"...and the rest is history."

Tony M.

Tony M.

Ambassador
OK.
Thread title is not really accurate but I don't care.

There is no doubt in my mind that many of us have stories,
funny or unusual experiences, "who woulda thunk its" and
unusual things that have happened to us or that we were
involved in. You know. "You're not gonna believe this but..."

Selling a guitar and buying another years later because you
missed it and it turns out to be the same one you sold.

Crossing paths with a famous person in an odd place.

Running into a long lost friend under odd circumstances.

I for one would like to hear (read) these stories.
 
I went to audition with my guitarist friend Adam Fuchs for a spot playing guitar on a Joan Jett tour (Tony, do you know him?). It was at Electric Ladyland studios in NYC. When we came out, Chuck Mangione was there. I was young, but Adam approached him and started a conversation. He invited us in to view the recording, which was awesome, in the jazz style that Chuck is known for. There was beer, food, and great musicians. I was 17 years old and in heaven. Anywho, in the middle of the session, he looses it - apparently, he had issues with the fella who tailored his pants. He went into a tirade, took the pants off right there and threw them at someone. The PR people noticed we were new faces and immediately shuffled us out. And the rest is history.
 
I met John Candy back in the early 90's months before he passed away. He was obviously filming a movie in my hometown. He looked a bit sickly when I met him on the street.


;>)/
 
I was given a copy of this
kiss_alive_uni.jpg

KISS Alive album at the age of SIX --- by an unknowing --- or mischievous relative---for my Birthday----
and the rest ............is history..................
 
This has nothing to do with meeting a famous person, but it does have a LOT to do with my journey into guitars.

I shared this same story on the other forum, but it is what catapulted me from dabbling in guitar to pursuing it with a passion.

The first sight I ever had of a Gibson SG was a picture in the local newspaper of a band that had played at the local arena a day or two earlier. I was young and wasn't into music or guitars, but I was drawn to the picture of the guitar. It just looked really cool. As it turns out, the picture was a picture of Tony Iommi on stage with his SG. At the time, I didn't know who it was or what kind of guitar it was. I just knew the caption of the picture identified the group as Black Sabbath - whoever they were!

Fast forward several years later, I was just starting to play guitar. But the only real electric guitars I really had any knowledge of were semi-hollows, Les Pauls, Strats, and Strat copies. I was also aware of others, like Flying V's, but didn't know anything about them. I was playing on a cheap Univox ES-335 clone. Anyway, there was a 3x5 card on the church bulletin board that read, "Guitar for Sale. 1975 Gibson SG - $350.00." Well, I didn't know what an SG was but everyone told me to get a Gibson. (At the time, it was the middle of the CBS era and CBS Strats had no respect and I certainly could not afford a pre-CBS Fender.) Well, I asked the seller if I could buy the guitar, but would have to wait so I could save up the money. Well, he ended up telling me he'd just give it to me! He said he hadn't played it in years and it just sat unused in the case. He just wanted someone to have it who would play it.

Anyway, when I went to meet him to pick up the guitar, he opened the case and my mouth dropped. This was the same guitar I had seen in that picture several years earlier and thought was so cool! I was never a Sabbath fan. But, the sight of that guitar in the paper had just grabbed me.

As it turns out, I've learned my guitar is most likely actually a '74, not a '75. Like I'm complaining! So, there you have it.

And, the rest is history....
 
Last edited:
There ya go!
Doesn't have to involve meeting a famous person.
We're just telling our stories here.
 
This ones a little strange but it's the day before Halloween so:

Chapter 1:

There's this guy named Lou.
He is one of my mentors and has stopped me from
doing a couple of really stupid things across the years.
We had been out of touch for over a year and one day I was
washing a frying pan and all of a sudden my brain said "Call Lou."
2 minutes later, the pan is clean and I call Lou and leave a message.
He calls back about a week later. He sounds bad. We talk.
He lost his wife to cancer. Then he drops it on me.
"I have to tell you. I got your message when I got home
from the hospital. I checked the time stamp.
You called me 2 minutes after Diane died."

Chapter 2:

Feb 16, 2009
I check into the hospital for a "walk in the park no big deal the
surgeon does 10 of them a week routine piece of surgery" that
should take maybe a little more than an hour.
It goes bad.
It takes 7 hours.
I die twice on the table.
Next day I am recovering. Mrs. M. is with me.
She lays it on me.
"When you come home, call Lou. He call and left a
message while you were having your adventure."
 
I was looking at old threads and found this one.
The last entry was 1 3/4 years ago but now we have
a bunch of new members and time has passed.
Are there any new stories?
 
Tony M. said:
This ones a little strange but it's the day before Halloween so:

Chapter 1:

There's this guy named Lou.
He is one of my mentors and has stopped me from
doing a couple of really stupid things across the years.
We had been out of touch for over a year and one day I was
washing a frying pan and all of a sudden my brain said "Call Lou."
2 minutes later, the pan is clean and I call Lou and leave a message.
He calls back about a week later. He sounds bad. We talk.
He lost his wife to cancer. Then he drops it on me.
"I have to tell you. I got your message when I got home
from the hospital. I checked the time stamp.
You called me 2 minutes after Diane died."

Chapter 2:

Feb 16, 2009
I check into the hospital for a "walk in the park no big deal the
surgeon does 10 of them a week routine piece of surgery" that
should take maybe a little more than an hour.
It goes bad.
It takes 7 hours.
I die twice on the table.
Next day I am recovering. Mrs. M. is with me.
She lays it on me.
"When you come home, call Lou. He call and left a
message while you were having your adventure."
Click to expand...
This is a fantastic story. So glad you are here. We can't forget to enjoy every moment
 
PS:
I spoke to Lou at length on May 16th,
which was the 50th anniversary
of the day our paths first crossed.
We had a good long very funny
conversation and laughed a lot.
He and his family are all doing fine,
and yes, his first words when he
answered the phone were,
"I was just thinking about calling you."
 
This past summer my brother and I helped my dad move out of his house of 50-years. It was a challenge of hard work and memories. I said many times during the ordeal, "moving sucks, I'll never move again".

We were all happy that the ol'man was going to live closer to my brother and support of the family.

I don't know how it happened, but the planets aligned. I remember calling my wife, "we're moving across the street from my brother".

The story is very long, and quite amazing really. It's been a very difficult challenge.... But, the bottom line is I now live across from family, my dad up the road, my two life long best friends are on my road. My wife is so happy that she cried. We cook , share and receive food daily.

I went from the woods to the water, a complete change in life. I so miss all the wildlife, but I have gained so much, and I'm so excited in my new world. You just never know what this life will deliver. Rock on!!

My new view.
20190116_172021-2656x1494.jpg

My old view

20180914_182651-2656x1494.jpg
 
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