here's an anecdote for you!
back in 199? in London i was roadying for a fabulous guitarist/songwriter/singer/producer from memphis called "JEROD", who had played with AL GREEN, and had played with the british band DEXY'S MIDNIGHT RUNNERS(of "COME ON EILEEN" fame). he was a friend of Bustah Jones, who played bass with Talking Heads, and had been invited to play at MITCH MITCHELL'S birthday/HENDRIX TRIBUTE at the HARD ROCK CAFE in Picadilly, London. now as i entered the joint all dressed up fly, and carrying JEROD's expensive axes, a guy from New York came up to me and said: "hi, i'm ????? from the band ??????(i can't remember, unfortunately). we've got this deal with ???? records, and we're looking for a lead guitarist to tour and record. now, i can play a decent jimi hendrix solo and all, but the guy i was working for ...., let's just say that JEFF BECK was seen at one or two of his concerts!!!
anyway, i insisted i was just the roadie, and the more i insisted, the more he interpreted my "false modesty" as the sign of some "KICK-ASS,AXE-SHREDDING,GROUPIE-DEVOURING ROCK GOD" playing it down, cool'n'all!
well, i told JEROD, and he just laughed. we entered, and i saw MITCH MITCHELL, DAVE GILMOUR, JOHN MCENROE, PAT CASH. i think it must have been around wimbledon tennis time. the place was full of celebrities. imagine you haveidolized the JHexperience all you post-pubescent life, and know every nuance of the "COMFORTABLY NUMB" solo by heart, and the perpatrators are standing there 2 feet away! PARADISE. and there was more! apart from somehow lucking into a party with the rich and famous and beautiful......, the bar was free. i'll repeat that. THE BAR WAS FREE. FREE! FREE!!! now i'm a moderate man......, when i'm paying the tab!
to cut short this missive; JEROD played brilliantly, DAVE GILMOUR did his usual understated virtuoso thing, etc., i was thoroughly enjoying myself trying invite 2 air hostesses from hawaii back to my hovel, when the bomb dropped!
"come on up here and play!", JEROD said. "no, you're kidding, right?"
he wasn't. i got up there on stage with MITCH MITCHELL and BUSTAH JONES, and took JEROD's guitar, and in front of DAVID GILMOUR, the beautiful hostesses from Hawaii, the "signed" rock band from New York, JOHN MCENROE, and all and sundry, I FELL OFF THE STAGE!
that's why i don't drink anymore. i wasn't badly hurt, and i didn't damage JEROD's guitar.
that's ROCK'n'ROLL!
