I was 14 years old when Cameron Crowe and I became fast friends. The back story to that is long and shall be saved for another time. At the time, Cameron was dating Nancy Wilson of Heart (who he later married, had children with, and divorced) and she and I became fast friends as well. 
This being said, I was after all a teenager, and being besties with these folks just added to my Rolodex of cool people to exploit (because I was a dick you see). Now, to be fair, my concept of exploitation was to call poor Nancy on her personal line in the midst of my teenage parties and make her say "hello" to every single guy who was hot for her in my entire Junior and then Senior class. She would accommodate me with such gracious and genuine sincerity and love...I will never forget her kindness during that time.
So...whenever any of my connections and their bands traveled Philly's way I was immediately setup with the VIP treatment...front row center, backstage passes, nights of debauchery...they were good to me. And I would choose my accompaniment with forethought and wait out the various bribes sent my way.
So let's fast forward to years later down the line...me being 23-ish and now living in LA near Cameron and Nancy...seeing them when time would allow any of us to get together. This was approximately 1990-91 I think. I was the lead singer and lyricist for the band I had joined and was heavily immersed in the Los Angeles music scene via a myriad of sources. Heart was playing at The Forum in Inglewood and Cameron and Nancy insisted I join them.
Okay...so here comes the part where I reveal some of the dickery I had the habit of practicing. I invited my lead guitarist to join me...we did a ridiculous amount of coke in the parking lot before the show and were so hopped up we couldn't find the backstage area. Eventually stumbled across the backstage bar, liquored ourselves up, and came face to face with Cameron who had been looking for me (for 45 minutes) to bring me downstairs and to the VIP..."real" backstage area.
When you go backstage in LA it is vastly different than any other city as SO many other "celeb" types are also backstage at these events. Hence... such acts as Nelson being guests there as well.
Rather than go through all of the preliminary bullshit that led up to the nightmare I will cut to the chase...my douche bag lead guitarist launched into a lengthy tirade with ANN WILSON about how LYRICS DON'T MATTER. To Ann Wilson. Yes, he did. NO I am not shitting you. And I, in my infinite wisdom, launched into a tirade about how Rickie Nelson would roll over in his grave if he could see his two daughters/ I mean sons (yes, I said that) now and what they have become." Yes, I did. NO, I am not shitting you. And yes, they heard me. We were hastily escorted out. Cameron didn't talk to me for a few years following that.
Now, you'll just have to wait for the next story that grabs me...but that is the one that I remembered this afternoon.
This being said, I was after all a teenager, and being besties with these folks just added to my Rolodex of cool people to exploit (because I was a dick you see). Now, to be fair, my concept of exploitation was to call poor Nancy on her personal line in the midst of my teenage parties and make her say "hello" to every single guy who was hot for her in my entire Junior and then Senior class. She would accommodate me with such gracious and genuine sincerity and love...I will never forget her kindness during that time. So...whenever any of my connections and their bands traveled Philly's way I was immediately setup with the VIP treatment...front row center, backstage passes, nights of debauchery...they were good to me. And I would choose my accompaniment with forethought and wait out the various bribes sent my way.
So let's fast forward to years later down the line...me being 23-ish and now living in LA near Cameron and Nancy...seeing them when time would allow any of us to get together. This was approximately 1990-91 I think. I was the lead singer and lyricist for the band I had joined and was heavily immersed in the Los Angeles music scene via a myriad of sources. Heart was playing at The Forum in Inglewood and Cameron and Nancy insisted I join them.
Okay...so here comes the part where I reveal some of the dickery I had the habit of practicing. I invited my lead guitarist to join me...we did a ridiculous amount of coke in the parking lot before the show and were so hopped up we couldn't find the backstage area. Eventually stumbled across the backstage bar, liquored ourselves up, and came face to face with Cameron who had been looking for me (for 45 minutes) to bring me downstairs and to the VIP..."real" backstage area.
When you go backstage in LA it is vastly different than any other city as SO many other "celeb" types are also backstage at these events. Hence... such acts as Nelson being guests there as well.
Rather than go through all of the preliminary bullshit that led up to the nightmare I will cut to the chase...my douche bag lead guitarist launched into a lengthy tirade with ANN WILSON about how LYRICS DON'T MATTER. To Ann Wilson. Yes, he did. NO I am not shitting you. And I, in my infinite wisdom, launched into a tirade about how Rickie Nelson would roll over in his grave if he could see his two daughters/ I mean sons (yes, I said that) now and what they have become." Yes, I did. NO, I am not shitting you. And yes, they heard me. We were hastily escorted out. Cameron didn't talk to me for a few years following that.
Now, you'll just have to wait for the next story that grabs me...but that is the one that I remembered this afternoon.
stcyr:
I'm not sure you were too much of a dick here. You were 23-ish, hopped up & drunk, and obviously of the mind to express your opinions. Trust me, you were far more charitable to Nelson than I would have been 