OT - Of interest to metalheads only (and Kingston Trio fans)

[Michael B]

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.

clash.jpg

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
jackson-browne-3-1_edited-1.jpg

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.
fee.jpg

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Doug - pretty good on the clubs/venues.

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.

Amazing stuff.

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.

[steve B]

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.

[Michael B]

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
reed.jpg

Danny Johnson playing with Derringer. Jaxx here in Springfield, VA. The former home of Swedish death metal on the East Coast.
johnson-1.jpg

John Kay of Steppenwolf playing outdoors at a sort of biker bar in North Brookfield MA
kay.jpg

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.
dharma.jpg

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

A couple of quick stories.
...Some person, either a band person or theatre person I am not sure which one, maybe Doug!!!

I'm the guy who pokes his head out to say "the boss is coming, get your pens and cameras out and ready".

Great pix.

I'll bet that you and I have crossed paths over the years.

[Kevin]

Which places have had the best sound from your vantage points? Small, large, etc?

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Which places have had the best sound from your vantage points? Small, large, etc?

It's all about the soundguy.

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 :

[mr2686]

Originally Posted by Michael B

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

Great stories and nice pics. Haven't thought about Danny Johnson in years. Saw him when he was with Derringer, and then saw him at the Whiskey in Hollywood with his own band (I think it was an off night when he was playing with Rod Stewart at the Forum). Real solid band, and I remember they did a cover of "The Letter" that is probably the best I have heard to date.

[Ron]

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

[steve B]

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...

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Ron

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

From an in-store appearance in Santa Rosa, CA on Oct 29, 1983 that Mick Marrs didn't show up to, and so few "fans" showed up to that the band never sat down at the table, they just roamed around the store looking at records. You can't have it, but you can look at it...