Here's the crack - We arrived backstage at Milton Keynes about 2/3 hours before we were on (SPIN)- no soundcheck - just a line level check (make sure all inputs/amps working) - waited about and did our first show on the Saturday - HAD A BLAST.
Came off stage and I guess we said hello to Nickelback - Chad a great guy also and chatted to him quite a bit during the two days!!
About seven thirty we were called and went up to Bon Jovi's backstage area - as they walked out to the stage we had a quick photo - and it was quick - no chat just a photo - I was thinking - 'Is that it???'
Watched the Jovi show and then went to VIP area for aftershow - was told Jovi had flown back to London - No one at VIP party so I went to chat with the Jovi roadcrew - Real great set of guys.
Had a bottle of beer around a fire and bumped into Bobby Bandiera - chatted quite a bit and I told I would love to have a chat with Jon. He said something along the lines of 'well go on then ... go and talk to the boss'.
Without knowing, Jon and Ritchie were stood behind me talking to Jon's brother Tony!! arrrrrrrrrr )Bobby calls Jon the Boss!!lol They had decided to stay behind and hang around with their roadcrew!!! so cool!
I thought that I had to go up so waited and waited and then thought he could be gone any second so just rolled up o the side and waited for him to notice me. I introduced myself and he shook my hand and asked if everything was o.k. Part of me wanted to be the musician in a band supporting him and part of me wanted to be the fan who had admired all his life. I ended up doing both ...
I'm sure Jon would not want me to say word for word what was said but we chatted for maybe 10/15 minutes about advice for SPIN (LOVE US OR HATE US WE ARE COMING RIGHT AT YOU THIS YEAR AND NEXT!!) and songwriting/production. I even gave him grief about why on earth 'Nothing ' never made the final album cut - He laughed and just said he wasn't feeling it!!lol
The story about Jon going on the London underground on his own to Wembley Stadium a few months ago is all true and he is a man who loves his freedom and family. He could have just said hello but he chatted about production/songwriting/promo and anything he could do for us. He said he had heard our last ten minutes and liked what he had heard. He then invited us to go see them for a pic again and chat the following evening - which again he did - no way did he have to that and I respect the man for his kindness and humanity. Yeah, like all of us he might have a mood sometimes, but there's one hell of a guy inside there.
He mention it was tme to get writing and Ritchie told me had 15 new songs for a solo album but Jovi were carrying on(new album) so 'who knows ....'
Without boring you all I have got to say I was worried about meeting an idol - what if they turn out to be a total arse and you see them in a bad light???? - well thankfully I was wrong and a lesson should be given to all wanna be or so called rock stars in how a true star behaves - a total pro who I could tell loves his work.
The crew were cool,the band were awesome and I made a load of friends - to top it off Jon has sent us a great email/promo piece through his management for SPIN plus the pic with us and a SPIN shirt - aded to the great promo for the band (and yes, some who hated us - but we'll prove them wrong!!!) and we had an awesome time ( did I mention my fully signed Fender Sambora guitar or my lead guitar player trying out Ritchie's guitars??). We have pictures and great memories and now the HUNGER TO DO WHAT JON TOLD US - get out there and work - WE ARE DOING!
please visit us at
www.myspace.com/spinmusic and look out for the full U.K tour!!!
kj
07-07-2006, 12:34 PM
Ive got a few pics somehere...if you want them...PM me 
