Meeting your heroes

[revo333]

Should you?

Shouldn't you?

Was it a good or bad experience?

Not really a Hero but the closest for me...

I discovered a band from LA and a few years later got to see them at bar while i was over there and after their gig the singer/songwriter was standing on his own and i thought should i talk to him or not. Well i did and it was a very nice 5 minute conversation but the risk in my eyes was if it went bad would it effect the way i listened to the music again?

 

[perthblue]

I don't care so much about meeting the person behind the writing or music that i enjoy. I rarely read autobiographies for this reason.

 

[M Malice]

The reality never matches the reverie.

 

[DroopStDanny]

I hope people aren't going to come here and gratuitously name-drop. It was only last week when I was telling Mick Jagger how much I hate that.

 

[revo333]

I don't care so much about meeting the person behind the writing or music that i enjoy. I rarely read autobiographies for this reason.

What if you had a window of opportunity to thank them for the music?

 

[Demosthenes]

Having heroes isn't the best idea to start with. People are just people.

 

[perthblue]

What if you had a window of opportunity to thank them for the music?

A bit awkward and lame in my opinion, but thats just my thoughts.

 

[Freofalcon]

Had my chance when I was six years old.

Was flying to Sydney and I noticed my favourite footballer was sitting a couple of rows behind me.

I told my Mum and she suggested I go and say hello.

I was terrified. I couldn't move.

All I could do was keep sneaking a peak behind me and he eventually noticed me.

He gave me a smile and a wave every time he saw me looking at him and ruffled my hair when we got off the plane.

That was enough for me.

 

[Sainteric]

Having heroes isn't the best idea to start with. People are just people.

Yup generally I was a long time ago in the entertainment industry and worked at parliament house as well for a short period and I have met plenty of famous musicians actors politicians most of them are just like us or worse.

 

[perthblue]

Had my chance when I was six years old.

Was flying to Sydney and I noticed my favourite footballer was sitting a couple of rows behind me.

I told my Mum and she suggested I go and say hello.

I was terrified. I couldn't move.

All I could do was keep sneaking a peak behind me and he eventually noticed me.

He gave me a smile and a wave every time he saw me looking at me and ruffled my hair when we got off the plane.

That was enough for me.

who was it

 

[the_interloper]

Yup generally I was a long time ago in the entertainment industry and worked at parliament house as well for a short period and I have met plenty of famous musicians actors politicians most of them are just like us or worse.

Bullshit m8 you met Kym Gyngell at an airport once and that's it.

 

[utility]

Met guys from a number of my favourite bands.

First time was a Japanese tour, ended up hanging out with them a few times and had a great night getting drunk with them in Osaka. At the time I was obsessed with the band so was a little in awe (listened to them every day for about five years), though the drummer was really cool so it was easy to have conversations. Through that experience I realised they were not gods, just guys.

One of my other all-time favourite bands I was again in Japan, though for a metal festival (Loud Park), Backstage passes and album shopping, out dinner with them, etc. I recorded their final show as well so got to hang out with them for that, and their farewell show in the UK I ended up backstage and at the after party.

I discovered a band on the internet about two years ago, best band I've discovered for over a decade. Was chatting with the singer for several months via email, ended up going to the USA to see them play. Slept in his basement! I became friends with the guitarist who is in another of my all time favourite bands. Went out to see them play in February this year, also attended their band practice and got a lift from one of the most active guitarists/producers in the hardcore scene.

Now for name dropping - met Mike Muir and Mike Clark years ago at a Suicidal Tendencies show. Got them to sign my vinyl covers and had a chat. Also met Rocky George at a Cro-Mags NYC gig and he signed them too.

Fortunately they've all been really cool guys (unlike people like Danzig from what I hear). As is the case with people you get a mix of introverts and extroverts, so it's a matter of socialising according to their personalities. Given I listen to a lot of metal/hardcore/punk/rock the musicians I admire usually have day jobs and music is their creative outlet.

I also met Jimmy Krakouer at Arden Street one day when I was about 8 years old. I don't think I said a word, but was a cool experience.

 

[Sainteric]

Bullshit m8 you met Kym Gyngell at an airport once and that's it.

Nope never met him this was in later part of 1980s not sure he was 'famous' then either.

 

[Silent Alarm]

When I was a kid Mike Hussey said I was cool. Didn't like cricket all that much.

Tried organising coke for one of my favourite bands, hung out with them.

 

[Silent Alarm]

But really, I don't hero worship anyone now as I think everyone over 16 does. You know guys who get drafted and realise footballers are very unremarkable, even All Australians, and they're just like anyone else and in many cases way way worse than anyone else as they're so narrow.

Things like musicians are mostly eh. You generally see band members walk around the venue and I leave it because eh, I don't care that much, but if I'm a big fan and had some beers I'll say g'day. A 'hey man' and normal conversation can be okay.

If I saw someone hugely famous who I thought was okay or really relevant to me, like Thom Yorke down the street or something, I'd try with a 'g'day' but leave it there. If it was a Taylor Swift and it's that rare and she's that famous I'll be a kid and get a photo.

My best encounter with a 'celebrity' was meeting Vito from The Sopranos in New York. He hangs out the back of his hatchback selling merch near the Sopranos tour. I went up and got a photo and he was exactly as you expected. These slack jawed American tourists were waiting for a photo behind me and they go 'hey look, who was he again?' 'Oh it's Bobby' to which I said 'Jesus Christ, that's scary, you get that a bit?' and he goes - and it's like he's completely in character - '****in **** suckers.' That was gold.

 

[Freofalcon]

who was it

Stephen Michael

 

[Gough]

I sat next to Terry Alderman on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne when the pilots strike was on. I've met three people I'd regard as heroes of mine, AB, Govan Mbeki and Julia Gillard. None of them disappointed, they were super cool, I was totally star f***ed.

 

[Roobs321]

I was never one of those people who grew up idolising other people, so meeting your "heroes" has never been a focus. I'd read autobiographies, but more for a perspective on how things developed and were experienced than anything else. At the end of the day, they are just people who have produced things you value.

I saw Autechre for the first time the over night, my long-time favourite music act, and didn't even bother to pull out my phone or anything. Was just ecstatic to get a decent front row glimpse of them at work and experience a gig.

I'm one of those people who'd say g'day, good luck with the ____ or thanks, maybe even just a nod, but let them get on with their day. Was never one to ask for autographs or selfies.

I've met a few famous people, worked with people I've previously been a fan of, etc etc and I can understand the hit and miss nature of that familiarity can leave an impression, but at the end of the day they are just people you value and fellow enthusiasts.

My younger (now deceased brother) had a training run with David Rudisha in early 2012, prior to the London Olympics. That's my idea of a star encounter, having a reason to be in that moment and share in a passion between an established star and young aspirant. Rudisha's subsequent successes at London and Rio, and my brother's own untimely tragedy, makes some of those photos and memories rather special to me now.

 

[Andre]

As a sci-fi / fantasy fan (geek alert) I usually get to a couple of conventions each year. Although we mostly get the B-grade out here in Australia, I've managed to strike it lucky enough to get a few during quiet periods of signings etc., where could have a chat for a few minutes. I'm an introvert, so they weren't usually too free flowing conversations, but still enjoyed. Gigi Edgley was the easiest to chat to, easy going laid back Aussie girl, had a good chat to her for 10 - 15 minutes.

 

[HBF]

I met Chris Judd when he first crossed to Carlton, and it's the one and only time I have felt star struck.

 

[Mofra]

Stephen Michael

Damn. I had Clive Waterhouse in the General Discussion sweep.

 

[palmomagpie]

I've had good experiences with heroes! Growing up in Darwin i never got to see Hawthorn, but when i was 12 i went over to Melbourne and my grandpa took me to Waverley. Birchall and Campbell Brown were my favourite players at the time, and i waited at the gate for them to leave the field. Brown came out first and stopped and talked to us for a good 10 minutes, which in the mean time Birchall had slipped by and into a meeting with some of the coaches. My grandpa mentioned it to Brown, who then went into the rooms, grabbed Birchall and he came out and apologized to me and gave me a free hat. I was absolutely ecstatic! Then when i was flying home, Chance Bateman saw me at the gate in my new geurnsey and he walked over and shook my hand and took a photo. I was pretty humbled from that trip!

Also met Austin Carlisle, the lead singer of one of my favourite bands, in the Fallout Boy moshpit at Soundwave Adelaide 2015. He was absolutely smashed after his gig, and was a good laugh. Was just mixing in with all of us

 

[MaddAdam]

Depends how you "meet" them.

Randomly accosting anyone in a public place isn't likely to get a great response.

 

[Plugger35]

I sat next to Terry Alderman on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne when the pilots strike was on. I've met three people I'd regard as heroes of mine, AB, Govan Mbeki and Julia Gillard. None of them disappointed, they were super cool, I was totally star f***ed.

Terry Alderman and Kim Hughes came down to help coach us at junior cricket training back when they were banned from State and International cricket for going on the Rebel South African tour and could only play Perth club cricket.

I wouldn't say they were my heroes, my favourite Australian player back then was Allan Border, but I was still in awe of them, not that they spent much time giving me coaching tips as they could probably tell I was just a bog average plodder with no future at State or International level.

Damn. I had Clive Waterhouse in the General Discussion sweep.

I had my money on West Perth legend Les Fong, most Victorians wouldn't know who he is but anyone that followed the WAFL in the 80s would know him.

Back in those days you could run on to the ground after the game to pat the players on the back and follow them off the ground, if you were lucky you got let into the changerooms to join in the song after a win before being ushered out by the stewards but you still saw stuff that kids shouldn't be allowed to see.

 

[Shane Sheridan]

Stephen Michael

Would've preferred any of Menaglio, Fong, Duckworth, Dayman.