David- forever young ?!

Nah...even way back when Jon was never laid back...NEVER! We only get glimpses of Jon, as well as the other guys. They all can be dicks but that's not the norm. They are all good and nice guys.

I've seen video footage of Dave smoking. Actually, I've seen video or photos of all 4 of them smoking.

Could you share it? Tico and Jon (and Alec) are the only ones I've seen.

No, First, I'd have to go through 250 video tapes to find it which ain't happening. Secondly, I don't have the equipment to transfer a video to my computer. Sorry. Maybe when I retire, I'll have the time and nothing better to do than transfer videos. I've got a TON of stuff that I'd love to share. Up until about 2000 or so when I started working, I collected every interview I could find from every corner of the earth.

Here's a pic of Richie smoking though.

Can someone please photoshop a picture and give him short straight hair?

You're right....

I have some time to kill this morning so I'll share 2 quick stories:

I ran into Dave at some restaurant in Red Bank (Teak) less than a year ago. I always keep my distance and never say anything when I run into any of them. Dave still has that distinct 80's walk like in the beginning of the LOAP video. He walks a little hunched over too. I don't know if he's got a bad back or if it's just a result of him being hunched in front of a piano for 30+ years. He was cool and kinda quiet. Not the big personality you see on camera. Jon is the same way too in public. However, not one person went up to him or even seem to recognize who he was. He walked to the bathroom and back, no one cared. His hair looks a little better in person. I always thought he would look better with a buzz cut but I think at this point his hair has now become his signature look. The one thing that stood out to me was his wife. She thought who she was. She must have yelled his name out 10 times. "David Bryan" come here. "David Bryan" sit down. "David Bryan" lets go...... I felt like saying, "ok lady, we all know your husband has some minor fame but no one really gives a shit". Dave kinda made eye contact with me on the way out. Kinda his way of saying "whats up"


My second story is a Jon story from just over a year ago. I was at an event that Jon was attending. He doesn't know me by name but he MIGHT recognize me by face. I never say 1 word to the guy but maybe an occasional very casual "what's up man" as I'm passing by. Once these people start becoming real people to you, you start to see everything in a different light. They are no longer those unreachable rock stars that you've been watching on TV all those years. They become real everyday people with cool jobs. It's the fans that empower them to be who they are and act a certain way. It's hard to explain but I think that's why I keep my distance a little. I've invested too much time and money at this point to let the real Jon make me hate him.... Unlike Dave, when Jon walks into a room, you know he is there and so does everyone else.


So I don't smoke but I'll have one on an occasion with a drink. I was outside to have one and Jon's walks buy with his manager Paul half way up his ass and Jon makes a comment to us about smoking. But being cool about it. Like, look at those smokers over here (almost wishing he could come join us). And then he laughed and kept going..... An hour later, Jon is signing autographs for a few people and I just happen to walk by to got to the bathroom. However they were blocking the entrance so I had to wait for Jon to stop signing. Jon signs an autograph for this one guy and then that same guy asks for another one for his mother. Keep in mind this dude is around 38 years old. So Jon then gives him that look (stink eye as most of you call it). And the dude goes "Oh come on man, you can do it". I was 2 seconds away from jumping in and saying something like, "and you wonder why these guys are dicks because of dorks like you". But instead I kept my mouth shut and continued on.

My observations and morals to both stories are that these guys do want to be normal cool guys in public but the second they let their guard down, there are always a few people who take advantage of it and ruin it. From annoying fans to their pain in the ass entourages.

You and me both!!! I have a ton of stuff

But you are not going to retire for another 25+ years. We have to wait that long?

I think there is footage of Richie smoking in the AAA video

Oh, shut up! Don't put into the atmosphere the idea that I won't be able to retire for another 25 years! This is my 13th year with a state job, so technically, I can retire after 12 more if I stick with the state. Only I won't be able to afford health insurance if I retire that young. So you're probably right that it will be another 25 years, but let's ignore that and think positively: 12 more years!

Aloha !

Great stories, I now see that you're very close to the band.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

As a public service, I did photographer Dave Bergman's cropping and retouching for him:


Now Dave doesn't look like he's caught in a fog bank anymore!