The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: PaulAds on December 10, 2017, 10:37:23 PM
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Anybody know anybody famous?
(https://i.imgur.com/jI9eCb6_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium)
My dad, Colin, is 87 now...and he used to be very good friends with a guy called Maurice Murphy...they grew up together playing in brass bands in north-east england... Maurice, in about 1977, became principal trumpet in the London Symphony Orchestra and was the fella who played lead trumpet on the movie soundtrack of “Star Wars” and the Indiana Jones films...and many more...it was said that once John Williams heard Maurice play, he wrote parts with him in mind...this photo is of my dad (in front row, 2nd from the right) and Maurice (in front row, 2nd from the left) outside the Royal Albert Hall in London back in the 1950’s with Crookhall Colliery Band...behind my dad - to his left - is my grandad, Richard.
Maurice’s dad used to drive the coal wagon around Stanley, County Durham...some years later, Maurice flew to New York on Concorde at the invitation of the conductor, Andre Previn. My dad once said to Maurice that he’d come a long way from King Street in South Moor (where they used to live) and Maurice said he didn’t like to talk about those days. I thought that was really sad.
Sorry...I’m rambling...anyone else have any tenuous links to (arguably) famous people?
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Great story Paul.
I can't really compete, but continuing the tenuous-movie-link theme, the father of one of the lads in our band was the singer in the Pearl and Dean theme (you know, "Pa-pa pa-pa, pa-pa pa-pa, pa pa pa..." - that's him).
Oh, and I once saw Keith Chegwin in a lift. Does that count?
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Cool! Keith Chegwin...no way! When he came out of the lift, was (s)he Janice Long? You never see them in a room together :P
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My father used to do Transportation on films shot in Chicago, and so he got to know quite a few movie stars. Became very friendly with a few of them (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Kelly McGillis, David Duchovny). Of those folks, Dan Stern was the only one that I've met, personally. Seems like a really nice guy.
Other than that, Dave Draimain (Disturbed) is a guy that I wouldn't really say that I KNOW, but he grew up and is really close with a friend of mine. We've hung out a couple of times and, from what I can remember, he's also a really nice guy. Haven't seen him since before his band made it big, though.
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I don't know any famous people, but I've met a few...Vincent Price, Leonard Nimoy, Jimmy Seals, Dash Crofts, John Denver (actually I met him before he was famous). Vincent Price was very sweet, Leonard Nimoy was quick to agree to something but you had to catch up with him to get him to follow through, Jimmy Seals was quite chatty, Dash Crofts was asleep, and John Denver was friendly.
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I've had a couple of beers with Jeremy Irons at a pub in Henley back in the early 80s. Had a cup of tea and a bit of cake in his kitchen too years later. I don't know him though really. A friend worked on his place in Watlington and they were quite pally.
I did know Steve Redgrave. Come from the same town. I used to have driving lessons with his mum.
Had a go on Jim Capaldi's piano once.
I've faded into obscurity now.
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These are great...thanks, everybody!
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Sorry had to come back to say I love the photo Paul.
And Pauly we definitely ought to have sightings like your Chegwin one...they're better really.
I saw Douglas Hurd going into a grocers in Lechlade.
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I know Tom Bradby ITV news anchorman, met Lenny Henry once but to excited return to the subject of Cheggers - 80's UK TV presenter - We played a bash in a local pub, and the landlord was good mates with him. Anyway my brother in law came up excitedly to me halfway through the night saying hed had a long chat with a bloke that was the spitting image of Keith, and that he'd told him so, not knowing that it was....
:)
Neil
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I don't know anyone famous, though a couple of guys that I went to school with went on to play professional football. I met my favourite songwriter quite by chance at the Gateshead metro centre.. My first house was burgled more than twenty years prior to meeting Paddy McAloon. I lost the album "Jordan The Comeback" by Prefab Sprout. When it was replaced the booklet was in black and white and not coolour. I looked everywhere for the original album but couldn't find it anywhere. Fast forward to the morning that I met Paddy McAloon and I found a copy of the original album perhaps 10 minutes before meeting Paddy. The experience was surreal and he was an absolute gentleman taking about 40 minutes out of his day to talk.
Paul
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I've worked at places where we cooked for the famous. Prince Charles, Edward Heath, Richard Attenborough .I did room service for Take That in London, Ian Botham.There's others but can't recall at the moment.
My brother invited Mark Little(neighbours) to his wedding , so had a meal with him and his family..nice guy.
Used to work at a hotel where we had the footie teams for the F.A cup..i know i made a salad for John Barnes.
And generally i've seen a bunch of celebrities out and about in airports etc..but can't say i've met a major star personally...i was working in a shop which closed half day on Wednesday, i was out the back and Liam Gallagher had knocked to get in (Oasis were recording in the area) i never heard him...would have been interesting.
Viscount...i guess your a Marlow lad then? i know Jim Capaldi's house i think near the bridge?
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Interesting thread.
Coming from Coventry, I jammed with most of the Two Tone crowd at open mic nights we used to run. My mates mum used to give Dammers piano lessons when he was a kid, and I used to work with Paul King (King) at Rolls Royce before he made it. I've also got some demos we made with Tracy Tracy from The Primitives doing backing vocals, again before she hit the big time.
My fave though was when I was working for a holiday company in France in 82 and John Miles (Music Was My First Love) came to stay and I ended up doing a gig with him :)
Keep em coming, fascinating
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If we're mentioning just having a beer with folks, Chicago in the 1990s was a pretty small town big city. Everybody knew everybody, or knew somebody who knew them.
One night when I was having a beer at my local pub (where I would later meet my wife), Nash Kato (Urge Overkill) walked in with his friend Jim Ellison (Material Issue). The girl I was sitting with (just a friend) called them over, because she was friends with them and we all had a nice, friendly pint together. Talked a bit about music and about how much of a struggle it was to get to where they were at the time, even in the middle of the charts, eekeing out a living as a working musician in their own rock bands.
A memorable night for me, if not for them.
Also, earlier this year, I played a gig at the tea house that Billy Corgan owns in the town where I grew up. He actually showed up to spin records after my set was over. We chatted for a little bit. He was nice enough.
But to get back to the topic at hand: I don't really KNOW any of those guys. Just met 'em.
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Great thread but...
Oh my crikey!
I've just seen the Keith Chegwin news.
Poor guy died today!
I'm a bit spooked. RIP Cheggers.
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Bloody spooky - Just heard the news
RIP Cheggers
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Cheggers goes pop :P
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I don't know anybody famous but i once had a part as an extra in the film
ALIENS 3 when i worked at Dawdon Colliery,county Durham,my name got
pulled out of the hat.They filmed a scene on a part of Seaham beach known
as the blast,i think there was ten of us extras and we all had to have our heads shaved,
i even got asked to stand in for the actor Charles Dance,a bit of ginger makeup and i was
good to go.The little known actress Antonia De Sancha,probably better known for her
affair with the then conservative politician David Mellor,was the stand in for
Sigourney Weaver.It was good money and a great experience,
Tom.
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I don't know anybody famous but i once had a part as an extra in the film
ALIENS 3 when i worked at Dawdon Colliery,county Durham,my name got
pulled out of the hat.They filmed a scene on a part of Seaham beach known
as the blast,i think there was ten of us extras and we all had to have our heads shaved,
i even got asked to stand in for the actor Charles Dance,a bit of ginger makeup and i was
good to go.The little known actress Antonia De Sancha,probably better known for her
affair with the then conservative politician David Mellor,was the stand in for
Sigourney Weaver.It was good money and a great experience,
Tom.
Nice one. My mate does classic car hire and gets parts now, as an extra is some quite good movies.
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Nope, not really.
But I played a game of pacman once with Lemmy at the Rainbow.
I also spilled a full beer over Max Martin at a release party.
Yes, I was completely hammered on both occasions.
So was Lemmy.
Max Martin not so much.
;D
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I once slept in John Tout's bed whilst he slept on the settee downstairs.
For those that don't know who he was he played on this and was a member of Renaissance
A few famous UK politicians know me by name but that's another life.
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When I was about 16 I worked in a shoe shop in the Strand London as a junior salesman I was called by a senior salesman who was a nasty piece work shouting there was one of my kind wanting to be served.
When I got to the sales floor I could not believe my eyes I walked over and ask can I help you sir he replied yes and pointing a shoe on display 'do you have this shoe in size 6.
I said please take a seat and went to the storeroom Mr Nasty was standing nearby I said to him do you know who that is out there? he replied some bloody yob like yourself I said well Mr that just happens to be Paul Anka the singer songwriter who wrote he no 1 hit Diana.
I returned to my customer with the shoes he tried them on and asked me if I had the same shoe in brown I did not but phoned one of our other shops that did, he said that was fine and that I should bring them to his room at the Savoy hotel personally he paid for both pairs of shoes thanking me for the service shook my hand and slipped me a one pound note.
The next day I picked up the shoes from the other shop parceled it up took them to the hotel where I was stopped by hotel reception said I had a parcel for Mr Anka he said I'll take that but I replied I had to hand it to Mr Anka personally a call was made and i was allowed to deliver my parcel.
When I got to the room I was invited in he took the parcel went to his wallet and gave me another one pound note and thanked me, as I was now away from the shop I could not resist telling him how much I played and liked his song he shook my hand saying he was pleased that his music was being enjoyed.
As for Mr Nasty I told him that the commission I had earned from the two pairs of shoes and the two pound tip from Paul was what I would earn for a 35 hour week basic salary.
In March of this year I went to see Gilbert O'Sullivan in Concert at the Shanklin Theatre and met him after the show I was intending to ask him about how he wrote his songs however there were still people behind me so bottled out he asked my name signed the album I purchased we shook hands seems a really nice guy all in all a very pleasant evening.
Cheers
Royston
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My X wife was the daughter of one of Maggie Thatchers top advisors. Through her I met
a lot of the politicians and business leaders that were around at the time. Prats !! Every
single one of them.....pompous, arrogant ass holes ;D ;D . Especially Hesltine.....we don't
know how lucky we were, that he didn't become PM. Funnily enough, Maggie was OK ::)
She was very down to earth. I really do believe that she thought that what she was doing
was best for the country. She was just very badly advised, and was surrounded by self-
serving, corrupt bastards, who were only thinking of themselves and their paymasters. My
father in law can be included in that gang....Of course she was wrong. It's because of her,
and subsequent Blairite and Tory govenments, that have championed the capitalist cause,
and their own bank balances, that we're in the mess we're in today.....IMHO. Where have
all the people of Honour gone ?? and where is the Protest Movement ?? Surely it's not being
left to people of my age ;D ;D ;D.....bit of a rant :o ::) . sorry ::)
Also, Herbie Flowers has been a sort of neighbour of mine for many years. I've met him a few
times.....very nice guy. Very involved with the local community, and young musicians. You can
still see him around, gigging with local bands.....he's getting on, over 70 now I think, but he's
still living the dream ;D......he's an ardent communist as well ;D ;D ;D
MERRY XMAS xx
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Great story, Bin!
My dad was talking to the dad of one of the Downing Street police protection squad on holiday years ago...and he said Maggie was the nicest, most honest and down to earth one that he’d ever known. She’d be doing the washing up and asking him how his family was and if he’d fancy a cup of tea.
I grew up living next door to my local MP...I remember being about 18 and us both sitting in our front gardens, smoking our pipes and having a chat over the garden fence. It was said that politics is just a game played out for the benefit of the general public. Not by me, though...
Rumour had it his wife allegedly killed herself in the house next door but it was all hushed up.
Oops :o
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I worked with a guy about 14 years ago who used to chauffeur at Denham film studios and Pinewood...took all the old stars around Sid James etc...funnily enough the only one he said he didn't take too was Norman Wisdom, thought he was a bit of a snob.
And trawling the memory again, when i was 14 ish , i was making my way through Woolworths in High Wycombe , cos it was a short cut to the high st, when i walked on to an advert being filmed with Anita Harris, i recall her looking at me a bit startled, also saw Eric Sykes doing a Barclays advert on HW high st..
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Speaking of neighbors, these are folks who I don't really "know", but I do see fairly regularly around town, since I live in a small little suburb, and they both live in my area:
James "JY" Young, the lead guitar player for Styx, lives a couple of blocks away from me. I'll see him at the local Starbucks sometimes, or just around the neighborhood. He might recognize my face, because of that, but he certainly doesn't know me, not I him. Still, all of my interactions with him have been very nice and pleasant. By all accounts from folks that I do know who know him, he is one of the nicest guys on the planet. I worshipped Styx when I was a little kid in the 70s, so it's a little surreal for me, still, that he's just a neighborhood guy in my small little suburb.
Jim Peterik, from Ides of March and Survivor, the guy who wrote both "Vehicle" and "Eye of the Tiger" lives a couple of towns over, and maintains a bit of a higher profile. I've seen him at the guitar shop and at the grocery store, and a few other places. One time I had to know, so I asked him if he wrote the horn chart for "Vehicle" in addition to the rest of the song. He told me that he did, when he was 16. "I had no idea what I was doing. I just kinda sang it to somebody who knew how to transcribe it and it turned out great." Agreed. One of the best horn charts, ever.
Jim is a bit of a character, but a pretty nice guy, too.
These are my neighbors.
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I wonder if either of their wives did likewise?