Orkney Ceilidh – I had met some people at the pub. The drove me the event at a farmhouse. Dozens of people. Some very young women from the Outer Hebrides were there singing acapella – hauntingly beautiful. It seemed to be some sort of annual mating ritual get together. I didn’t belong there at all, it was very, very Wicker Man.
Police Line Up – in Edinburgh the police use to go to backpacker hostels and hostels for drunks, and pay us £5 to appear in an identity parade. I did it quite a few times. The police were very gossipy – one of the baddies was a murderer. Often the only person in the line up wearing a suit was the bad guy, they stood out a mile. You could just make out the shadows of the witnesses through the one-way glass. I noticed that when the witness was already there, they led us stand-ins from the left, and the bad guy from the right. So rigged.
Famous People:
When Madonna was performing on Broadway, I lived in Times Square (basically next door). I saw her arrive a few times (limo, security) and got close enough to touch her if I was crazy. I’m not a fan, I just found it interesting how close I could get to one of the most famous people ever.
Bowie – got his autograph and photo, in Auckland. Plus Peter Frampton who was once very, very famous.
I ‘m mostly not a fan, but I do find the lives, the scenarios, the dealing with a different scenario, interesting about famous folk.
I’ve dated two women who had a hot boyfriend who was in a soap opera. That’s not an experience Rob!
I tried hitting on a TV star once (I have zero skills in that direction, and she had a boyfriend), and introduced her to Ed Harcourt (musician).
I stood next to Sonic Youth outside CBGB’s, waiting for torrential rain to stop. I didn’t bother them.
I walked past Hall and Oates outside Radio City (also NY) and I swear they were holding hands.
Mark Eitzel hit on me in a bar.
In Melbourne I crossed paths with Supergrass twice. I’ll not bother you with this level of interactions, too many…