One Meeting, One Chance

Right now, MasterCard is running a promotion called "Roots of Rock." Maybe you've seen the commercials that feature the music of Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton and Kenny Chesney. Anyway, the crux of the matter is that MasterCard is offering a chance to travel to the places where either Jon Bon Jovi, Eric Clapton or Kenny Chesney got their musical start. You'll also get to meet your selected rocker...which brings me to today's article: if you could meet anyone in the music industry - and yes, they must be alive - who would it be, and why?

Talk about a complicated question. First let me say that of the above choices for the MasterCard promotion, I would select Eric Clapton. I mean, he was in Cream. 

Back to my question.

Heather and I had a debate about this last night. It's hard to choose just one person, so you don't want to make a mistake with your meeting of a lifetime. A lot of musicians are very open to meeting fans, so I'd want someone completely obtuse. Someone so famous it makes my head spin just thinking about the possibility of a meeting. At first, I threw out names like Paul McCartney and Robert Plant. I mean, when you mention those names, you're talking about musicians in a league of their own. Problem is, they are not Glam. 

There's no rule in the book that says my meeting of a lifetime must be Glam  - I just think it makes more sense. After all, I know a lot of people might get excited to meet Yo Yo Ma or Miley Cryus or Garth Brooks. It's all relative and what you love I suppose.

So, the debate continues and Heather says she might want to meet Slash. No, I don't just choose Nikki Sixx by default. I'm pretty confident Nikki and I will have a face to face meeting someday soon. After all, we've already spoke over telephone so I'm almost there! Then, as if the clouds parted and skies turned blue, it dawns on Heather that the perfect person to meet is Axl Rose.

Of course the meeting must be with Axl Rose.

Can you imagine the material I could glean from just ten minutes in a room alone with Axl? I could drill him on all things Guns n' Roses - and demand to know when the real lineup will (if ever) play together again. I'd ask him if he feels any responsibility toward Steven Adler's addictions and demons. I'd also want to know if he really is best friends forever with Sebastian Bach. Oh, can you imagine? I get excited just thinking about it all. Of course, I probably have a better chance getting struck by lightning than meeting Axl. Talk about a recluse. Still, a girl can dream.

Comments

[Joe]

That's a tough one...Because I love Eric Clapton/Cream and I'm a Bon Jovi fan too. So that is a tough one haha =)

[JT]

Of the three above, Clapton would be my choice without a doubt. If I could pick anyone (alive), I would go with Eddie Van Halen...just because he is EVH.

[Tommy]

I would love to meet Paul McCartney. His enthusiasm as an artist and having written some of the best songs of the 20th century puts him at the top of my list.

[cinnamon]

Axl Rose is top of my list too. Nikki would be cool, but it was Guns N Roses that first got me hooked on rock, from the opening bars of Welcome to the Jungle when a friend played it to me on her Walkman on the school bus. He's always going to be something of an idol of mine.

[Lucifer]

I think for me it would have to be Nikki. Just because he is my all time idol, and it was Motley Crue that first got me properly into Rock, and i've never looked back.

So yeah, I would meet with Nikki.

[Crazynights]

I've seen this ad and have been thinking of who I'd love to meet. I am a Bon Jovi fan and would love to meet him and talk about his history. I mean to have Runaway played on a radio station and getting a great response even before really getting a band together.

I'd also love to sit with Paul Stanley to go over the journey that became KISS. I'd love to talk to Gene, but he'd probably patent the conversation so if I repeated it I would need to pay him. (just kidding).

I'd also love to sit and talk to Rikki Rockett. I've seen him in interviews and he just talks very honestly. Being a drummer myself, I'd have alot of drumming questions and how is Bret, CC, and Bobby in real life. Also, what really happened with Ritchie. I know some of that story, but since it was Rikki's girlfriend.

So I am still pondering who'd I'd love to meet and talk to about their musical journey and how they got there. All I can say is, in the words of THE WHO, LONG LIVE ROCK! It is my sanctuary. (sighs and then puts on Motley Crue's Take me to the Top)

[Gary]

Since I've been playing the guitar since I was 11, and he absolutely blew me away the 1st time I heard him in 1978 when I was 15,Eddie Van Halen,hands down.

[MotleyCrue666]

out of the tree i'd choose jon bon jovi cuz he is in one of the greatest bands and he helped get other bands started like Cinderella and skid Row

Like every one else i''d pick Nikki Sixx.



but in a close 2nd i'd pick Steven Tyler or joe perry cuz they have been through everything rock and roll and glam

[Makel]

I would probably say, like most others Nikki Sixx. But not like, a book signing meeting, like...actually MEETING him.

Seeing as GNR is my second favorite band, Slash and Axl would definitely follow closely.

[aXe mAn]

Oh wow that is a tough one...I think I might pick George Lynch, he is my favorite guitarist, so that would be like a dream come true!

[Agnes]

Ok.. I've had the opportunity/lucky enough to have seen-Glam-Rock-Stars, such as:and not to mention all of them ,but the ones that "Struck" me the most are:
1. Eric Clapton: first row:Brighton Centre, UK, saw him driving his black, sports car,and was kind enough to let me see him on sound ckecking..Really enjoyed this concert. very british..of him:Gentlemen
2. B.B.King (twice) first row@ London too,(i still have a "guitar-pic" he gave me..nice..
3. Bret Michaels @ Westbury, NY,3rd row..this concert really enjoyed it..Really..dont like to "bother Glam-roc-stars with da pic..stuff..
My choice would have to be: Meet and greet, and have a picture taken with Bret Michaels,of course ,"cuddling with him" just to post this one, i find that he really takes good care of his fans..and by seeing the pictures posted by his fans,which I find it kind of "down-to earth" from a Glam-Rock-Star-that he is..would love to "join the club" of The pictures-taken-with..fan-club.ha!

[fletch]

Valerie Bertinelli...OK, I'm joking.


David Lee Roth.

[Sparky]

Defintely Nikki Sixx - although I don't know that I would be able to form any intelligent words in his presence. I'd probably just sit and gawk at the most beautiful man ever made.

[Murray]

Probably Bill Leverty from Firehouse. I just think he'd be a cool guy to drink some beers with.

[Kenny Ozz]

Ive met just about every person ive ever wanted to... But Jon Bon Jovi and Axl Rose would be at the top of my list.

[Michael H.]

I don't care for any of the three, but i'd pick John Bon Jovi so i could knee him in the groin. While he's on the ground, i'd ask him why he's such a prick, then i'd say "You're no Steve Tyler. Ya, i went there". Then i'd laugh and go get something to eat probably. With all do respect I do like a few Bon Jovi songs.

Nikki Sixx. Brownie points for originality. At this point I already know pretty much everything that's happened in the life of Frank Feranna, but i'd like to hear it from his mouth... over a milkshake. I'd also ask him who does his hair. That shit defies gravity.

[Susanna]

I'd pick Jon Bon Jovi. Nooo doubt. If there is someone I wouldn't like to die without meeting it has to be him.

I grew up with this guy's music, I made the best of friends thanks to the love of (their) music, I even met my husband via his fan club over 10 years ago. I don't even consider myself a die hard fan. There is no trace of Bon Jovi in my house except for the CD's but if my life was a movie their music would be the soundtrack. And I admire him so much. What can I say? One million times, there is no one else I'd rather meet than JON BON JOVI.

[Rockfighter]

I guess if mixing with rappers and dancing around with britney spears and nsync qualifies a man as a Steve Tyler, I am glad, Jon Bon Jovi is no Steve Tyler

I'd like to meet Jon too, and if I wanted to fight someone, I wouldn't take a cheap shot.

[jay]

Not to be a snotty bitch but I met Nikki Sixx and Jon Bon Jovi...both cool guys. Jon is short though lol.

Allyson I would be afraid to ask Axl any questions since he seems to be a loose canon. He ripped into Sebastian Bach one time because he asked when Chinese Democracy would be released and Baz is supposedly his friend! He's a hothead!

[Jakki Steal]

Axl Rose
Nikki Sixx
Stephen Pearcy
Michael Monroe
Sebastian Bach
Taime Downe