| October 12th, 2004 08:25 PM |
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| mickjaggersgrl |
has any one here ever met keith richards???? |
| October 12th, 2004 09:00 PM |
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| Madafaka |
Yeah! He was in my bathroom when I woke up in the midnight yesterday. |
| October 12th, 2004 10:27 PM |
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| Soldatti |
quote:
Madafaka wrote:
Yeah! He was in my bathroom when I woke up in the midnight yesterday.
 |
| October 13th, 2004 01:18 AM |
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| rickonly |
posted before on stonesdoug board
The Keith connection….. Ok for some of those reading this I will not explain all as some may have to ask friends what he means by this but most will understand….. Went to the Wiltern Theatre 5/5 to see Willie Nelson the unlawful angels… but really just to see Keith… Had great seats but was never in them…..After we arrived we went to the bar Juno talked about in her post but it was closed. We went around to see the busses and the people coming and going and I told my friend, here is you ticket, hear are my car keys, maybe you will be at the car when I come out…. It was a Keith mission… you all understand…. Saw Bernard coming up the ramp and I called him over and he came. I said to him I will give you $1000.00 if you can get me a picture with Keith… he said yea right.. we talked a while he confirmed new tour next year I said what about an album, he said he did not know…. Then Blondie came in and I spoke to him he remembered me from the MGM bar from a prior show… We talked awhile. Good people. Halup was the only one I knew trying hanging out in the back… I thought I would see more people I knew like Beatle but I did not. The word was Keith was there yesterday and today signed some and talked some briefly. He was with a hot black chick. People were taking pictures and trying to get people to sign like Carol King, Sly Stallion, Willie, Burt Reynolds, Mearl Hagger etc….. But by the grace of God… I don’t
know how this happened but a security guy came over to me and said use this but go around front don’t go down this way. It was an all access artist pass…. Unfricken believable. I quickly put it in my pocket… I could go anywhere inside but as you would expect, I stayed outside waiting for Keith to pull up in his black van with mac 10 on the plates…As all artists where being dropped off at the curb when his van came it backed down the ramp Keith was all you heard the crowd chant.
Ok so I put on the pass said to the few people I knew don’t wait up for me and I proceeded down the ramp. I followed Keith to his dressing room and he quickly went in. It was curtain covered and I could see him a few times and he was playing an acoustic guitar but I could not make out what he was playing as the were a lot of people up there.
I say Alexandra and she asked me about my shoes as she was going shopping Thursday,
I talked to her for several minutes and she went outside to smoke and make a call, she called me outside and said is this place a theater I said yes.. I said did you go to rodeo
drive and she said no I went to Melrose. Maybe tomorrow. Then jane rose came up and everybody was down stairs off this floor but Keith and his guitar tec. I commented to jane how is your dog… she paused a second looking sad and said it died last august but she got another and went on to explain to me how great it was. I mentioned I saw her in 2001 at the 4 seasons with it. I said you know if its possible I would just like to shake his hand she said we will see. A few minutes later she came out and said no.. I said that’s cool I don’t want to bug. Jane then went down stairs. I started talking to theo again and I mentioned you have no idea the impact your dad has had on my life. I said I’ve seen 49 shows and spent a fortune she said its so worth it he is so good. He suddenly came out of his dressing room and said I wanna go see toots .. I reached out and shook his hand and he said hi man… went down stairs to see toots part and came back up but I just stood there trying to stay composed… if I only had a camara…so if this is not long enough Harry Dean Stanton came in I showed him where Keith was, he said I was in a winos video and I said how about Friday night videos. He smiled. Some of you guys get this….i talked to James Caan who introduced Keith he said this old dog knows how to hunt and then Keith made a comment about him Caan asked me what he said but I could not understand it, all of a sudden Jerry Lee Lewis comes up to me and says hi I said hello sir and shook his hand… I saw Stallon, everybody was there talked to Blondie and Bernard more… I said to kid rock I saw your show a week ago in la at the U Ampa theater you rock.. he played many instruments during his show.. I said to him I don’t mean to insult you but your our generations Wayne Newton. He laughed and said that is an insult. He then went on stage I talked to Burt Reynolds who was happy I told him how good he looked. I talked to Meg Ryan and Laura Dern, Gina Gursen, about my handshake with Keith and Patricia Arquette came over and Meg told her I shook his hand and she looked puzzled as she was doing a documentary on music people and she could not get to him…. Then Theo and I started talking again and she showed me pictures of her dad on her digital camera.. I said I love a picture with him and she said she would take it and email it to me. I have died…..she kept telling stuff about daddy. And Angie Everheart comes over and we start chatting . I missed the whole show but that is not important. I must mention in the public reception area I saw a fellow board member whose name I wont mention cuz he had me edited once by Doug but his board initials are SB… and I said here use my pass and go see Keith. He said I have to get my date some wine… wait a minute a date over Keith… am I missing something. He reminded me of his Holland encounter… I still walked away confused. Anyway so im back talking to Theo and they introduce her dad… im like how did he get on she was upset to cuz she wanted to see him before he went up but he went on stage a different way… so much for a pic but she did take mine for herself…… I swear to god….she danced during his songs and I was like its cool just go with it………. So twice more when she was not around I shook his had again.. after he played he came by to go up and not stay for the all star jam.. I saw Dylan but I only cared about Keith…..Keith said to Benard, lets go up for a minute… I think by the way Keith said it he was like lets go have a smoke…… I was ready to leave hoping I would find my car with a passenger still there and as I was leaving I saw the van pull down the ramp. Ok I will wait a few minutes. Saw him leave Theo said her mom and sister were in Conneticut and that she was taking acting lessons in NY. I thought I would catch up with her at the after party or the hotel I was thinking about going back Friday but she said they were leaving Thursday. So I left after Keith came out of a different door again I went home instead of going to the after party that was ok though and
good thing my friend was cool about it…..if I remember more stuff I will post it as I remember it and as it becomes pertinent. Doug I mentioned your board to Bernard and he asked if you were there and said no back east…………..I can die now
Rick
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| October 13th, 2004 04:01 AM |
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| erikjjf |
>have you met keith?
Yes. |
| October 13th, 2004 04:36 AM |
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| F505 |
where is shakedhandswithkeith? |
| October 13th, 2004 06:09 AM |
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| shakedhandswithkeith |
here I am! |
| October 13th, 2004 08:04 PM |
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| shakedhandswithkeith |
It`s not a big story:
1998 in Berlin. Keith went back at the catwalk from the b-stage to the main stage and he saw me made a big smile and gave me his hand. so I shook hands with him, but I never met him really. |
| October 13th, 2004 08:06 PM |
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| Soldatti |
Wow!
Great story Rick |
| October 13th, 2004 08:09 PM |
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| shakedhandswithkeith |
test |
| October 14th, 2004 03:46 AM |
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| F505 |
quote:
Soldatti wrote:
Wow!
Great story Rick
Rick? |
| October 14th, 2004 01:35 PM |
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| magicwoman |
has any one here ever met keith richards????
--------------
no i wish
it's my only wish in my whole life |
| October 14th, 2004 01:57 PM |
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| Madafaka |
quote:
shakedhandswithkeith wrote:
It`s not a big story:
1998 in Berlin. Keith went back at the catwalk from the b-stage to the main stage and he saw me made a big smile and gave me his hand. so I shook hands with him, but I never met him really.
You touched Keith! Is better! |
| October 14th, 2004 06:30 PM |
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| shakedhandswithkeith |
quote:
Madafaka wrote:
You touched Keith! Is better!
no, I touched Mick Jagger in Köln one year later, with keith I shook hands! |
| October 14th, 2004 06:32 PM |
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| TomL |
Very briefly at BB King's in Menphis, 94 |
| October 14th, 2004 07:22 PM |
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| Scottfree |
Yes, I thought he would be taller....
[Edited by Scottfree] |
| October 14th, 2004 09:15 PM |
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| J.J.Flash |
quote:
mickjaggersgrl wrote:
has any one here ever met keith richards????
No, if I had I wouldn't be here... |
| October 14th, 2004 10:20 PM |
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| Soldatti |
quote:
F505 wrote:
Rick?
Or rickonly, who cares? |
| October 17th, 2004 07:03 AM |
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| Keefness |
Went to see Bruce in Birmingham 11-19-02..just made the 3 hour drive with no ticket..before I reached the venue, I had a ticket (GA) for $50. Great show & I had a pretty good spot.
But the real killer was to come the following Mon when the Stones hit Nashville. A friend of mine is years long friends with a guy named Pete who just happens to be Chuck Levell's keyboard tech. Long story short, I was invited to see The Stones soundcheck. ("..Uhhh, lemme think...well, of course!")
(Just an aside real quick...my friend is Lauren Ellis, a drop-dead ace slide blues guitar player who's just released her 2nd CD.. which is nothing short of excellent. I'm not exaggerating when I say, she could make Bonnie Raitt have a seat..(Shameless promo for a true talent: http://Laurenellis.com )
Fast foreward to Mon afternoon 11-25-02 ..I'm backstage at a Stones gig. I was told that the crew (all players themselves) soundchecks the gear first, and then The Stones come in after all the bugs are worked out. So when we got there & I heard stage noises, I thought it was just crew..from the back hallway behind & at the bottom of the stage stairs, I look up to see the drum kit..it took me a second to realize what I was seeing, but there was Charlie Watts noodling on his snare drum and right in front of the drum kit was Keith & Mick face to face having a little private conversation. I didn't even recognize them at first, but there they were. This was a moment that Annie Liebowitz would've clicked her shutters for..up 8 stairs & 10 steps away. I was right behind Ron Woods' amps & I hear the opening notes of 'Rocks Off'. Note for note perfect.
Our most gracious host, Pete then led us out front & put us in first row tier seats down by the B Stage. "This'll be good for when they soundcheck B-Stage," he told us. There's a few rules at a Stones gig. Nobody sits in floor seats during soundcheck. No one is allowed on or immediately backstage during show except essential crew. Not even wives or girlfriends. "They're really weird about it." I was told. Cool-cool wid me. I was just happy to be there. We heard 'Rocks Off', 'Lovin' Cup', 'Sweet Virginia' & 'The Worst'. Jagger came out to B Stage during 'The Worst'. The rest of The Stones came down the runway a few mins later. The B stage soundcheck was 'It's Only R'n'R' There they were: The Rolling Stones. A hundred feet in front of me playin' tunes. Whew. Keefness. Mickness. Stonesness. Stuff-ness that legends-ness are made of-ness. F**k-ness!
I'll try to shorten this whole thing, as I could go on & on..but here's a few highlights:
We were back in the hallway behind the stage right after soundcheck (The crew calls it the Tunnel Of Love oddly enough..) before The Stones came down the stairs. I had Mick Jagger look me in the eye, met Ron Wood...
Had dinner in the hospitailty room with Pete & Pierre (Keith's guitar tech since '89). Met Lisa Fisher & saw Darrell Jones having the evening gruel.
I got to have a good close up look at the guitars..Keith's Telecasters..5 string open G tuning with capos on them for songs in different keys..4th fret capo for key of B: 'Street Fightin' Man', 'Tumblin' Dice' & 'Happy'... 5th fret capo for 'You Can't Always Get What You Want'...and no capo for 'Honky Tonk Woman' amoung others...the Gibson Melody Maker he uses for 'Midnight Rambler'..the black Gibson 335 he's been seen with so much the past few years...There's a red one too & the little accoustic he uses for 'The Worst'. "The guitars that changed the world.." I thought in an over dramatic fashion..(*note Bruceness here with mention of the word 'fashion')
Ronnies axes were all there too..his '52 sunburst Strat..the 'Faces' guitar that looks like an overgrown Telecaster with that circle on it...("A life guitar" he calls it..) the red ESP Telecaster B-Bender we've all seen in the vid clips...several others..The Gibson Firebird he adopted during the 'Stripped' era..Mick's guitars were there too..a re-issue '52 Tele 5 string tuned in G for 'Don't Stop' to double Keith's part..And (this is special for guitar players) the old Gibson Dove accoustic..several photos were taken of Keith playing this in '68 or so..a cherry sunburst finish..there it was..probably played on 'Begger's Banquet'..who knows what tunes had been written on that guitar...As I was lost in all this, John Hiatt walked by..oops, I missed that..
Crystal Talifaro came back with her Mom & someone else in tow. I tried to say hello, but she ended up on her cell phone.
There's a road case full of drawers right behind Keith's amps..bottom right drawer is 'The Bar'..On top of this road case is a coffee machine. As you stand there, & then look on the floor to your right is the cooler full of ice & drinks, etc. Two fifths of Stolie's vodka go on ice about an hour before show for 'Mr Richards'. Red cups are Keith, Blue cups are Mick (water only, thanks) & Yellow cups are Ronnie Wood (dunno what goes in there, but it's true, he's offa da sauce). Green cups were Bill Wyman, but that was a long time ago. (Just check stage photos & you'll see this color coded cup thing on the drum riser..)
Saw Mick's 'quick change' room where he redoes make-up & does costume changes. Lisa Fisher has one as well...make up mirror, bright lights, bottles of water..comfy chair..
Pete ran us through several technical things about the keyboard set up & equipment info. Everything has a back up. Everything. He showed us the computer that starts 'Sympathy For The Devil'...Knowing I'm a guitar player he says, "Lemme show ya Ronnie's stuff.." Next thing I know, I'm standing on the stage 15 mins before show next to Charlie Watts' drums & in front of Ron Woods' amps. There's a table there with Ronnie's drinks, picks, ashtray & cigs..lighter too. The cig pack is set up with one sticking out, ready to go. These crew guys pay every attention to detail. Every night, every gig. They have great jobs & love what they do.
There are several guitars used for different tunes. When these guys get there to set up, they have no idea what the songlist will be for the night. "Everything comes out & is ready to go everynight." The stage is huge..the PA is huge & it all goes up & comes down in one day..in fact, there are actually two different PA/lighting set ups..one for main stage & one for B Stage. This is for arena shows...I imagine Stadiums are a different deal as are the small club dates. Nonetheless, the stage stuff is the same gig no matter..guitars, amps & drums all have to be there & at the ready reguardless.
That drum kit..all beat up..and the kick drum head hasn't been changed since 1978. Several of the cymbals are filthy. From
stud-jun of photos of these guys over the years, I'd venture a good guess & bet you 10 bucks & a ham sandwitch that most of those cymbals have been on the road with Charlie & His Fabulous Rolling Stones since 1975 when he first started using these natural wood Gretsch drums. Right behind the floor tom there's a trap table that has on it a bottle of water, a bottle of some kinda pink fruit juice & probably a towel (though it wasn't there yet). The most interesting thing I saw was 4 guitar picks with a different Stones' logo on each one, arranged neatly in a square.
"Charlie says he likes the colors..he's a very artistic guy. Charlie approves all of the artwork for The Stones," Pete tells us.
After thinkin' about this, I think the 4 picks represent the 4 Stones..some kind of gig ritual..a good luck kinda thang. Right along with Keith giving his guitar a kiss at some point of every show. Pure speculation on my part, but being a musician more of my life than not, I know these things exist in the minds of players & they're as real as the gig itself.
I thought," It's just not gonna get any better than this..I'm standing on The Rolling Stones' stage right next to Chawlie's drums 15 mins before show." I was wrong. It got better.
We had to go..it was almost time for The Stones to come on & we were escorted to the B-Stage where we watched the gig from inside the fence there. I thought, "This will be the best seat in the house when they come out here.." I was wrong. It got better.
(Another aside: Women sure do look at you different when you're comin' out of backstage at a Stones gig. Social Security indeed.)
The show was 'Exile' themed..we got 'Rocks Off', 'Lovin' Cup', 'Sweet Virginia', 'Tumblin' Dice', 'Happy' as well as 'Monkey Man', 'Gimme Shelter', 'Sympathy For The Devil', 'Street Fightin' Man', 'If You Can't Rock Me' & 'Can't You Hear Me Knockin'..(<--never been done live before until this tour..). JJ Flash too..It was the finale...
During 'Can't You Hear Me Knockin' all the yellow jackets came around & said we gotta go..we showed 'em our passes, but it might have as well been a $2 bill..Haaarumph! So we end up watching the B Stage set from inside the sound board corralle. Still not bad..a little disappointing, but it was still closer to a Stones' gig than I'd ever been & I'd seen The Stones 4 times on previous tours.. After getting to see all the backstage, guitars & having had The Stones treat me to a fine filet for dinner, I was not going to complain..not even a little. I was still thinking that it couldn't get any better. I was wrong. It got better.
Turned out it was a good thing that we weren't there inside the B Stage fences at the end for two reasons..that's where the confetti machines are..it would've blown us all over da place. The second reason is comin' up if you keep readin'... Just when I thought things can't get any better..I was wrong. It got better.
The B Stage set was "It's Only Rock'n'Roll', 'Little Red Rooster' & 'Brown Sugar'..I then realized that the band was gonna make their exit out of the back of the arena..there was Keef walkin' right towards my way..he was ahead of the security goons, too. I held my hand out and as he walked by he took my hand. Not a slap five, a good solid handshake. Keith Richards looked me in the eye & gave me the Keef/Demon smile. Keefness. This is a man that has influenced millions, changed & continued to be a major presence in one of the most influential mediums in history: Rock'n'Roll Music. I wouldn't be the musician I am today without him. I would be a musician, I'm sure, but not the same one.
I didn't see Charlie go (just like at soundcheck), Ronnie was covered up by goons & Mick came by the fence in plain view but stayed away from fencing & didn't look at anyone... & he had alot of goons following & hovering on the move too. Once again, fine wid me..I'd put plenty of info in my Stones-fan memory banks that night. Keefness.
There's lot of jokes & comments made about these guys, especially Keith, (Dave Barry-"Keith Richards' idea of taking care of his body is to play a whole song without having a cigarette") some of it sarcastic, some well intended but on the judgemental side, some of it just in fun.
I don't want them past their day just like I don't want to be past mine. But even if that's true now or will be eventually, I got to shake hands with a true world influence. Brush with greatness: Keith Richards. One of the world's great men. And for anyone that's thinkin' that he's just a high-dog, "Trust the art not the artist" comes to mind.
I didn't make it home this year to see my folks, but I got to do this (as I've described) instead. My Thanksgiving. I got to do two things I never thought I would do: I stood on The Rolling Stones' stage & I shook hands with Keith Richards. After that, mac & cheese is just fine. Experience is better than circumstances.
I spent my Thanksgiving Day over at the friend's house that made the whole thing possible (http://laurenellis.com) with a house full of musicians & the night ending with a sloppy but tons-o' fun jam session. Thanks to the powers that be, I got to see my two favorite cats in the same week. You kiddin'?? It's been the best Thanksgiving I've ever had!! Thank you, Lauren!
After the show, Pete & Johnny (Ronnie Wood's guitar tech) joined us up the street for beer & conversation. A few 'bar-dudes' figured out that these guys were with The Stones. Johnny & Pete were both as patient & friendly as they could be. They didn't give a buncha technical junk to civilian fans..never condescending not even a little. Complete pros even off the job. Jagger is a smart man for hiring PR concious guys like this.
And they always spoke of things in a very positive way.."Keith is a very special guy..he's always gratious."
Thank you, Pete for an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Johnny for your patience & example of such. And thank you both for making me feel welcome in a place that has meant so much, though I've never been there before this night. It got better.
"Darling, this thing is bigger than the both of us."-Keith Richards |
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