Monday, April 14, 2008

A Beatles Memory

My dear cousin Pat who is a regular commentor on this webblog would like to share with us the following hilarious story. Enjoy:

Quite a few years ago my husband and I were comp-ed tickets for Ringo Star and his All-star Band at Caesar's in Atlantic City. Members of the All-star Band included, Billy Preston, Mark Farner (Grand Funk), John Ethwistle (The Who), Randy Bachman (BTO), Felix Cavalieri (The Rascals) and Zach Starky on drums (Ringo's son).

This concert was very special to my husband because he is Grand Funk Railroads biggest fan and seeing Mark Farner in a small venue like A.C. was going to be great.

When we arrived they seated us on the first table next to the stage. What a rush to know some of our music Idols would be within reach. Now it’s time for the show to start and the crowd is going crazy and out comes each member being introduced by Ringo Star himself. A Beatle standing right in front of me, I could touch his shoes…I was so excited.

Every artist did solos from some of their greatest hits…Randy Bachman whose position on stage, playing in the band, was right in front of me. He sang “Taking care of Business” and “No Sugar Tonight”.

He was great, but he kept staring at me and smiling...I kept looking behind me, but no one was there but a bunch of yuppies drinking beers. I thought maybe I was mistaken, so I just watched the rest of the show. Mark Farner came out and did “Locomotion” and “I’m your Captain” my husband was yelling and singing and well just becoming a little embarrassing. At the end of his solo time Farner bends over the stage to shake all his fans hands …My husband (if he were taller than 5’4) would have boosted himself on the stage to get a handshake from his IDOL. It was like slow motion, down the stage he came, shaking hands and greeting people, and as he got to us he looked up at the audience and gave a wave and passed us right up…It was an outrage…would my husband ever get over it? Would this be the concert he’d like to forget…Well, I felt terrible for him, but for me it didn’t matter.

The concert continues and we are enjoying all the rest of the artists, but between each song, the language I had to listen to from my husband about not getting his hand shook was never-ending. Why must he make such a big deal about this guy...Knock it off already I wanted to tell him…But I didn’t.

Finally Ringo Star comes on and does a medley of some of his famous Beatles songs (not that there were many) and then some of his songs he made famous as a single artist. His song “Your Sixteen” a popular song that many generations will recognize he closed the show with….But here’s the catch, as he was singing, he would look at woman in the audience and sing to them; He then looked at me and started to sing, I was going to faint, all I could hear is him sing “Your 16”, put his hand out and shakes it from side to side and make the sound ‘Ehhh’! “Your Beautiful and Your Mine.” Did I hear right, from all the women in the audience he decides to look at me and say, basically “Sweetie your not even close”……Oh My God! I was ranked out by a Beatle…For some reason my husband had forgotten his fury aimed at Mark Farner and was rolling on the floor with laughter, telling strangers at the other tables what Ringo did to his wife.

The concert ends, still in shock, I go to turn and follow my husband out of the arena when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn and it was Randy Bachman from BTO asking me if I would like his guitar pick from the show. Well this was a nice consolation prize, to settle some of my misery. My husband is now not laughing as hard, after he sees what I had been given. As we enter the casino we both go to different slot machines to try our luck, I got up to move to another machine, and who is behind me, (you’re right) Randy Bachman. I was startled, but smiled and said” Hi, you must be exhausted after the show,” He said, yeah just going to have a cocktail with my manager would you like to join us?” ……WHAT? Was I hearing things, did he ask me for a drink? WOW!” I would love to but I am meeting my husband here in 5 minutes”. Did I just say that, O boy! Have I changed…The night proved to have its ups and downs but Ringo was right…I certainly wasn’t sixteen anymore…
- Cousin Pat

52 comments:

Doc said...

Oh My God! I was ranked out by a Beatle

BWAHAHAHAHAAHAAAAAA - This is hilarious!

Lu' said...

Great story. It teetered. It tottered. Shame shame on Ringo.

Anonymous said...

WOW!!! You may have not been 16 but you were still invited for a drink and given a pick! I would say you still have it going on!!!

I am with Lu, Shame shame on Ringo!!!

I loved this story, thanks for sharing..

Doc said...

Hey, I have an idea. We need to name Vince's family. Since he is the Mt. Cat maybe his cousin should be the Mt. Pat.... and his Sis Chrisine should be the Mt. Cougar ;-)

Knight said...

I can't believe Ringo did that! That probably works much better as a joke in a larger venue.

The Mountain Cat said...

Doc, That is what Randy Bachman wanted to do; mount Pat.

Doc said...

It would seem that the name "Randy" seem to fit him just fine....

Anonymous said...

I still have that pick!!Ringo was laughing...My husband thinks its an honor to be ranked out by a beatle...Im in my own category...
MTPat

Anonymous said...

Randy was Randy!
Hubby turns off BTO when its on the radio.Bwahahahahahah

Lu' said...

Mt Cougar? does she chase after younger men?

Beatle shmeatle it sucks to be ranked out by anyone. Not to mention having a room full of people getting in on the laugh.

Doc said...

She sure does Lu allegedly

Lu' said...

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr You go Girl;
allegedly :)

Anonymous said...

MtCougar
has herself a youngin and is enjoying it

Anonymous said...

we should have a blog of most memorable moments with a star..
I bet Im not the only one who interacted or witnessed a funny star moment...

The Mountain Cat said...

Pat,
Hmmmm, memories with a celebrity? Well I did laundry with Jerry Orbach once when we high rise neighbors....

Lu' said...

I've had some glimpses up close and not so personal.

Doc said...

Vinny had Thanksgiving dinner with Alan Kulwicki the year before he was killed in a plane crash... Ummm THAT counts.

Lu' said...

No friggin way, that counts big. Uhm, yep I like nascar and I used to live in a mobil home ha ha ha.

Ginormous Boobs said...

What, Randy wasn't on your celebrity free pass list?

Doc said...

Billy Joel held the door for my wife at an Italian resteraunt on Long Island.

Karen said...

What a funny story. lol. I have seen quite a few shows in AC over the years and it always awes me how the performers are just hanging around after the show. A few years ago my bf and I had drinks with Jeff Beck after his show....and then he picked up the tab for our dinner. He was quite a cool guy.

And I agree - shame on Ringo. LOL.

The Mountain Cat said...

Also, I saw Marty Scorsese on 57th and Park Avenue once. I said 'Hiya Marty, how are ya?' And he replied extrememly fast, 'hi' and kept walking past me.

I shook hands with Larry David too at a comendy club right after Seinfeld ended.

Doc said...

I like yours Karen. Jeff Beck would be cool!

I am trying to think of the most famous non-nascar or sports related person I have met. Probably Jodie Foster

Lu' said...

I was at a Stevie Ray Vaughn concert in LA, 4th row center, and 3 or so rows behind me was Whoopie Goldberg. I liked that fact that I had better seats. I stood there for a moment and thought I'm not going to bother her, just as others decended.

Doc said...

Lu... Whoopi is cool but I wish I could have seen SRV and DT. I had to settle for his brother.

The Mountain Cat said...

Doc, When did you meet Jodie Foster? I hope you didn't tell her that you 'really really really loved her in Taxi Driver'?

Unknown said...

Surely you misunderstood Ringo, Pat!

As for the Cougar name, the man I've been dating for 5 years is only 6 years younger than I. It was the one who asked me out that I think earned me the title. He's 23 years younger! But no, I a not a Cougar.

Doc said...

At Town Cinema 6, She and her girlfriend came in to see "Speed" We got her to sign some Maverick Movie posters. She was in town filming 'Nell' Do you remember the manager Scott up there? He was there with me and 2 other employees during the middle of the day. We let her, her driver and her girlfriend in free of course.
I am tyring to think if I have met anyone more famous that isn't in sports.

Doc said...

FYI, Jodie Foster is so short she could almost pass as a little person.

Unknown said...

Paul MCartney and his then wife that we've blogged about premiered a movie where I work. I have to say, I was star struck by seeing him so close.

Lu' said...

Doc I was lucky enough to see SRV a few times. That time in LA was very soon after he'd gotten clean and it was absolutely spectacular. It was the last time I saw him. I'm gettin shivers just writing this. Two friends of mine each named their sons after him. I was going to get the cover of In Step tattooed on my back but never did.

Anonymous said...

My husband was at work when Holly Hunter came in the elevator..He looked at her and she said do you know who I am? he said do you know who I am? when at that moment his front cap on his toothe fell out..I think she knows who he is now ...Dont You?

Chris you are a cougar to me

Karen said...

I also made out with Wayne Newton at his show in Vegas. In the midle of his show he just leans over and kisses the ladies in the front row.

Unknown said...

Ha, ha, ha....Pat, you could write a book about your husband! Too many too funny stories!

And come on ladies, who doesn't evny Demi? Beside, men have been doing it for years...

Anonymous said...

Its so true he saw Al Pacino on the street and passed him by when he realized who it was he tried to run back across the street, and Al saw him and got scared and started to run..........He ran after him saying wait Al its Anthony...too much..... He also walked in front of Arnold Scwatzenegger enterouge,they tried to tell him to move, but he would'nt and Arnold said leave him and extended his hand and said "How YA Doin"

Ken said...

I sat down at the bar next to Eric Clapton in Antigua. Didn't know until the bartenter [his friend] said Eric, I looked and said, hay, how ya doin? Then we gave the bartenter shit till I got back to my next pool game.
Keith Richards was having drinks with friends in this bar in Antigua
[him and Mic are regular visitors to English Harbor]and my brother who was visiting got so freaked out, he went over and asked him if he wanted to play a game of darts, Nah!

Doc said...

You know what... I bet I have the most infamous. When I was a kid I went to Lutheran Summer camp with Susan Smith (Vaughn at the time)... SCARY !

Lu' said...

You are funny Pat.

Hey you've got it goin' on Christine. Age is a minor detail. Unless of course the couple was say 21 and 15, not tool cool in some eyes. I've been there but I was the one that was 15:)

Anonymous said...

Lu ask MtCat, Living in my family, especially with my husband, my son and the old MtCat himself you definately have to have a sense of humor.....Hey Vin you want a hot cup of TEA!!

Vin dont roll over on your Ipod

Lu' said...

Pat, It helps to have one in my family too or you are just going to get lost.

The Mountain Cat said...

My iPod keps me warm at night.

The Mountain Cat said...

How can I forget, I met David Bowie. My friend interviewed him at his radio company and he signed my CD!

Anonymous said...

MtCat
maybe someday we will have the privledge of meeting a real caveman!

Doc said...

Ziggy Stardust !!

Doc said...

Pat, did that caveman comment happen at your house?

Vinny had to call me on the way home to tell me about that one...

Anonymous said...

Doc
it was at my house...Of course another member of my immediate family...we laughed so hard, Vin couldnt catch his breath...it will be in our archives for sure

Anndi said...

Maybe Ringo should marry Heather Mills...

Anndi said...

I met George Hamilton once.. he shook my hand and the colour didn't even transfer to my hand!
He really IS that tanned!

Anonymous said...

I think he is tanned from the inside out

Anonymous said...

Arnold Schwarzenegger was very tan also but his was very orange and looked like bad make-up...this was during his terminator years..faux tans hve improved since then

Anonymous said...

I have been in a movie ( I was an extra) with Kick Gurry, had dinner with him and some of the other cast, does that count?
Btw loved the story. :-)
Hugs, Lesley

Anonymous said...

oh yeah Mt Cat... Wish I had of met David... He is one I would most love to have a conversation with..