I have several stories but one I should mention is the time I was invited to play and demonstrate the Mellotron at a 60's music convention and was put up in a hotel (plus a separate special hotel room for the Mellotron) for the event. It was the largest hotel room I'd ever stayed in with high ceilings, chandeliers, walk in closets and a 4 post bed. It looked like a clean version of Dracula's mansion.
While waking into the restaurant I was called over by Peter Benedetto (Tony Bennett's cousin) to have lunch with him.
Peter Benedetto was a manager at the Beatles Apple Records back in the day and had also helped to 'arrange' Nixon's win in New York.
He was a kind of 'fixit man' for problem solving, management, backroom politics, etc.
As we dined (and drank) for quite a while he told several stories involving both legal and illegal ins and outs of the music industry.
Since we had met several of the same people at different times, we had some common experiences to share.
My attitudes towards some of these people we had met became either more sympathetic, or solidified in my dislike for them, after having this conversation.
His charitable act at this convention was talking Yoko Ono out of suing some of the convention organizers for contracting Fred Seamen (a Lennon/Ono insider / ex-employee) to give a lecture. Seamen was dropped from the roster.
On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 7:27 AM, Rick Blechta
<rick@rickblechta.com> wrote:
On Jun 1, 2011, at 6:17 PM, John Wright wrote:
Alas, my on,y brush with fame not counting the time Greg Lake told me to get away from him after seeking an autograph from the Works I tour.
I once slammed Wes Montgomery's hand in one of those old self-serve elevators at an amp repair place on 48th St. in NY. He was reasonably nice about it. I was totally freaked out thinking I might have ended his career.
I also spent an afternoon with Eric Clapton at Audio Speaker Techniques down near Canal Street. We were both getting speakers re-coned. His were also stamped "Cream" and since he had a beard (and I hadn't seen him with a beard), I thought he was one of the band's roadies until about 5 minutes before I left. He was hanging around with Tony (the owner) because he couldn't stand being around Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker anymore that tour.
I also caddied for Ed Sullivan, and my wife hit Richard Nixon in the head with a rather heavy door. She was going in as he was reaching for the doorknob on his side.
Anybody else have a brush with fame?
Rick