The Contrarians Presents: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Meeting Rock Star Stories

[@SaintMartins]

I met Henry Rollins in a line up at a Grocery store in Vancouver 2006. I got his attention when i accidently dropped a magazine on the ground. He looked at me & said "You still read Rolling Stone magazine?" I looked at his groceries & replied "You buy organic potato chips?" then he said "to each their own, my friend" He giggled & turned away.

[@SB-kr1dw]

I chatted with Piggy from Voivod after a show during their Outer Limits tour. Very soft spoken and friendly guy.

[@kimberlywalker3970]

In the early 2000s, I worked as a checker in a Santa Monica grocery store. I came across a lot of celebrities like Martin Sheen during the first season of The West Wing. A very nice guy, by the way. I also saw cast members of Spin City, most of Clint Eastwood's family, Springsteen's ex-wife, you name it. Beck also came through my checkout line once. I didn't have anything to say because I wasn't really a fan. But the one rock star I missed and would've maybe chatted w/was Eric Clapton. This was before I knew what a jerk his. Anyway, I had his unplugged album, and was a huge fan of it. It was time for me to go home and I asked my supervisor if he could take over. He did and a few minutes later, while I was counting down my drawer, he telephoned a friend and said I just met Eric Clapton. I thought, damn, if I only stayed a few minutes longer! Oh, well I guess things happen for a reason?!

[@MartinPopoff]

I expected this to generate some stories n the comments and I was not disappointed - great read - keep 'em coming!

[@jcollins1305]

I was a police officer and met Ace Frehley at LaGuardia airport circa 1999. I had pulled him over, not knowing who it was, and just wanted to give him a warning. I looked at him again and realized who it was. Said hello, big fan, etc. He was very chill.

[@JWD1992]

As a Sweet fan, I really loved the Mick Tucker story.

[@loyalroyal]

I have met loads of musicians over the years. Two memorable encounters..Mick Jones of Foreigner whom i chatted for 10 minutes about lower league English football as we both supported teams in the same league. Lovely bloke. Secondly, i sold some CDs to Jimmy Page at Reading record fair. Friendly enough, but he asked for a £4.00 discount.

[@wildmansteve5451]

I drove Sonic Youth to get BBQ, I drove the limo at the hotel they were staying at and they asked me where the good record stores are in town, I took them to my favorite record stores and hung out with them for a couple of hours. Thurston invited me to jam with them on stage at their show that night. Seriously unreal experience. The best.

[@greekfrk]

Met Glenn Danzig at the bus after a Lucifuge gig and was so cool to stick around, sign stuff and talk to the fans.

[@RockDaydreamNation]

Great episode..especially love the “Parish of rock” stories..gold!...in the personal I’ve met “good” category..Alice Cooper back stage at one of his Sydney shows. Chatted about golf shoes whilst hoovering around was Eddie Vedder and Billy Thorpe (Coop..he’s a golf tragic)...also met Dio at a TV studio in 1986 for the Aussie music show Sounds..super fan friendly..had the biggest bodyguard I’ve ever seen! Looked like The Rock...

[@parishofrock2963]

Thanks Peter, glad you liked them.

[@garyaeh1878]

The closest I came was seeing Eric Carr at the Ohio Center 1984. It was just a fluke seeing him. I brought a camera to the show and they were not permitted, so I had to take to a security room during the concert. As we were walking back toward the auditorium this door off to the side flew open and there was Eric. He just kinda give a big smile and a thumbs up and shut the door back. Almost like he had gotten lost and opened the wrong door. Thanks for the conversations, loved the stories.

[@mattzeffiro6119]

I was working at an FM in '93 when Brad Gillis had a solo out. I'm at an event and I'm going into the RV not knowing anyone was in there. I see him and freeze for a moment and we both laugh about it cause it was so noticeable before I shake his hand. Good times.

[@bigj4426]

I have a funny one. I was driving with all my windows down in Sunapee Harbor NH visiting one of my friends and I was on my way to her house. I see this guy, his wife, and two small kids walking along the side of the road going the same way I was so their backs are turned to me as I am coming up behind them.. I am passing them very slowly because the speed limit on this narrow road is like 15mph, and the guy sees my car and as I am passing by goes “Hey man how goes it?” I did think much of it at first and said “Hey man how you doing?” And I wasn’t really looking. He waves, I wave, and as I look back I realize it is Styven Tyler…

[@briankellogg2751]

Had the good fortune to meet a lot of folks, all have been really cool. Some favorites would be Ronnie Montrose, Dave Kilminster, all the ladies from Girlschool, Annie Haslam, John Corabi, Cozy Powell (RIP), Peter Gabriel, David Coverdale, and Ray Manzarek. Cheers Guys!

[@frankies9465]

Hung out with Billy Idol backstage when he was playing with the Who when they were doing Quadraphenia in 96. A limo pulled up and he got in with 2 girls. I said, "take me with you" . He says, " sorry mate , only room for 3 " lol. He was great , though. Alot of fun

[@michaelhenson280]

Meeting Eric Moore of the godz was in the dressing room and he put his face in a mountain of coke and looked at me and he said to me you ready to rock buds

[@thirdrailelectrocution]

I love The Tubes, they are very nice guys, always great to their fans.

[@brianseneca3546]

My band in the 90's opened for several big bands (Quiet Riot, Foghat, BOC, Ratt, 38 Special etc) by far the biggest jerk was Don Dokken. The rest of the band were fantastic. Don acted like he was above all of us. I actually said to him "yet you are playing the same club as me! and we did just as well as you! Probably should not have said that but I was in my 20's and full of piss!

[@existentialmeltdown]

The ugly and relevant to Australian rock, 1970's-1990's: I was jogging late at night and passed a stand of pine trees and a dog rushed out at me. Being startled and afraid of dogs, I yelled and swore at it. Then, looming out of the depths of darkest nature, loomed Marc Hunter, lead singer of Dragon, ready to punch my lights out. He must have been sleeping rough that night. I sprinted off. I never liked Dragon's music anyway.

[@motorkent]

met lemmy, mikkey. phil and fast eddie. super fun and sweet guys. and more.

[@ZRATAN69]

Rand has great stories of Mike Patton..😁😳🫣😄

[@stephenyoung4134]

I bought meet and greet tickets when Kiss came to Liverpool UK on the Sonic Boom tour. The guys were great, very friendly apart from Gene who was very moody. Gene was my sons hero so after the official photo was taken we asked Gene for a selfie. He said " You can kiss my ass" and he toddled off on his big demon boots. He's not my sons hero anymore.

[@bryanmcfadden4071]

I met Eddie Money and Peter Wolf at seperate times, always supplied either a light for a cigarette 🚬, or a cigarette and a light . Heroes of mine

[@Ziggle]

I was in an Ozzfest parking lot in early 2000's with my gf and aunt and friend.. my gf noticed a guy in full body red make-up in the crowd.. We walked over to see who he was.. and, the guy bummed a cigarette from me.. 20 min later, here he comes again to bum another cig.. Again, he comes specifically to me to bum a cig.. and, later again. It was getting quite annoying, tbh.. but, the guy seemed cool and had told us what band he's in, which I had sort of heard about. But, I wasn't familiar with their music (that'll come later in this story).. Fast fwd about 8-9 years later.. I'm in Iraq, I'm working late.. my senior officer tells me: "You love metal & rock music, right? Well, take the rest of the night off and go enjoy yourself!". (I had no idea who this band was that was on this base..) I messaged a fellow musician back home asking who the band was and if they are any good? He says: "That's the guy that was in the red makeup at Ozzfest when we were teens, you know? The one that kept bumming cigs from you.. he's now the singer for 5 Finger Death Punch. Me: "Ohh really??" I watch the show, it was really a good show. I waited out the extensively long line to meet the band and pull my joke to the singer, as well as get their autographs.. It's finally my turn.. I walk up: "Hey! I know you!" (He stared at me like "huh?". Me: Yeah.. Ozzfest early 2000's when you were in Motograter (The rest of the band stops signing and looks at me awkwardly as if to say: "Oh dude.. there was heat with that band.. So, I quickly move on), you bummed a shit ton of cigs off of me.. (I look around with arms out) So, considering the circumstances, I'd like to get them back!". He said: "Probably haha. Do you need smokes?" Me: "Lol.. nah.. I have some.. your autograph will be just fine, man." We talked for a few min., he asked if I really needed anything and how wild it was to have met in the states while he was in "that band" and this many years later meeting again in a whole other country. Thanked me for serving, etc. And, departed with me saying: "See you in 10 more years! Next time, you'll be in another band. And, I will work a Farm! Haha!" I still have that bands autograph from that day. Not in very great shape.. but, still have it. I thought it was cool that he was willing to give me smokes in return after all of those years now that he was "Set" with such a bigger band than what he was in (Motograter.. having to travel broke and in small vans).. seemed like a great dude both times that I met him. Maybe I will run into you again, Ivan! (P.S. I am actually working my own farm, now. And, haven't ran back into you yet! Lol) 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@channelsurfer3710]

, this was in 2006 I was up all night doing cocaine in Hollywood, CA....and it's the next day and I am trying to get home and I am walking down Hollywood Blvd, it's the middle of the day, and Blackie Lawless just walks out of a shop and walks right by me...I see him and I gasped...and he stopped...so I turned my head and I see the back of his Yankees jacket......but I just kept going...I actually didn't want him to see how messed up I was...

[@simonharding3109]

I stepped on bonnie Tyler's foot once in a nightclub in Swansea. I apologised but then chatted to her about when she was gaynor Hopkins and worked in the coal board with my dad.

[@lance98541]

I have met a few musicians, but most were not good experiences. I met Henry Rollins once, I said hello, and he looked at me and said “I don't talk to people” and walked away.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Most celebrities definitely get irritated by having strangers approach them and initiate conversations. I don't blame them! It has to get old fast.

[@stephanechamberland8486]

I could listen to Rand hours and hours with his stories.....but the one running the show doesn't seem to like it ! Good episode.

[@GrantsRockWarehaus]

hahaha.... well you need to keep Rand undercontrol!

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

I wonder if Ritchie Blackmore is really a dick or just weird on purpose because he's anti social. In interviews he sounds like a decent bloke.

[@mattzeffiro6119]

I've wondered if Blackmore has some autism because of the way he doesn't make a lot of eye contact. I have some Aspergers and a couple things about him remind me of myself very hard time socially.