a person's right to an opinion. However, with him my thoughts were he was sniffing ground up bubble gum from 80'-90's junk wax or his other name rhymes with the element Boron. Attachment 439178 Attachment 439179 Robert Fripp - known for his work with King Crimson. He was doing these small Frippertronics concerts (guitar looping) around the country. He did a record signing at the Harvard Coop and I was invited to the one at the NY Hilton, June 11, 1979. I took the train down. No photography during the show, but after was fine with no flash. He is a pseudo-intellectual who has great disdain for autograph collectors and is known to say it during shows. Strangely I got him at two autograph signings. The first one was probably just before I started getting the book signed. The second one was at Tower Records in Boston for a King Crimson CD. I got the CD signed, but he absolutely refused to sign the book and defaced it a bit. After the performance in New York I was introduced to a new band on his record label called Blackjack. The band went nowhere, but their lead singer has a decent career - Michael Bolton. Attachment 439180 Bob Geldof - Sir Bob is well known for Live Aid. This is him with his band The Boomtown Rats March 19, 1979 at The Paradise in Boston. It was one of the first, if not the first time, they performed "I Don't Like Mondays'. One of his roadies gave me his harmonica after the show. Best concert used item I ever got. Attachment 439181 |
Another fantastic post Michael.
From a Jim Weatherly obit : After college, he decided to pursue music instead of football. And a few years later in Los Angeles, Weatherly played flag football with a group of friends including TV actor Lee Majors of "The Six Million Dollar Man," he recalled during an interview with the Nashville Songwriters Association International. Weatherly called Majors' home one day, and the actor's girlfriend, who would become "Charlie's Angel" star Farrah Fawcett-Majors, answered. She said she was about to take "the midnight plane to Houston" and visit her family. "A little bell went off," Weatherly told the NSAI. "Sounded like a song title to me." |
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Harry Chapin - Hotel Penta, NYC. There was this group called Rock Ages that ran these record conventions. They had one at the hotel across the street from MSG. I think it is now the Hotel Pennsylvania. This record convention was as large at the baseball card shows they had in that hotel. The Ramones had a merch table and showed up. Lenny Kaye (Patti Smith Group and producer of the first 'Nuggets' compilation album) was there selling his 45. Chapin was interviewed by well known D.J. Pete Fornitale then he performed a few songs.
ABOVE IS QUOTE FROM MICHAEL.. Michael Yes the record shows across from the Garden were great. I went to a couple and remember Ray Manzarek telling cool Doors Stories and playing Keyboards. Only stub I have is The MC5 from 1980. They sounded great. And the Ramones table was outstanding. But I had already spent most of my cash on some rare Who picture sleeves and a couple Stones posters.so no Ramones T shirt that day but first time I saw them I took home 2 shirts. Blondie and Nick Lowe Tie in, The Belmont park bet ticket is from the Day when Blondie and Rockpile played an after race concert. Really great shows and easy to get up close as crowd was not large. Rockpile was Dave Edmonds and Nick Lowe. David Bowie Stub and Button from 1978. Really great show. I recently saw a great clip on Youtube of Bowie from 1973 Gene Genie. ( I highly recomend) Love everyone elses posts. Hope they keep coming. |
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Jonathan
I was a poor college student when I went there. Also a bit of a neophyte when it came to travelling and staying in hotels in large cities. Spent way too much on the room. The one thing the Ramones had that I wished I had purchased was a white nylon flag, probably 1 x 2 feet with their logo in red. If I remember correctly didn't WPLJ also make those pseudo cloth stickers that looked like backstage passes for the big shows in NYC? Up in Boston we had the Real Paper and the Boston Phoenix for the concert listings. It was worth buying them when they came out to find out about concerts, especially in the clubs since it was pre-internet and the radio stations were not the best in announcing all shows. I know you had the Voice, but I also recall a Jersey based paper called Aquarian News, I believe. It was always interesting to see who came through the area, but I was always amazed at the number of 'tribute'/cover bands that did those clubs. Anyways..... "Another Saturday night and I ain't got no covid. I got some money I can spend on ebay. How I wish I had some show to go to I need some 'graphs right away" (My apologies to Sam Cook/Cat Stevens) Alice Cooper and the Billion Dollar Babies - in Massachusetts they have one of those Halloween theme parks called Spooky World. They would have autograph guests a few nights during the month or so it ran. When you went you paid your $20 or so and were supposed to go on a haunted hayride and all these other events. I walked in and said 'I don't care about that where are they signing autographs'. I got him in 1996. A year before or after I got Linda Blair on the Mike Oldfield album 'Tubular Bells' which is the song from 'The Exorcist'. Dunaway and Bruce I got at the Chiller Theatre Expo in New Jersey which is essentially a 3 day autograph fest. The guests buy their table and they charge what they want for signing items you provide or they provide. I have paid to have 3 people sign the book, but they were people I probably would not have run across otherwise. Attachment 439334 Cream - got Jack Bruce inside the Ritz Carlton in Boston December, 1989. I believe I got him after a sound check. The hotel staff is so snotty they were annoyed I asked for an autograph inside the hotel. Ginger Baker - got him at Nightstage in Cambridge, MA June, 1990. I actually did not know what he looked like. He walked out after soundcheck and right past me before I realized who he was. Attachment 439335 The Crusaders - one of true jazz groups in the book. Joe Sample and Wilton Felder I got at Jonathan Swifts in Harvard Square circa 1983. Larry Carlton signed after an outdoor concert in Copley Square June, 1998. Wayne Henderson signed at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA April, 2011 after a Jazz Crusaders show (Sample, Felder, Henderson and Sample's son) David Crosby - got him at a book signing in Boston October, 1988. He was a little crusty. I only got him on this page with his solo entry. Attachment 439336 Stuart Copeland of the Police. He was a member of the British band Curved Air before The Police. Signed this when he was with Animal Logic at the Paradise in Boston December, 1989. It was the only time I walked into the Paradise during a soundcheck. I just noticed he was born down here in Alexandria, VA one town over and he has six children!!! Attachment 439337 Eddie Jobson - like Copeland he was in Curved Air. Joined them as a 17 year old music prodigy. One of the first rock violinists and played keyboard. Also played with Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, Jethro Tull. Signed at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA August, 2009. Attachment 439338 The Damned - one of the original punk bands. Brian James was the first signature in the book. Back when I was a poor college student I went to an in store record signing by Iggy Pop for New Values. I did not want to spend the money on the vinyl so I brought the book and a magazine. While standing in line talking with a couple of other people one of them says 'That Brian James of the Damned.' He was lead guitar for the tour. I had him sign. Boston, 1979. Dave Vanian, Rat Scabies and Captain Sensible signed a decade later at The Channel in Boston July,1989. Attachment 439339 Attachment 439340 Miles Davis - he was set for a show at the Opera House in Boston June, 1989. The stage entrance was on a small street in the back. It was not like a regular venue as there was a long wide hallway from the front entrance to the back and people there for the show used both as there was also a parking lot in the back. His car pulls up and the driver lets him out. He signs the book. I ask him to sign a photo and he says "I already signed one for you man." 'Yes sir thank you very much'. Thankfully I was the only person there. The other collectors at the time had no clue. Attachment 439341 Doobie Brothers - Tom Johnston at Jonathan Swifts in Harvard Square circa 1983-4. Michael McDonald at Symphony Hall, Boston May, 2004. Jeff "Skunk' Baxter was in town for an all day radio station concert. He was a member of the house band for the show. Signed the same night as Lionel Richie June, 1996. Baxter grew up in the Boston suburbs. Attachment 439342 |
Site being stubborn
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The site is being recalcitrant tonight. I did a full post and the autographs did not show. I redid them and the photos did not show so we will try the photos separately.
Bob Geldof - The Paradise, Boston March, 1979. I mentioned this show in a previous post. Attachment 439352 Sophie B. Hawkins - one of the few outdoor shows I have done and my favorite venue as it was so casual. Hebert's Candy Mansion in Shrewsbury, MA would sponsor an event called 'Pet Rock' every year. It was to get people to adopt pets. They also had music. This was September, 2002. She had a couple of top 40 songs. Attachment 439353 Jars of Clay - I like this Christian band. They had a minor hit with 'Flood'. In 2002 my small company was purchased by a Fortune 500 company. Part of the deal was that our time with the company transferred over to the new company. In one day in June I went from 2 weeks vacation to 6 weeks per year, plus sick time. I decided to drive down south - VA, MD, NC and SC to visit historic sights. I also checked concert listings to see if there was anything to go to. I saw they were playing at the Arena in Florence, SC. I joined the fan club and called their manager and asked if I could photograph the show. They were happy to do it. This is the lead singer Dan Haseltine November 4, 2002. That was a great year as two weeks after I got back from that trip I went to Australia for two weeks - Sydney and northern Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef. Attachment 439354 Eddie Jobson - his signature is in the last post. This is with UK at the Orpheum in Boston October 7, 1978. Attachment 439355 Joey Ramone - The Paradise Boston June 2, 1980 Attachment 439357 Brian May of Queen. News of the World tour Boston Garden November 13, 1978. Attachment 439358 Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick The Orpheum Boston December 15, 1978. This was their first 2500+ seat venue tour. In 1996 the band did a tour where they played each city for 3 consecutive nights. It was - first night first album, second night second album etc. plus other songs after that. I went to get them after soundcheck at The Paradise. They walked out and were signing. I had copies of each of these photos. Rick saw them and said 'Where the f*ck did you get these.' He was blown away when I told him I took them. One of the best compliments I have received from a musician. Attachment 439359 Attachment 439360 Graham Parker - I have seen him probably 7 times, twice with the Rumour during their 2013 & 2014 pseudo reunion tours. He seems to enjoy signing autographs. Over the years I have probably gotten about 50 lps/cds/45's plus two of his books signed by him. One of the most interesting places I saw him was The Record Collector, a record store in Bordentown, NJ. A great record store that puts on concerts in the store at night with some good musicians (David Johansen, Vinny Martell, Wishbone Ash, Iain Matthews, Liberty DeVito). Very small, but very fun. I drove up from Virginia (3 + hours) to see Graham. They encourage the musicians to bring CD's and merch to sell. After the show he goes behind the counter to sell his records and sign autographs. He sees me with lp's and says 'Vinyl, I sign that first.' This photo was taken at The Bull Run in Shirley, MA June 21, 2004. One of my favorite venues. It is an old tavern/inn. There is a restaurant/bar on the first floor and the large concert venue/old ballroom for 500 or so people and smaller room on the upper floors. It is like a dinner theater. You pick your seats and table online and you can eat and drink during the show. They have a minimum but I usually have dinner with friends as I have driven up from Virginia. The waitresses do not enforce it so I usually give them a $20 tip an ask them to make sure I have water. The stage is also about 1-2 feet high so you are close to the action. Attachment 439361 I don't know how these photos look to other people. They do not look the best to me. I purposely scan at low resolution - 400 dpi. so they cannot be printed. My low end scanner also likes to pick up the grooves in the color slides which you can see in the Brian May photo. I prefer to use my low end scanner (Epson V330) as I can scan quickly where my pro scanner (Microtek) takes a lot longer. |
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A quick post while taking a break from working. No autographs tonight. Perhaps tomorrow night. Sadly two people who signed the book passed away this week.
The Police - in store record signing for Outlandos d'Amour at Strawberries, Copley Square, Boston April 7, 1979. Sting with a lot of hair. Attachment 440264 Attachment 440265 Frank Zappa - May 3, 1980 at the Music Hall, Boston. Now called the Wang Center. Attachment 440266 Neil Young - Rust Never Sleeps Tour Boston Garden October 11, 1978. Attachment 440269 Attachment 440270 Queen - News of the World Tour Boston Garden November 13, 1978. Attachment 440271 Attachment 440273 Attachment 440274 Johnny Ramone - Orpheum Theatre, Boston March 3, 1979. Attachment 440276 |
Great picks, really like the Neil Young and Brian May ones.
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Love 'em all.... especially the Rick Nielsen shots. Was so happy when Cheap Trick made the R&R HOF (even though I think the HOF is a dumb concept, because music is so subjective).
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Great stuff!
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Thank you all for the kind words.
My Olympic collectors group does not appreciate what I collect - Original photos of American Olympians and Olympic photographer items. I don't share my other passions with most of them. One friend appreciates the book as he goes to quite a few concerts. However, with an MBA he tries to apply dumb*ss metrics (a d*ckhead word to me) and lists all the people who have not signed it. I just counter with the fact that there are over 500 signatures in it and (as of today) 95 deceased so it cannot be duplicated. Just like those who collect autographs of everyone who played for a great baseball team it is the lesser known who add quality and value. I just spent an hour or more adding signature and photos and the uploads failed. I will try again later today. It is bedtime. Dr. John - signed this after performing at an Earth Day Concert April 7, 1996 at the Hatch Shell in Boston. Attachment 441561 Dave Edmunds - signed at an in store appearance at Strawberry Records, Copley Square Boston. Attachment 441562 Yvonne Elliman - originally known for performing in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on Broadway and in the film. She had a number 1 hit from the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack - 'If I Can't Have You'. She also had 3 other top 40 hits and was a backup singer for Eric Clapton in the 1970's. She was appearing at the Chiller Theatre autograph show in New Jersey in 2013. Fortunately, it was the same day as the big photo show in NYC so I had two reasons to drive up north. I was in line to pay to get her signature. I mentioned to the person collecting her money that she would be the first person I have paid to sign the book. He said 'Why break that streak?' and let me get it for free. When she saw me she asked 'Do you know who you look like?' I thought I knew the answer as during that time a number of people told me I looked like Steve Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire (I have better teeth). It turns out it was someone from a Star Trek or Star Wars movie whom she had acted with. I have no idea who it was. Attachment 441563 |
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Your book is coolest autographed item I have ever seen. Doug "Oops, I forgot to use *'s" Goodman |
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The Everly Brothers were in town to do a free Saturday night show at the Hatch Shell in Boston. These were regular shows sponsored by a radio station every summer. I got them at their hotel across the river in Cambridge August, 1995.
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Emerson, Lake and Palmer and Brian Eno - One of the better signed pages in the book. Keith Emerson and Carl Palmer came to The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA exactly two weeks apart in June, 2006. Four years later in April, 2010 Emerson and Greg Lake appeared at the Birchmere. I was fortunate to get Lake. He was signing outside after the show. This small group was dominating him with 'selfies'. Fortunately. I got him before he jumped on the bus. I had one other item, but he refused at the hotel later.
Brian Eno was an odd one. I read that he was giving a lecture at the Museum of Fine Arts School on the Fenway in Boston. The Fenway is also a road. I was walking towards the school and I saw this person walking towards the mail box. It was him. He happily signed. Attachment 441582 Earth, Wind and Fire - I got the four members in a matter of 3 days in Washington, D.C. March, 2006. Maurice White was appearing with Maurice Hines (brother of Gregory) at the Smithsonian as part of the Smithsonian Associates program. If you live in the area you can join the program and attend various events, lectures, tours and discussions. It is only open to locals. He was there to discuss the Broadway show they were putting together based on EW&F songs. He was suffering from Parkinson's even then, but I was able to get him to sign. Two days later EW&F were performing at DAR Constitution Hall in D.C. I waiting before the show hoping to catch them before sound check. I asked someone about it and he gave me an after show 'meet and greet pass'. I got the three originals who were there: Verdine White, Philip Bailey and Ralph Johnson. Yes, that is Don Henley at the lower right. He was a bit of a Richard. Attachment 441583 Marianne Faithfull - she signed this after a show at the Paradise in Boston. I neglected to note the year. I remember her standing there signing for quite a while. Attachment 441588 |
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For some unknown reason the site is being stubborn with downloads. All of mine are resized in photoshop and I upload them with the managed attachments. However, they seem to keep failing, thus the multiple entries.
Now some photos. When I go to shoot someone I like to watch them for a song or two to see how they are on stage. Some performers hide behind the mike all night, some move around and others just have great stage presence. Kenny Aaronson is one of those with great stage presence. His first band was Dust with Mark Bell aka Marky Ramone. His next band Stories had a #1 song 'Brother Louie'. He was in Derringer from 1976 to 1979. He would later record and/or tour with Joan Jett, Brian Setzer, Blue Oyster Cult, Billy Squier, Bob Dylan and many others. For years he was one of Rolling Stones top 25 bassists. He started playing with John Eddie and performing at a little club called Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. My wife and I went multiple times and always enjoyed the show. I would stand in front of him and shoot. He did not pose, but just played the way he always does. Attachment 441604 Attachment 441605 Attachment 441606 Attachment 441607 |
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The Blasters are a rock band out of LA. They mix different styles into their music - early rock, blues, rockabilly and r and b. They had minor success in the early 1980's. Original member Dave Alvin left the band and performs on his own. The remaining original members still perform. Here is his brother Phil Alvin performing at the Iota Club in Arlington, VA about 2006.
Attachment 441622 Stanley Clarke - one of the most respected jazz/rock bassists of the last 40 years. He performed fusion jazz with Return to Forever and also recorded a number of rock influenced albums. This was taken when he was touring with Victor Wooten March, 2011 at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA. He is playing stand up bass here. I am sure baseball fans with like this. Attachment 441624 Mike Farris - I first saw him perform in Shreveport, LA at the James Burton birthday party / guitar festival. I did not know him by name. I was absolutely blown away by his voice. That rarely happens, especially live. He was in the Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies in the 1990's. They had a minor hit with 'Gypsy Lullaby'. After they broke up he was the lead singer of Double Trouble. He became a solo artist and found God. He won both a Dove and a Grammy. He sings mainly gospel and rhythm and blues now. If you are curious check him out on You Tube, especially 'Green, Green Grass of Home' the Porter Waggoner song made popular by Tom Jones. Another good one is "Mercy Now' written by Mary Gauthier. I took my wife to see him at this little basement space under a coffee house in Washington, D.C. in 2009. Attachment 441625 Steve Hackett - originally a member of Genesis. Had quite a bit of success in England as a solo artist. I saw him June, 2010 at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA. Attachment 441627 Attachment 441629 David Johansen - I have seen him perform multiple times as himself and Buster Poindexter always with a band. He did an acoustic tour with just a guitar player. I believe it was Brian Delaney who played in the 2000's version of the NY Dolls. These are from the first of two shows I saw on that tour. Jammin Java in Vienna, VA. It was pitiful as the place was not even sold out and it only held about 100 people. Attachment 441630 Attachment 441631 Attachment 441632 |
I saw the Blasters open for the Go-Gos at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA on Aug 14, 1982. They were SO good!
In early November 1986 I went to see Slayer do two nights at the Stone in San Francisco, and hooked up with a waitress from the club after the show. We spent the next next couple weeks together (me and the hot redheaded waitress, not Slayer), and I went to the club just about every night. One of the shows I went to was Stanley Clark. I was watching the opening act (Jeffo) and some little drunk homeless looking guy came up to me and starting giving me shit because I was wearing shorts. "It's too cold outside to be wearing shorts" he slurred at me. "That's why I'm inside" I said. He pondered that for a view moments then shrugged and said "Good point" and stumbled away. Carlos Santana was in the house that night and the buzz was that he would be joining Stanley on stage, but near the end of his set, when Stanley said something to the effect of "Ladies and gentleman, I would like to introduce you all to a friend of mine..." I didn't join in the crowd's excitement of Stanley playing Oye Como Va or something similar, because I could see Carlos standing in the lighting booth. Instead, "... please welcome, Mr. Jaco Pastorius" and that little drunk homeless guy came out and wailed on his bass in a way that I had never seen before, and I toured with Talas (Billy Sheehan) so I had seen some pretty darn good bass playing. In Jaco's defense, it can get pretty cold in SF that time of year. Also, I ended up at two weddings with the hot redhead, the first time she was my date when my sister got married, the second was at my wedding, but she was a guest with her mom, not the bride. |
Doug "I invited a hot redhead that I hooked up with multiple times to my wedding, and what could possibly go wrong with that" Goodman. LMAO
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All three of them were invited to the wedding, but as it was in the SF area, only Miss SF could make it. Depending on the specifics of my work schedule, I still have lunch with each of them when I'm in their neighborhoods, and their husbands often join us. My ex-girlfriends, their men, and the lovely wife and I could teach congress a few things about getting along. Doug "if people would just be nice to each other..." Goodman |
That's pretty cool Doug...oh, and I don't really think ANYONE can teach Congress how to get along; Or get anything done for that matter. :(
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