Famous Prog Artist You Met

I met Adrian Belew at a bar, and Symphony X at Gigantour. In both cases, they seemed really cool and down-to-earth.

Met Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash 3 weeks ago when i saw them live at Stratford. Really friendly guy! Signed new cd as well! Top Bloke

We've had this thread at least once before I think.....I briefly met Rick Wakeman at Wimbledon tennis one year (we'd queued since 6 AM but I don't think he had...)

...also met Bruce Dickinson in a bar in a Paris suburb once....

Edited by Phil

In the non-prog world, I chatted to the members of Gov't Mule (except Andy Hess who went to the tourbus and was avoiding people!).  But I still managed to get set list signed by the whole band, which was cool.

They're very down to earth as well, except they were in a rush clearing equipment and this geeky fan had about 100 CDs of various bands associated with Warren Haynes and he was going through them with Warren himself, I felt so sorry for him!

I was inches away from Peter Green once and managed to get my CDs signed as well by him.

My mate Dave got drunk with the guys with Muse once in Leeds, he was actually sat chatting to Matt Bellamy!

Lucky him.

I have met the man himself, Peter Gabriel, in 1977.

I also met all of the City Boy band in 1979

I met the Swedish rock act Wasa Express

I saw BB King in an airport

I saw Sinead O Connor in another airport

I just happened to be in the same record store as Evergrey two weeks ago in Malmö! They were signing records.

 

I do live quite close to where Ayreon lives, so I hope I will get a chance to meet him

In the early Eighties I had a short talk with Peter Gabriel when I noticed him opening a side-door from the building were he should give his performance, we were sitting in a queue, waiting for the door to be opened. He was very friendly but avoided my question when I asked his opinion about 'poppy Eighties Genesis'...  

I met French progrock legend Francis Decamps in the dressing room shortly before the Ange concert in 2003 in The Netherlands. He was pleased with my words of appreciation about 30 years Ange and gave me literally a big hand  !

I had a long talk with Thijs Van Leer about vintage keyboards after his concert with Focus on a open air festival in Holland a few years ago, he was very enthousiastic. I even helped him bearing his Hammond L100 from the stage to his van, a historical moment for me!

In the Nineties I did interviews (working for several Dutch progrock magazines) with Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon), the late Rick Van Der Linden (Ekseption/Trace), Ton Scherpenzeel (Kayak/Camel), all the members of Finch (drummer Beer Klaasse from Q65 and Finch appeared to live 5 minutes away from me!).

These were unforgettable experiences for me because when I was young I admired all abover mentioned musicians and many years later I could have a pleasant talk with my childhood heroes!

 

 

I've met Steve Hogarth,Steve Rothery and Peter Trewavas from Marillion during the Marbles tour in 2004 in Montreal.They were just coming after dinner to the venue for the concert and passed near the fans who were in line for the concert and they simply came talking to us! Those guys are really cool and they like their fans a lot and it was a pleasure talking to them.They are not phony and are very simple guys.

Another band member I met(even if it's not prog) is Nicolas Godin from the french band Air.I met him during the "Moon Safari" tour in Montreal in 1998.I was going to this concert with my uncle(who is 12 years my senior) and was waiting for him at a newstand near the venue of the concert.I was reading some music magazines when I heard someone asking with a french accent"Do you have french newspapers here?".I turn my head and recognize Nicolas.He pay for his newspapers and came near me checking some music mags.Then, I began talking to him and we talked a lot about vintage synthesizers and mellotrons.He was a little rushed by the time and he invited me backstage during the opening band where I met the rest of the band and specially Brian Kehew and Roger Manning of the Moog Cookbook,who were side keyboardist for Air during that tour.There, we talked more about synths and mellotrons(those guy are real amateurs and connaisseurs on the subject).We had a very good time backstage,drinking a beer and chatting.My uncle didn't beileve his eyes when I say to him that we will meeting the band when he arrives for the concert.He was laughing at me for my love of old synthesizers and mellotrons some time before this concert saying it was the past music(he loved prog music but then he just discovered techno music and renied everything he loved as a youngster).After that,he never laughed at mellotrons again.

Air came two more times in Montreal after that tour in 2001 and 2004.I've never remet Nicolas but each time he waved his hands at me (I'm always near the stage).My friends,with wich I came for those two latter concerts(they replace my uncle) where very suprised by that.

For those who don't know this band very well, I recommand the "Virgins Suicide" soundtrack wich is more close to progressive music.That album is influenced by early Pink Floyd and King Crimson and all the tracks contain (real) mellotron and is very dark in atmosphere.Very recommanded.

I've only met with Tony Levin and talked to him about his plkans with King Crimson for 2007

i have met California Guitar Trio members and Pat Mastelotto

also all the members of Cabezas de Cera

Sacred 22 wrote: ViolinCyndee wrote: HAHAH!! I have met, and played with both Nik Turner and Harvey Bainbridge of Hawkwind.  Also played with members of The Muffins (Paul Sears, Dave Newhouse), Illuvatar (Jim Rezek), Stinking Lizeveta (Yanni Papadapoulous), Present (Keith Macksoud).. Also know all of the band Gong--several different lineups.  (Daevid did my coverart!!) Hung out with Ozric Tentacles, met Annie Haslam several times, met Tony Levin.. Cyndee   Very cool indeed.  I hear Tony is quite the eccentric

He was very down to earth and sweet!  He even mentioned the idea of playing with me!!  (yes I was in total shock!)   Of course, I'd be in shock even more if it were to actually happen!!!!! 

Cyndee