OT: You Ever Ask For Autographs?

[bovinehost]

Jack,
You knew Madonna in the early '80s? I remember working with her and saying to a friend that with her attitude and talent nobody would know who she was in 5 years. Oh Well.
Jim B

I didn't know her. I can't remember now what record company she was signed to - Sire? - but a guy I was playing with had a contract with them as well, and he knew her. We ended up at the office at the same time she did and while I was in the bathroom, he told her I was a HUGE fan and really blew some smoke. (If you know me at all, you can imagine how I feel about that kind of semi-musical fluff.)

So he herded me into a conference room and she was actually extremely nice to me, for reasons that I couldn't figure at the time. Heh.

Her sister Melanie ended up in the same places I did for a while and she really IS (not just pretense) a nice person. Also Dan Lanois' manager, or at least she was back then.

Weird the people you run into.

 

[SquidLizard]

I'm not very into the autograph thing, either. I have Mike Stern's autograph on a CD because he was signing after a gig. What a really lovely guy, very kind and friendly. I also have Charlie Haden's from a small gig he did up here and the folks from Cafe R&B, a band I like a whole lot. If they look like they're having a good time and the crowd isn't too big I'll do the autograph thing. If there are a lot of people or they look tired, I just buy the CD. Mostly it seems like folks just want to be treated as humans, and properly appreciated for their talents, not just treated like their sig is a commodity.

I was at one of Elvin Jones' last shows. He was doing really badly -- in the end stages of congestive heart failure I think, but I didn't know just how sick he was at the time. There were some flashes of his old brilliance, but he was pretty much out of it. He was signing some autographs from the stage after the show. He is my favorite musician of all time and I did want his autograph. I saw him live quite a few times and he never signed autographs so this was my chance. But then I felt that it would be so intrusive because of his obvious illness that I couldn't go up to see him. He was dead two weeks later. I'm really glad I didn't go up there. I would have felt terrible having that autograph.

Like many, I can't imagine bothering someone when they're eating or having private time. When I see well-known folks I usually do a double-take, just because you do, then I'm embarrassed and look away for the rest of the meal. As if they'd notice me noticing them anyway !

My husband is usually oblivious to celebrities. People like McCoy Tyner and Stanley Clarke (both of whom he's seen live multiple times) walk right in front of him and he doesn't have a clue. I'm there trying to act all nonchalant and he's completely cool. I tell him and he says, "Oh. Really? I didn't see him at all," and goes back to whatever he was doing.

 

[KennethB]

she was actually extremely nice to me

What do mean by that?

 

[Caca de Kick]

No I've never been into bugging celebs for autographs, between running into many pro bassists in places like Bass NW, Bass Centre (back then), Bass Exchange and several shows where we got to open for bands, I've always felt just saying hi or a quick chat is good enough.

The only time I ever wanted to get an autoghraph was when Babbit and the Funk Brothers were in town. I removed the plexiglass name plate off my B15 and really wanted to have it signed by Babbit...I mean, it's Babbit! figured the B15 name plate would have been cool to him, even had front row-center seating.
When the show was over, security shoo'd everyone out in a hurry and wouldn't let me wait for him.

 

[DarthSarahmus]

I agree with BP that celebs should expect to compromise for there fame, but I feel sorry for them. I live in a resort community and worked in restaurants while in school so I have seen plenty of celebs. I have seen Serena Williams rushed out of restaurants after being mobbed by autograph seekers. I had to call the police on a man once because he insisted he wouldn't leave until he got an autograph from Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson. I am sure not everyone is like this, but it makes you feel for them.

 

[FBob]

Cap'n Lou Albano

I would pay money for a George "The Animal" Steele autograph.

The only autograph I have that I can recall is Rick Derringer's, on a CD I bought from him at the Dallas Guitar Show.

 

[Big Poppa]

It is terrible.

 

[Dead Seven]

Ran into Stitch Jones at a Type O Negative show here in NY a couple of weeks ago, I thought about asking him, but he was very into the lady he had with him so I wasn't going to interfere.

Oh, for those of you who don't know, Stitch Jones is the freakin' Ayatollah of Rock n' Rolla, just ask Gunny Highway.

 

[bovinehost]

I would pay money for a George "The Animal" Steele autograph.

I wouldn't know George "The Animal" (and I assume he's not a herbivore) Steele if he bit me on the ass (which I also assume could actually happen).....but I'd recognize Dudley Gimpel in a heartbeat.

 

[FBob]

George "The Animal" Steele was my favorite pro wrestler ever. Lou Albano used to lead George around as if he were a monster that he kept in a cage.

George's website.

 

[Narcosynthesis]

It depends on where you are and what you are doing.

Hanging out after a show I don't really feel silly asking for an autograph and saying thanks for a show or whatever when the artist is out hanging around. Most guys seem happy to do this (otherwise they would just find ways to avoid everyone) so I don't feel guilty of bothering them too much.

To see someone out for dinner or doing something, I would feel rude to interrupt them. They are just trying to have a nice time eating a nice meal or going shopping or whatever, Asking them for an autograph just seems a bit intrusive, and I doubt I really have anything to say to them they would want to hear...

I have wandered what I would actually do if I saw some of my 'idols' I love Radioheads music, but what would I actually have to say to Thom Yorke or Johnny Greenwood if I met them that would interest them?

David

 

[FBob]

I have wandered what I would actually do if I saw some of my 'idols' I love Radioheads music, but what would I actually have to say to Thom Yorke or Johnny Greenwood if I met them that would interest them?

I feel the same way, and would fully expect Thom Yorke to spit on me if I ever met him. Likewise, I would have expected Miles Davis to spit on me if I ever met him. (I have a couple of friends who either toured or recorded with Miles and their stories confirm my expectations.)

 

[fresnorich]

When I was a kid living on the Air Force Academy, I attended a boxing event where Sugar Ray Leonard was an honored guest. He got mobbed at a table when they announced that he would sign autographs and I thought I had no chance, but then a cadet in uniform suddenly lifted me up on his shoulders, parted the crowd, and plopped my directly in front of Sugar Ray, saying "Mr. Leonard, this young man would like an autograph." I'll never forget it, but sadly I lost the autograph somewhere along the way.

A couple years ago, I bought a bass from Juan Alderete (Racer X/Mars Volta) and I thought about asking him to sign it somewhere, but then I thought, "Nah, I'll just play it cool."

... it bugs the snot out of me.

Sorry, BP. If I would have known, I wouldn't have asked Beth to get you to sign an 8x10 of my avatar pic. I do appreciate it though and it has a place of honor on my music room wall right next to my 30th Anni-'ray. I did tell her not to worry about it if you were too busy or just didn't feel like it though.

 

[Bill]

I forgot...I also have Mark O'Connor's (fiddle/violin player) autograph on a CD. I went to his first fiddle camp back in '94, so there were plenty of opportunities to get an autograph.

 

[mrpackerguy]

It is terrible.

I agree. I hate it.

 

[Big Poppa]

Rich It doesnt bother me to sign autographs. Im kind of taken aback when I get asked..I usually lok behind me to see if it is a famous person behind me.

It bugs me that people dont respect others time and meal

 

[fresnorich]

cool

 

[Dr Stankface]

Here's my only autograph, good ol' BP.

 

[Alz®]

I got Doug Wimbish's autograph once. He wasn't too happy about it though....but he still signed it.

Since then, I've not bothered except for when I bought an acoustic guitar at a Mike Stern clinic who was only too happy to sign, but then I guess that is endorsement for you! Lincoln Goines however who was not endorsed was absolutely awesome and gladly signed the guitar too.

As for BP, I think he should sign all the guitars before they leave the factory. Who's with me?

 

[Spudmurphy]

I got Albert Lee to sign the rear of the headstock - this was at a small venue in North Wales. Had a good chat with him about EB guitars.

Also when Peter Green made his comeback, my old band were supporting and asked me to come along and take some b/w photos of the gig.

I met up with Peter Green in his dressing room and asked him to sign something for me.

Oh I also met Jake Lamotta at a boxing pub around the corner from where I live.
He signed for me too - that's about it!