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At The Cavern to see Ali Maas and Mick Moody, (rock guitarist of note).
Afterwards, word with the great man.
Me: "The first live band I ever saw, upstairs in The Kingston Hotel in 1968..."
Mick Moody: "What?"
Me: "The first band I ever saw, upstairs in The Kingston Hotel in 1968, was Juicy Lucy!"
Mick Moody: "I wasn't in the band then. I didn't join until 1970."
Me: "Really? Oh well, bugger off then." 🙂
Me and Ginger, from great British band the Wildhearts
Me: "Incomprehensible drunken scottishness"
Ginger: "Incompehensible drunken geordieness"
Me: "Incomprehensible drunken scottishness"
Ginger: "Incompehensible drunken geordieness"
Me: "Incomprehensible drunken scottishness"
Ginger: "Incompehensible drunken geordieness"
After a couple of minutes of total failure to communicate I literally ran away... Met him again years later in a quieter place with less drink involved and he went "Oh, that was YOU!". Then at an acoustic show a year or two later he spotted me and told the story to the whole crowd 😳
Me...thats £2.99 please
Gail from Corrie ..thank you.
I slept with Susan Boyle.
True story.
She was in the seat next to me on a flight back from LA. We spoke for a while in the lounge, and before take off. She'd just been in Vegas singing with an Osmond, about whom she was gushing with praise and adulation, and I'd been in Vegas at the same time (Selling paperclips, obviously). We discussed Vegas, flying and the longing to get home!
Charming lass. Snores a bit.
Aside from that, worked in TV for a while, so met many slebs during that time. Have also met a fair few other interesting/famous folks over the years. Had a chat with Simon Barnes at the urinals at Burghley a few years ago, for example. Oh, the exalted circles I move in!
David Coultard and I swapped driving tips - I had reversed into a car outside pub in Twynholm, he had bumped his ride in practice the weekend before...
Boris and his dad and I had a blether over a coffee - I was clearing up a trade stand and he was early for speaking at event and looking for coffee, and smelt ours brewing...
Interviewed:
Kate Humble
Benedict Allen
Lesley Garrett
Brian Blessed
Neil Warnock
David Seddon
Atomic Kitten
Kriss Akabusi
John Craven
Had conversations with Akabusi, Craven, Allen and Humble from that lot. Kerry Katona snogged me. John Craven told me to apply for a job on countryfile
Captain Eric Brown. Twice. A lovely gentleman
Robert Plant. Well, not [i]exactly[/i] a conversation TBH. in the service department of Listers Audi Worcester a few years ago, I was sitting on the sofa he sat on the other end and said "morning" to me and I said "morning" back.
Worked with Jamie rednap (football TVs show) nice guy
Connor mcgregor: Met and been to his house in Vegas a few times (UFC fighter)
Sat at Jenner Jameson's (ADULT actress) table in a club and chatted with her and her BF
Had a lengthy chat with an old guy in racing overalls about a Bugatti 35 at the Festival of Speed one year, I had earlier witnessed Ron Dennis behind a barrier posing around and looking aloof but this guy spent about 20 minutes chatting like he'd known me all my life! parted ways and carried on the day. The following Christmas I bought the video (VHS, yes that long ago!), sat watching it one evening suddenly the very same guy appears being interviewed ......
Sir Jack Brabham!
still hilarious: http://krissakabusisexstories.blogspot.co.uk
That is quite possibly the finest thing on teh interwebz! Not even this can improve on it..... http://www.pornolize.com/ (Caution - Many, many, many rude words in both links!)
Was drunk at an FA charity dinner. Had a chat with Terry Venables. Thought it would be nice for my dad to say hello so told El Tel that it was dad's birthday (it wasn't) and rang dad up for a chat.
It was 1am and dad was asleep.
He awoke to, "Hi John, many happy returns. Terry Venables here..."
Awkward.
Trying to bump start a mates car at a local pub
Robert Plant and aquaintance wander over..........
Rob - need a hand
Me - ok
Bump starts car
Me - thanks guys
Rob and mate - smile and wave fairwell
Didn't know who he was untill another mate explained afterwards 🙂
Sir Richard Branson; "Hi!"
Me; "Hello"
SRB; "how's it all going?"
Me; "Erm....OK"
SRB; "Riight. Well have a nice day"
Me; "thanks"
I just didn't know what to say. He just waved after that rather than talk. He probably didn't see the point.
Shaun Ryder in Ibiza. Don't remember much. We were all out if it. Same with Jay Kay.
Was at a Mini do at Sandown Park, early January. Me and a mate were camping in the snow, whilst exhibiting his car we had jointly built. Think the organisers fely sorry for us, so let us use their lounge in the day to save us from freezing to death.
Anyway final day of the show and I'm sitting in the lounge on my own, when an oldish fella walks in and sits down. He starts up conversation and we have a good natter bout cars, shit and the weather. He loved it we were camping. Any way long story short, come presentation time this same fella gets introduced on stage to present the awards. It was John Cooper, who even gave a mention to his new mate he'd met in the lounge who was camping in the snow.
Never knew it was him, thoroughly nice bloke.
Marcel
Have worked at Ken Bruce's house, seemed a really nice guy when he came to see us after getting home from his radio show.
Seen quite a few actors when working at my local theatre
Have been working on and off for an 'A' list celeb for the last few years....can't say too much as signed a secrecy agreement, but she was in an Austin Powers film....
Can't say i have had a proper conversation with her except about positions of sockets and light...but I guess that counts
I was doing some training of staff at Digital Domain, walking in quite early through the building to the mocap room when James Cameron quite literally leapt out from behind a cubical "I don't know you and you don't work here" he says pointing at me "Nope" I says "I'm here training some of the guys on the mocap system", "Oh" he says "Are we paying you ?" he asks, "No it's part of the service". "That's ok then". Off he walks.
Gary Linekar. Asked him if he had fancied management instead of the TV work. His responce was something along the lines of "why would I do that with all the stress when I can sit and have a laugh with mates and get paid for it ?"
Paul Weller, at Theatre in Woking. We are both having a leak when another guy came in recognised him and asked for an autograpgh, the great man said "F-off I'm having a piss"
Met Keanu Reeves once as he was at "our table", there was no conversation as he was passed out drunk in the corner.
@wrecker have met Sir Richard a few times when flying Virgin, what really impressed me is he spent more time per passenger when I was in Economy with my kids than when flying business. He is a most engaging guy and always did seem to be wearing a ragged home knit sweater
Had to give a lift to that bloke who played Reg Holdsworth.
Absolute **** who rattled on about UKIP type things.
Ari Vatanen in a sauna.
It was only as he was leaving that I realised who he was, and I apologised.
He invited me to join the team later in the bar.
I walked in and he shouted for me to come over 🙂 Cracking night.
Oh, I met Weller myself once. Paris. We'd just arrived backstage to share the dressing room with The Jam.
Looked around the divider screen and there was Weller, his dad John and the bass player.
I said "Oh, hello Paul".
He didn't reply. Just looked at me started shaking...
Famous BBC journalist once interviewed my kids and left me his number for any future stories he might have followed up on. I put it in my phone as 'His name...Rad' short for radio.
When I had a plumbing emergency I called him thinking he was the guy who put my radiators in and he left a voicemail saying 'I don't know much about radiators, I'm a BBC journalist'...
I sold Marc Beaumont some Stan's tape once...
Ate some fast food and drunk a beer with Quentin Tarantino at a rave, made drunken small talk. Seemed a odd guy with even odder associates but we both may of been a bit inebriated.
I sold Marc Beaumont some Stan's tape once...
Pfft.
I sold David "Kid" Jenson some padded pants. Oh, and sold Scary Spice a bike as well.
Alex Patterson from The Orb - I know you from somewhere don't I?
Me - errr... dunno, yeah maybe....
Alex - Yeah I definitely do.. Where is it?
Me - gawd knows.. could be that big party at Hinkley Point on the queen's golden jubilee?
Alex - I can't remember if I was there.. everything gets a bit blurry
Me - innit.. I dunno then... can I have a go on your joint?
Andy Diagram of Spaceheads and trumpet player with James and I had a brief conversation about his partner's wish to DJ at my wedding and her amazingly obscure record collection.. I was a bit starstruck though and spent the rest of the evening wishing that I'd asked him if his Gore Bikewear jacket was cos he was into bikes
An old girlfriend of mine told Davina McCall to **** off when she burst into the tattoo shop we were sitting in.. She was filming for the TV series Streetmates and looked pretty crestfallen
Robert Plant seems to crop up a lot in these kind of stories.
You get the impression he spends his spare time just wandering round talking to strangers.
Had lunch many years ago with Clive Dunn and his wife Priscilla Morgan. In their apartment.
young sailor sentry duty lateish one cold dark night
scimitar pulls up
nonchalantly stroll over lean in the car window
"yes darling , can i help you "
bird in car " i'm here to see my brother "
me " who's yer brother darlin' "
bird in car " Prince Charles "
me "yes ma'am whilst saluting smartly
Can I borrow your track pump please?
Sure
Thanks
Me and Gary Fisher besties!!
scimitar pulls up
But then....
" who's yer brother darlin' "
Surely you knew the answer to your question as soon as you saw the Scimitar?
Second floor?
Yeah me too thanks
Me and Jean Luc Picard in an elevator at Heathrow. Still regret not saying "make it so".
Spoken to hundreds of "famous" people over the years.
I don't really get all the excitement about it. They're just people.
Once had a long chat with Billy Connolly about old racers (road bikes these days).. Couple of years later he walked past and called me a "****" for riding my BMX on the pavement. A few more years passed and I saw him at a junction in Partick riding a massive motortricycle in a bandanna. seemed wrong not to return the compliment.
Passed a pleasent few minutes with William Hague at the urinals in a welsh hotel (so to speak) - surprised to find him to be an OK guy.
Julia Bradbury and Tony Robinson both filmed documentaries outside my house: he was fine she was not really.
Prince Charles, he's a nobber.
Alberto Contador, he's OK.
Tom Baker, or Dr WHO rang up (OK he mis-dialled) and we chatted for about 45mins.
Lent a pen to a famous actress so she could sign her contract for Tampax adverts.
The White Stig follows me on Twitter.
Garry Christian (The Christians) asked us the way to the bogs in a club in Liverpool where we had gone to watch The Contortion Company (a band we knew and supported, but aren't famous).
trumping you all here.....
Bobby "King of bling" George came down to do an exhibition and we got on so well he offered me a job as his driver. The only slight problem was I couldn't drive.
Me to barmaid "Can I have a half ounce of golden virginia please"
Barmaid "Certainly, that will be £x.xx"
Max Miller (sat on barstool) "Alright, mate"
Me "Alright"
Flashie , what makes it worse was Charles was my divisional officer at the time .
I once served Bob Crampsey with 3 star petrol. Our conversation centred round him berating me for giving him the more expensive of the two types of 3 star!
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Me, my Wife and Father-in-law met Joe Gilgun at Rivington. He was on a Cannondale of some description proper going for it.
Talking to him about the best routes round there until my missus clicked and asked him was he off the telly!
He said yes, but I'll let you figure out where from. Nice guy 🙂
Seen him a few time since in passing (usually quite fast!).
Mid 90's and I'm out on the mountain bike, lovely day in the woods near Machynlleth. Came down a track in a place called Artist's Valley and had to get off to negotiate a couple of gates in a farm yard. Chap sat in a garden by the trail, had a chat about the weather, where I'd come from, where I was going etc. I'm thought the bloke looked a bit "lived in" even for a farmer with black long curly hair. Few weeks later I'm watching a rockumentary, seems I'd been chatting to Jimmy Page. Led Zep recorded a lot of their work at a farm near Mach and Robert Plant has/ had a house there.
Once interviewed Hot Chocolate for the BBC. Every bit as cool as you'd imagine them to be.
They were bottom of the bill below Lemar and a ABBA tribute band, Lemar was so up his own arse he wouldn't talk to anyone, and Bjorn Again were so up their arse we wish we'd not tried.
Rob Warner's dad whilst out on the bike, seemed genuinely surprised that I'd heard of his son.
Tom Baker, or Dr WHO rang up (OK he mis-dialled) and we chatted for about 45mins.
Hate to be the one to break it to you mate but that was just a voice text from BT
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4665254.stm
Drunken chat with Armin Schwartz in a night club after the Spanish round of the wrc several years ago, bet he was glad when we went back to the bar lol.
sat next to Elle Macpherson in a private box at the O2 listening to the Eagles !
I think I win....
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@g1galus 🙂 quality. Was at a Save the Children charity event where Princess Anne was guest of honour, she was a great sport particulary as her speech followed a Rory Bremner warm up which had more than one cose to the wire joke about her brothers.
@piston excellent
Led Zep recorded a lot of their work at a farm near Mach
Owner told me they trashed the place.
also chatted with Ross Kemp.
well shouted "alright bruv" at him in Brighton.
told Alan Parsons to fetch some boards for the stage (which he duly did) thinking he was one of the stage hands. this was at the DIVA awards a few years back in Munich. only realised that he perhaps wasn't one of the stage hands when he started to rehearse.
have pic of David Attenborough holding me in his arms. i was about 4, i think.
Had to make idle chit chat while face scanning:
Gary oldman, Gillian Anderson, Mark hamill, John Rhys Davies, Mark strong, rhona mitre and a load more who I can't talk about...
Worked on numerous concert tours and dozens of tv shows and movies.
The conversations that go on at 3am on a roof top between takes whilst waiting for some muppet director to sort his shit out cannot be repeated lest the stars get into trouble!
Only ever had a couple who were total arses - Colin Farrel being one. Out of his skull on set, screaming abuse at everyone until his GF at the time (who was the star) sparked him out...
Oooh.
Andrew Motion (He was in town to deliver a lecture and I got the job of taking him to the pub afterwards - we talked about Tennyson and Philip Larkin)
Prince Philip (Gold DofE award ceremony)
Ali Brownlee ("sorry mate you can't come into transition without your number")
Robert Plant ("Got a light mate? Cheers")
Christopher Eccleston (in the theatre bar after his performance of Hamlet)
Willy Russell (interviewed him for a radio programme)
Malcolm McDowell - at adjacent urinals ("not often you find yourself having a piss next to Caligula")
Kazuo Ishiguro ("could you sign it to John please? Thanks")
Bradley Wiggins ("could you sign it to John please? Thanks. Good luck in Rio")
Graeme Obree (lovely guy - couldn't get rid of the bloke - he gave me his address and everything)
Chris Boardman (nice chat about cycling advocacy and Graeme Obree)
Walking through the door of the kings head in Bishops Castle. Came face to face with a bare chested rock god.
Me, alright Bob.
Robert Plant, yes young man and you?
I was 43, young!?
he is a all round nice bloke.
I spoke with a former Prime Minister of Canada twice, and had an extended conversation with a retired Archbishop of Canterbury just a few weeks ago.
OK, has anybody NOT met Robert Plant?
I sold Marc Beaumont some Stan's tape once...
Pfft.
I sold David "Kid" Jenson some padded pants. Oh, and sold Scary Spice a bike as well.
I sold Robbie Earle a mahogany dining table and chairs. At full price too 8)
Lots of the bripop bands of the 90s, as I helped to set up the stage at our university. They seemed to endlessly there at one point.
The current PM.
William Hague at the urinals in a welsh hotel (so to speak) - surprised to find him to be an OK guy
I interviewed a number of MPs and ministers in my newspaper days and the big majority were very charming and pleasant, even the Tories. That's how they got where they were.
The other famous folks that stick in my memory...
Charlotte Church - When she was 12 or 13. So precocious, funny and charismatic - as well as being a talented singer obvs.
Phill Jupitus - Not the most famous, but hands down the nicest celeb I ever had to deal with. Could hardly get off the phone to him when doing an interview for a 400-word pre-piece for his live show. Really chatty and genuine.
Beryl Bainbridge - A writer I now consider one of Britain's best novelists, but wasn't really aware of when I was sent to interview her. She was almost apologetic for my embarrassing lack of preparation.
Harry Hill - Nice enough, but he wasn't that impressed with my comparison of his TV show (of which I was a big fan) with The Muppet Show.
John Craven - Bit grumpy.
Douglas Hurd - Very grumpy.
David Seaman: "Hi, can you leave that gate open"
Me: "Sure".
<Dave drives through gate and I shut it afterwards>
TRUSTORY!
Kelly Brook: "That was amazing"
Me: "Yeah, I know"
Rocky: "Respect dude"
Me: "Whatever"
SpongeBob: "I'm scared"
Lot of drugs that night.
Met Rory McCann in the local pub, recognised him from the tv and the porage adds, bought him a pint and asked him if he was keeping busy, said he was between work at that time but was about to start a new role, turned out to be The Hound in Game of Thrones, seemed a decent chap.
Most recent was at dartmoor zoo chatting to a guy by the enclosure where they have 2 new tigers,really nice guy happy to talk about all sorts.......turns out it was Benjamin Mee of the 'We bought a zoo" story.
Ronnie Barker:" This is Mr Barker of xxxxxx lane. I'd like to cancel my newspapers for 2 weeks whilst I'm on holiday please".
Me : "certainly Mr Barker I can do that for you."
sat next to Elle Macpherson in a private box at the O2 listening to the Eagles !
I've met a man who wrote, or co-wrote some of the Eagle's greatest hits, like [i]New Kid In Town, Best Of My Love, Heartache Tonight[/i], has a recurring part in [i]Nashville[/i], dated Stevie Nicks and Linda Ronstadt, and is the nicest bloke you could meet, he was chuffed to bits I'd brought along a copy of one of his earlies albums on vinyl.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Souther
My Mrs had a couple of fairly lengthy conversations with this former Radio Caroline and Piccadilly Radio DJ.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Teret
Okay, so they were on tape and under caution but they all count! 🙂
Plenty, including some pillow time....However Sir Alec Guiness was a friend of my Auntie and had a chat as a lad at a party she hosted at her place in London. Queen Mother gave me a hug and chatted away when I was six. My Great Uncle played for the West Indies and was responsible for the first ever tied test (vs Aus in 1961) this got me into the WI dressing room many times during the Richards era and the anniversary test at the Gabba in 2001.
Had a bacon roll and a long chat with Euan Thomas from the One Show. Then helped him stalk a gardiner who was dressed in camo gear so he could send a tweet comparing him to Steven Seagal. 1 days filming for my 30 seconds of fame on the show.
Wiggo - sound as a pound
Cav - depends on the day, can be fine, can be grumpy,
Luke Rowe - genuine nice bloke.
OK real people off the telly not cyclists.
Joe Pasqualle - " are you joe Pasqualle " him in trademark squeaky voice " yeah mate "
That really annoying guy off Flog It, Paul Martin think he's called, tried to have a laugh with him at a antiques fair and he looked at me as if I was something he had stood in.
If anyone is old enough to remember the Houghton Weavers, they had their own BBC 1 show in the 70's and were massive at the time. The lead singer lives not far from me and his aunt used to babysit me. Speak to him quite often.
Lots of politicians through work. Not very exciting
Had a discussion with Dr Alice Roberts about Metallica who she was about to see at Glastonbury.
Working for a web-design company in a converted shop in Fitzrovia, as the new bod I got shunted into the spare room, which also turned out to be the only place available to use as a changing room when Bill Oddie arrived and needed to put on a Santa Claus costume for an advert or promotion of some kind they were shooting downstairs...
Naturally as he stripped down to his white Y-fronts I asked him if he was heading anywhere exotic for birdwatching in the near future. As it happened he was soon to be flying to New Jersey, which surprised me as I thought it was rather industrial, but he assured me there were wetlands with excellent migratory birdlife.
Apparently he's often a grumpy sod but he was quite nice at that time.
Walked past Christoph Waltz at Pinewood , had eye contact, and in my best bristolian accent said "alright mate" .
He just looked at me funny
At the tender age of 10, my dad left me chatting to Angela Ripon (off the news) at The Usher Hall.
More recently I had to ask Mark Lanegan and his entourage to please shift out of shot whilst shooting a wedding at The Sage.
Used to sit and play with Cathal McConnell, Aly Bain et al at the impromptu sessions at the Edinburgh festival.
Oh, and went for coffee with Alan Spence (Scottish writer) in Edinburgh.
Fully appreciate most folk won't have heard of any of the above 🙂
An ex-Python had a very noisy poo in our office toilet.
Not so much conversation but regularly had Kevid McKidd's arm between my legs on Wednesday's and Saturday's.
I had to ask Mark Lanegan and his entourage to please shift out of shot whilst shooting a wedding at The Sage.
Most excellent!
Dr David Owen, the least said about it the better.
Former Home Sec Jacqui Smith taught me a level economics.
Had a night out in that London with that blokes whats married to Billie Piper.
Spent a wonderful few hours on a train journey north with Claire Grogan of Altered Images, she was delightful and I was very much in love at our parting.
Also met Lucy Pinder, model, very pretty and charming but her minders were just thugs.
Met Jamie Baulch and Darren Campbell in Australia. Really nice guys, Jamie give my wife a pair of sunglasses as she'd lost hers earlier in the day.
Mick Talbot, had a chat backstage at a Galliano gig once. Clearly loves his music.
Damon Hill, was having dinner with his son at the table next to me. Not a chat but a polite hello and such.
Billy Connelly at the Mardi Gras in Sydney. I was have an open discussion with both the marchers and the protesting religious factions 😀 Billy came over and said how much fun it was.
I've also met a bunch of rappers you've probably never heard of!