Brush With Greatness: part 37

So its like this big joke that I'm a "stalkerazzi". Its not my fault that celebrities like to have their pictures taken with me. OK, maybe its a little bit my fault. So for a while, I started to feel self-conscious about it, so yesterday as I was heading out the door I reached for my digital camera and then, in a second of weakness, decided to leave it where it lay.

I was on my way into Manhattan to meet with the manager of Local 138, the bar that is hosting my "discoskater" launch party this Tuesday. The bar was about as full as you might expect at 5:00 on a Thursday - about 6 people and the bartender. The manager had stepped out so I ordered a beer to wait for him.

I usually like to sit at the far end of the bar, but those stools were taken, so I grabbed one near the front of the bar. Two guys were talking one spot away. Their discussion was mostly centered on helicopter piloting and I got the impression that one was the instructor for the other.

The man nearest to me had a voice that was very familiar. His back was facing me, so I couldn't immediately place him. It didn't take long to recognize him. The California "surfer dude" accent was unmistakable. I was already kicking myself in the teeth for leaving the camera home.

The manager Fred showed up and we went out back to have our meeting. I asked if he realized who was drinking in his bar and he said, "Oh yeah, he's here a lot - he lives in the neighborhood". We spoke for a bit about my plans for my upcoming party and we negotiated my drink specials (get there early on Tuesday for free booze kids!) and I rushed back out to my spot at the bar.

The bartender asked the two gentleman if they wanted another round. One said no, but the other, who just happens to be the former lead singer for the greatest band of the 1980s had another. The bartender asked him what band he was in, and he politely replied. I almost fell off my stool at the fact that she didn't know, but then again, she was about 2 years old in 1984. She mentioned that he was her first celebrity crush and he let her keep that change (must've been about a 40 dollar tip).

She then had him autograph a drink coaster. Here was my chance! I whipped out my sketchbook and asked him for his signature as well. He did me one better, making a nice little sketch of a boat on a tropical horizon. I told him what a big fan I was and wished him well on his new radio venture. I told him he was a major part in the soundtrack of my youth. I made sure to give him some discoskater stickers and invited him to the launch party - hey stranger things have happened!!

His autograph is pretty readable in case you haven't figured it out yet.

AUTOGRAPH

Running with the Devil, indeed!