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

[Michael B]

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.

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Dave Edmunds - signed at an in store appearance at Strawberry Records, Copley Square Boston.

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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.

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[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Michael B

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.

Fuck that guy.

Your book is coolest autographed item I have ever seen.

Doug "Oops, I forgot to use *'s" Goodman

[Michael B]

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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[Michael B]

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.

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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.

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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.
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[Michael B]

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.

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[Michael B]

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[doug.goodman]

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.