I worked in Trimdon Labour club back when Tony Blair was elected PM. I spent around 3 minutes talking to him that night. Met Les Dennis at a James Taylor concert few years ago too
I met ABBA in the late 70's and Freddie Mercury in the early 70's In the early 70's I was at friends house for the weekend (being baby sat) his dad was roadie based in Newcastle. He took me and my mate to gigs at Newcastle City Hall many times. ......this time we watched a particular sound check. It was Queen...Freddie tripped over a seat on the stage area. I picked up the seat and asked if he was okay. He apparently said," I'm find, kind sir"....I had never heard of this band back then, but a few years later, after Killer Queen was released, my mates dad kept reminding me about this meeting....Sadly I remember none of it, or the concert because he took us to so many. In the late 70' I was asked by a great friend to operate two cameras (hand held ones) at an ABBA concert at the Albert Hall. I was given a satchel of film cartridges to use at my will. We were positioned right at the front of the stage about 10ft away. It was so hot I nearly passed out. It didn't cost me a penny.(hotel, food and drink was paid for by the Daily Express) The next day we met the band members in the gardens, which was a photo shoot for commercials and for posters etc...It took all afternoon as they had loads of costume changes....they sat with, and mixed with everyone.....wow !....amazingly friendly....I was madly in love with Agnetha (the blonde)...she was the only one I never got to talk to because she was followed around by so many men with their tongues hanging out. If only I could turn the clock back !
I loved Cypress Hill so got to work early so I could meet them properly. They were doing the sound check, we got chatting and they invited me to share their 'catering'. Just before they were due on stage my boss came up to me and asked if I'd operate one of the spotlights as the roadie had collapsed with all the drugs. The group had remembered me and thought it was a fair exchange for the scran. The other roadie gave me a box of coloured filters and the set list with instructions next to each song .... ... bloody terrifying but a laugh looking back. The group gave me an autographed CD, T-shirts and a tour jacket ... ... all of which have been lost on my travels
I’ve met a few Royals, the best moment was meeting the Queen Mother. Had a chance meeting with Harry in Camp Bastion in 2012 as I was preparing to fly back to the UK, sat on my table for a bit of scoff and had a canny chat. Also met Declan Donnelly and that blonde bird he was shagging off Sky, we were in the BA lounge at Heathrow in full combat gear, he got her to take a couple of photos with us.
I've met a few and wouldn't say I am particularly star struck. Mid 80s I met the Queen Mother when ii was posted to Berlin, she didn't say much . I sat next to Lionel Blair in a coffee shop in Woking, and started chatting about the Pantomime he was in, which was excellent. Drove Sir David Attenborough when in the Falkland Islands in the mid 90s - took him to a boat where he was due to set sail for South Georgia. He was so gracious and very chatty. Although I never met him, when I was in Berlin Rudolph Hess, when he was ill, would be brought to the hospital where I worked. He never come in through the front door but was driven around to the back door, which was near our cookhouse. I was at lunch and we knew he was coming in, he got out of the ambulance and into a wheelchair. He was frail (who wouldn't be at his age then). A lot of my colleagues treated him and told me that he was a lovely man
I blagged my way backstage at Gateshead Bon Jovi gig. Around 1995 I think. Never met them but met Ugly Kid Joe! They were hilarious!! Same off stage as on it! Full of energy
Ron Atkinson came to our golf club in Abu Dhabi a couple of years ago, we had finished our round, he was waiting for whoever he was playing with and sitting in the clubhouse having a drink. He could see us looking at him and one of our guys went across for a photo, eventually we all went across to have a chat (about 5 of us) To be honest I always had him down as a grade A prick, but he was one of the nicest guys you could meet and he has a rapier like wit..we spend about 20 mins with him..top bloke
Is that all.... My grandmother blagged tickets off Quiet Riot when they were staying in the same London hotel as her about 40 years ago. She gave them to me (being nearly 60 I don’t thing heavy metal was her thing) thinking that I could just go to Newcastle City Hall and exchange them for tickets for their concert there. Never mind gran, it’s the thought that counts!
Or an opportunity missed by Mrs and Mstr EJK at Perth Glory not long back. I was at work so they both go to the game. Who is sat behind them but Roy Hodgson. Did my lad have a go at him for being so ****e at the England job that he resigned, leaving it open for Big Sam to leave us and start our inglorious descent into the lower leagues? Did he bollocks as like. He went up to him and asked him for his autograph and a photo. Me and him had a chat when he told me, I can tell you!
I spoke to Ron Atkinson outside Wembley in 99, nice bloke as you say Spoke to Princess Margaret in 95, but she talked so quietly! Also had a bit craic with @farnboromackem ten minutes ago in the street. Top bloke