Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

April Wine in a couple of configurations:
1) Myles Goodwin, Dave and Ritchie Henman, Jim Clench
2) Brian Greenway, Myles Goodwin, Jerry Mercer, Breen Leboeuf (also ex-Offenbach)

Long John Baldry,
Neil Young,
Oscar Peterson,
Buddy Knox (I was VERY young),
Lee Aaron,
Greg Keelor (Blue Rodeo),
Collin James,
Corey Diabo (Jonas),
J.P. Cormier,
Matt Anderson,
Powder Blues Band
Downchild Blues Band
Les Emmerson (Five Man Electrical Band)
Keith Hutchinson (Johnny Clegg & Savuka)

I met the 1st incarnation of April Wine on my list in 1973 at a local high school, where the boys were playing. I met Ritchie Henmans and Jim Clench again in 1988 at a jam session in our apartment basement. They were aquaintances of my current band's other guitar player. We got together in our basement for an acoustic jam. A ton of fun.

The second incarnation of AR on my list I met at different places and different means. I had met Brian a couple of times at a local watering hole, the Maples Inn (the Mapes), and found out through him that I lived next door to his aunt and uncle. He introduced me to Myles (again) and Breen at a party we met up at. Jerry I met through my bands charity work and at different functions. he does a lot of local charity work and is a wonderful person.

I met Long John Baldry at the Mapes in 1977 for the first time. He was very friendly and was more than pleased to let us buy him a few drinks between sets while he regaled us with talk about different gigs and events that he either experienced (or wished he had, hard to tell sometimes). A great guy who loved to entertain all the time. Not long (almost a year I think) after the first meeting we had, he returned to the Mapes for another gig. Of course we were first in line and he remembered us quite well, and was once again only too happy to share a table let us by him a few rounds...

While he was in the middle of his second set, a fairly scruffy guy asked us if he could join us at the table. We were all focused on Long John but nodded and mumbled "sure, have a seat". That is how I met Neil Young. He had stopped his bus to watch Long John on his way in to a Montreal gig, and noticed Long John had been occupying a place at our table. So the second set break was road stories by LJB and Neil Young. I remember Neil got a ticket for the bus being parked in the wrong place.

My closest friend was with me at the time, and apparently we were both full of ourselves for months afterward. We were just 18 at the time. Less than 2 years later, the Mapes was burned to the ground by all the new homeowners that couldn't stand the noise. Bummer...

Only a couple of artists from the 75th celebrations and one or two Aussie notables.

Ooops, I can't believe that I left Doug Pinnick, Ty Tabor and Jerry Gaskill of Kings X off my list.
I've met them all 8 times. My band opened for them once in Santa Ana, CA. I even sat at a table in a restaurant in Connecticut with Doug Pinnick at table next to me before a Kings X show. Was a memorable dinner!

Mostly local guys, and not that much famous. But i'm glad i know (and, in some cases, unfortunately it would be "knew" ) and talked to them.

Toots Hibbert
Laurel Aitken
Lynn Tait
Pauline Black
Doug Trendle (Buster Bloodvessel)
Gord Lewis & Frankie Venom (from Teenage Head)
Joey Kiethley (DOA)
Steven Page & Ed Robertson (Barenaked Ladies)

And I ran into Run DMC in London in 1986, just when Walk this Way was popular.

I have encountered many artists over the years. Here's on that I will never forget. I posted this once before in Clough's Classics (in case some of you remember it).

I met Van Morrison in, I believe 1971. We booked him to play at the Gardens in Vancouver.

At that time he was a very moody individual but, he was probably one of the most focused men I have ever met in my life. His band delivered a performance that today, is unrivalled by any artist I have ever seen since. It was a gritty, demanding and sweaty performance that strode off that stage and assaulted your ears with a mixture of angst and feelings so raw, that it swallowed you whole and yet comforted you at the same time.

I can still recall the horn section during the sound check being pushed by Morrison to give their all even though no one was listening. He wanted perfection at all times. There was no letting up.

His music was powerful and dripped with emotion. After he was introduced to the audience they became his only focus for the night. He entertained and left the stage drained. To some degree still fretful that he had not wrenched the last drop of energy out of his charges that night and that perhaps someone might have noticed that there was something left in reserve.

Hopefully he has mellowed somewhat and hopefully he can still perform like that. He is quite a man and a superb artist.

Thanks Brian for the Van the man story very interesting.I suppose that pushing your band to the limit gets results, i also think that James brown practiced the same "lion tamer" routine.In business CONTROL is the element of power, in all its guises the man who has control holds the key to all the doors.Thanks for the post Brian.

Also Greg, Pauline Black is gr8 Celebrate the bullet is a personal Favorite song of mine.I could go on all night about Ska northern soul reggae but im off bye now!

Van Morrison - I don't know where they came from, or who played them, but his stuff has the BEST bass lines!!

Oops!! Forgot to mention a very important one, Joey...... DENNY!!

Mostly local guys, and not that much famous. But i'm glad i know (and, in some cases, unfortunately it would be "knew" ) and talked to them.

Sheena,The people we meet along the road of life that are real and interesting are mostly the ones that are our personal friends and people we know.Im sure you and your friends are more interesting then a Rock star thats got his head up his own Ar*e.Real people are famous to a certain degree!Anyway just thought id mention that!anyway you know me dont you

I met Bob Rock of the Payolas and also Rock and Hyde (he is also a much sought after producer) at a Yamaha by invitation only function a few years back. he was most gracious and in short a very interesting individual to talk to.

He is best known for his production work with bands such as Metallica and Mötley Crüe. He has also worked with Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Cher, The Cult, David Lee Roth, Skid Row, Our Lady Peace and The Tragically Hip to name a few.

I'm gonna meet Queensryche on Thursday.

Im sure you and your friends are more interesting then a Rock star thats got his head up his own Ar*e.

Indeed, Scott! I don't regret not having met any celebrities, cause my friends and mates are better. Frankly, i never really wanted to meet any celebs, no matter how much i liked their music and image, mainly because i was afraid to get disappointed with them real. I mean, rock stars are real people, but their image and reality may be way different.

One evening back in 1983, a friend called and asked if I would want to come and hang out with The Band, Levon Helm & Co. after they played a gig in the Detroit area. Are you kidding? No he wasn't! I knocked on the back door as instructed, Bass player Rick Danko opened up, I said I was Nick's friend [ he had just met them that night ] and with a big grin I was invited in. They treated me like a million bucks ! Levon and Rick did most of the party directing but Richard, Garth and guitarist Jim Weder[robbie robertson's replacement] were all great friendly blokes. The fact I was originally from London, Ont. Canada seemed to clinch my VIP status with my fellow Canadians. A great time was had by all.
About a year later, after moving to Santa Cruz, California, I saw that The Band were to preform at the famous Catalist Club in S.C. I bought a ticket and enjoyed a great show. In the crowd I saw Harry, an older fellow from Toronto who was their road manager. I said hello and to my surprise he remembered me straight away. He invited me to join the boys for the after party. I met Neil Young, another Canadian and S.C. area resident on the way up the stairs ! When I walked in Levon couldn't beleive I had come `all the way from Detroit`. Once again, what a great time. Sitting around talking about Martin Scorsece, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, George Harrison. What did I want to know ? I'm a nobody, they didn't have to be so corgile, thats just the kind of great guys they were.

What a great story. One I'll bet you'll remember fondly for years to come. Thanks for sharing Hank.