Interaction with Artists/ Bands?

Makster · 2024-05-29T06:25:54.939Z

Have you ever met an artist post-show or bumped into them on the street? Tell me the story below! I've been fortunate to meet a few artists post-show such as Asian Kung-Fu Generation, and Last Dinosaurs but my favourite encounter was Anamanaguchi (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Soundtrack). They performed in two cities close to me so I was able to attend both. Their first gig - I got there pretty early so I was hanging around in the beer garden. The lead guitarist (Peter) came through with Pizzas (obvs) and I stopped him hoping to get my vinyl signed and a picture. He was a little pre-occupied because of the Pizzas but said he'll see if he has time afterwards. It wasn't 10 minutes later that he popped back up to do so! After the show, the band also hung out on the side of the stage for autographs and pictures....

Lanah Tyra 5/29/2024, 8:07:01 AM

Oh I have a few of these! I used to be there early for shows to get the front row or wait after, even if there was no official signing session, and met briefly a few artists in Hungary, where they had smaller shows and this was still possible.

Probably my favourite was meeting Sonata Arctica after one of their shows. We been standing in the snow for about an hour waiting for them. All of them came out for photos apart from the singer Tony, who was just signing stuff from behind the fence. People were asking him to come out but nothing worked. Then I told him but during the show he said everyone gets a hug so we were here for our hugs. He laughed and said ok I got him and came around the fence. Everyone around me who didn't speak English kept asking me what did I tell him to come out, they thought I was some vip club fan our something.

Damien Mason 5/29/2024, 10:05:42 AM

I went to Kerrang! Tour 2010 when I was around 17. The line-up was All Time Low, The Blackout, My Passion, and Young Guns. While Young Guns only had four songs out at the time, I fell in love with each of them, and they were the primary reason I went.

After the gig finished, I spent an age looking for members of the band, particularly the singer, Gus. I accidentally ran into My Passion and must have seemed so disinterested in them. I really wasn't a fan of their music but credit to them, they were stand up people. I then saw Alex, the frontman of All Time Low and must have similarly seemed like I didn't care. I got his signature but it was for someone else.

Finally, I found Gus, took out the EP I'd bought at that very venue for him to sign and it turned out it was broken. The disc was slipping everywhere and scratched to hell. He searched his pockets and apologised that he didn't have another to give me, signed the one I had, and said if I came to the headline tour later in the year and reminded him, he'd make sure I get a new one that's signed by the whole band. Sure enough, he fulfilled that promise like a true gent.

Shovel 5/29/2024, 10:33:54 AM

i’m at Tyler Posey after he and his band performed show in Manchester. And it was a really nice interaction. He took a picture of me and a partner and then also my partner sometimes does magic tricks so he showed him a magic trick and it was really icy. Literally held his tour bus and held up leaving just to show just so we could see this magic trick. It was really lovely also managed to record it all and he was like the nicest guy ever.

Retro Stu 5/29/2024, 11:17:01 AM

I have a few of these - all good, except one. Suggs.

I grew up with Madness being the first band I really discovered for myself. My parents didn't listen to them, despite having one best of in their CD collection. I latched onto it, and Madness became an obsession.

One day whilst working at Great Portland Street, I left the office and turned the corner and there was Suggs, puffing away on a cigar. The child in me was giddy, I approached him and said "Excuse me. Are you Suggs?" He said yes, gladly took a picture with me and off I went with a spring in my step.

Fast forward about a year, I had booked to go see him do a book reading and Q&A at a hall in Islington. I had the worst day imaginable at work and almost didn't go, my friend convinced me to take myself to the show it might turn my day around. The talk was alright, and then it was opened up to photos, signings etc. So I had printed my picture off from a year ago and asked him to sign that which he did. I asked for another photo to commemorate the evening and he told me to "naff off". Taken aback somewhat I thought he was joking until he said "no seriously, naff off." I explained briefly the day I'd had, the fact I ripped my favourite shirt on the way to the show - he interrupts me and says "oh I'll sign your shirt" I said that's not what I'm asking while he signs it I ask one last time for a photo and he tells me again to "naff off" before offering his hand for a handshake and saying "good luck to ya". I later found out he'd been like that with a lot of people that night. A shame it went down that way and it really put me off listening to Madness for years.

On a better note! David Ford has always been a bastion of good humour and conversation. I went to a gig for an artist called Emily Grove who had previously supported David. I spent 2 hours prior to the show with Emily having a drink and talking music, before David and Jarrod Dickenson turn up to cheer her on. So while she's soundchecking, David turns to me and says "you're of one us, what you drinking?" and proceeds to talk with me about my job and stuff for the evening. A real class act!

DerRoteKonige 5/29/2024, 3:20:06 PM

I've been blessed with multiple (positive) interactions with numerous bands and artists as I tend to mostly stick to small clubs and the like.

A friend of mine somehow befriended himself to the singer of a rather grimy band. I will not type their name here but it ends in 'Blast'. If you know the name Don Decker, then that should tell you everything. We hung out with him on several occasions and it was always a laugh riot.
While the encounter was brief, I spoke with the singer from Alestorm for several minutes. He was rather inebriated and seemed unhappy that I was not a lady but was nonetheless very cordial and spoke with me very personably. I'm still waiting for his prediction on where metal will go next to come true.
As fate would have it, a childhood band from my area went on to make something of themselves. I used to make fun of Subzero because, well, you named yourselves after a Mortal Kombat character but I've been somewhat close at times with their singer Lou. My best memory was making him take pictures of me as I lay in the alleyway waiting for the ambulance...but that is a different tale.

MargotCandy 5/29/2024, 8:25:21 PM

you wrote artists in the title as well so I’ll mention an actor for a change. :)

After uni I was living in a shared house with some musical types who had a band. Through the scene and being close to London they were friends with another band who was friends with this actor.

Him and my housemate ended up having a bit of a fling so most weekends we would go for drinks or just hang out.

It was Chris Mintz-plasse who was filming one of the kick ass movies in London at the time. What struck me was how much of a movie buff he was and how he just loved movies and the industry. We watched quite a few films together on one weekend and he was such a nice lovely person. He was very young still then but he seems to have kept his down to earth ness and is now a musician as well. Anyway it was a nice wholesome experience really. We are all just people at the end of the day.

K

klobbersaurus68 5/30/2024, 12:06:54 PM

I've got a couple.

Went to see Jane's Addiction at a theater and they'd invited a local indigenous drum group to play part of the show. The drummers were all in a lobby area banging away beforehand as I was passing through to get to the bathroom. I sidestepped one person and came face to face with Dave Navarro. I said "holy crap, Dave Navarro!" he stuck his hand out and gave a very light and soft handshake before his bodyguard rushed him away from me. He is a very very tiny guy, like if he's taller than 5ft 6 inches I'd be shocked.

When I was 16, my parents got me tickets to see Weezer and I tossed in the extra $30 to get a meet-and-greet pass (this was a very long time ago). Maybe 25 people got to go backstage to spend 15 minutes with the band. Everyone was super nice except Rivers. He came off the bus and ran right to a private room and never came out to see anyone. That left a bit of a poor taste in my mouth but still liked their music after that. Fast forward 18 years when Weezer was touring with the Pixies, we got tickets. Went to dinner beforehand at a place a few blocks from the arena they were playing. Walking between two buildings we round the corner and come face-to-face with Rivers, almost running into him. We all apologize, I immediately remember him being a bit of a jerk but don't say anything. He talks to us for a couple of minutes. I got to tell him the Blue Album was the first CD I ever bought, how having a giant Weezer W sticker on my car got me out of a speeding ticket, and even showed him my Weezer tattoo to make sure he really thought we'd kidnap him. He was super nice and said "I will never get over being amazed at people getting Weezer tattoos. I really appreciate you being such a big fan." Shook hands and parted ways.

Ingrid Michaelson has been one of my favorite artists for many years at this point. Her original band consisted of Allie Moss and Bess Rogers who are solo artists in their own rights. We used to go to a small venue near us that holds maybe 200 people and Ingrid played there early into her run up in fame. A small cafe opened up nearby and for one of her shows we chose to eat there before hand. It's really busy, but we get two of the last three seats at the bar. We're eating and talking, when I hear a voice ask "Is this seat taken?" and it's Allie Moss. I say no and she sits to order. I give her a few minutes and say "I'm not going to bother you much, but I really like this album of yours, this album you did with this band, and if you could pass on my appreciation to Bess and Ingrid for their music, that would be great." She said thanks and yes. Through randomness, we all finish eating at the same time and leave together. I tell Allie to have a great show and she says "if you have a few minutes, walk over to the theater with me." We walk and chat with her for the 3-minute walk over to the back entrance. She asks us to wait and pops in the door. Just a moment later the door opened with Ingrid, Bess, Allie, Chris the drummer coming out. Ingrid said, "Allie said someone recognized her and let her eat in peace, so we wanted to all say thanks". Everyone shook our hands and spoke to us for several minutes. That is still one of the best experiences I've ever had with any artists.