Autograph Hounding

Over the years, i have been collecting autographs of all sorts.  From the time I was a child to now, the thrill of getting that autograph is something that has always excited me!  On this page, I will share with you the pictures and how I went about getting the autograph, and also what the person/people were like I was getting the autograph from.  I do NOT sell my autographs as these are for my own collection.  I appreciate the ones that do since capitalism is part of making money, but for me, never, nor will I buy an autograph.  Only exception to that if it is something I wan bought directly from their website. But I will not buy from a dealer! The only thing I dont like about autograph hunters that are in it just for the money, is when I or friends get accussed by the artists themselves of wanting it for Ebay.  That is what made the autograph a harder thing to get from some artists.  These are my stories....................

The Black Crowes

2009  London, Ont     On the way to work that morning, I remembered that the Black Crowes were in town today for a show, so since i had a few minutes to kill before work started I decided to do a little drive by the hotels to see if I could spot anything.  And there, infront of one, was a tour bus.  I pulled the car over, and saw someone walk past me with a Black Crowes pass.  Sent off a few texts to some friends, then went off to work.  Decided after work to stop by a buddies and get a picture printed off, he had their new album.  Parked in front of the hotel, got out, and waited.  One by one they started to come out to get to their bus to take off for soundcheck at the venue.  Pretty much all really nice guys.  Rich Robinson was the quietest.  So one by one we got them, except for Chris Robinson who didnt seem to come out.  The bus took off, so we thought, maybe he didnt even get off the bus.  So, decided to beat the bus to the venue and see if he would decide to come out then.  Got there, and discovered a whole other bus!  Did some snooping with the crew and found out if was Chris's private bus and he was still in there.  A few mins later, he stepped out.  We called him...he looked over and waved for us to come over.  He signed one thing per person and did not seem like the most friendly guy in the world.  Not like the others in the band..Guess that's why he has his own bus!   But, we knew he would be the toughest one to get.  Being that close to him, I cannot see why any hot girl would be into this guy.  Scarry looking up close and a little smelly too lol.  And no personality at all.  But, I got him and that completed the picture, so came away happy.

Randy & Mr. Lahey from The Trailer Park Boys

2009  London, Ont    Randy and Jim were doing some gigs at Yuk Yuk's so decided to make a little trip in to see if i could catch them before they went into the venue.  Waited a half hour, and up the street they came strolling along.  They both were very friendly.  Signed both my pics, personalized with some funny sayings and posed for a pic with me.  Two very nice guys and friendly to talk too. 

Pauly Shore

2009  Windsor, Ont    A friend of mine was heading down to Windsor to try and track down Pauly who was doing a show that night.  Long story, but he got him.  I guess Pauly is quite the sarcastic guy, in a funny way of course, and really made him work for the autographs he wanted!   Funny story, but I'm not going into all the details as some of it i dont want the younger ones to read! lol But he signed everything for those that were there and this is what came back to me!  Thx Rob.

ChickenFoot ( Sammy Hagar, Chad Smith )

 2009  Toronto, Ont     This was obtained by a friend of mine who was in Toronto when ChickenFoot was playing that week.  Took about 15 hrs but he got a few complete things signed.  Mine, shown above, has 2...Sammy and Chad.  This cover also turns completely black, except for the logo, when its in a cool enviroment.  Since my friend had already gotten something else signed by Sammy, Sammy refused to switch sharpies to silver and went ahead and singed this cd cover in black.  Therefore, unless the cover has been exposed to warmer conditions, you barely can make out his sig.  I ran this cover outside for a few minutes before I scanned it!!!  Still, pretty cook though!  Thanks Rob!

KISS  Gene Simmons,Eric Singer,Tommy Thayer

July 2009, Sarnia Bayfest was the venue.  Arrived in Sarnia early that day and decided to check out the local airport.  Within 5 minutes, a private jet lands and out comes KISS.  The 3 of us ran over the gates where the SUV's carrying KISS would be coming out.  We stood in a line holding up our stuff we wanted signed.  The first SUV stopped, passenger front window rolls down, and there was Gene Simmons! He said he would sign one thing for each of us.  In the pic above, thats my Dressed to Kill record he is signing.  He even pointed out the Eric and Tommy were in the back seat!  All three very nice. Good experience!  As for Paul Stanley, who was in the SUV 2nd in line, he attempted to cover his face.  Like we didnt know who he was.  So he was the asshole for the day!  But, I knew someone backstage that day and they did snag me a Paul stanley guitar pic!

 Murray McLaughlan

August 2009..location: St.Thomas, Ont.  Murray was playing at an annual Iron Horse festival.  Grabbed an album and headed down to St.Thomas.  Found the stage, and his trailer.  Within a few moments, he came outside to grab something and that's when I approached him.  Quietly signed the album and then went onstage for his show.

 Dennis DeYoung (Styx)

July 2009, London, Ont   Upon arriving at his hotel, I caught Dennis coming out of his SUV.  He gladly welcomed eveyone over and proceeded to chat, sign and take pics with everyone.  One of the class acts still left in the biz.  Got 3 albums signed as well as a pic signed of him and I from about 15 yrs ago.

The Tragically Hip

July 2009, London, Ont     Met 2 of them the night before they played.  Just happened to drive by the hotel they were staying at and saw 2 of them out front.  Got them both to sign album and pic.  The rest of the band didnt arrive till the next day.  Upon them leaving for soundcheck, I got the rest to sign.  All were pretty nice.  The only thing you have to look out for is the big grumpy bodyguard that comes attached to Gord Downie's hip lol  dont even attempt to talk to this guy!  But overall good experience.  If they try sneaking Gord out a side door, and you still catch him, he will accept defeat and sign for you!  Got my album and promo pic signed.

The Doobie Brothers

 July 2009 London, Ont    Was waiting outside of hotel when The Doobie Brothers pulled up in two buses.  For the start, they were all pretty good about signing for the handful of fans that were out there.  Drummer was a little reluctant and stated taht he would not sign stacks, but whatever!  As for the most visable member, Pat Simmons, let me tell you what a piece of shit this guy is.  First off, he steps off his bus looking like a piece of trailer trash shit and he walks towards the hotel really fast.  Without looking at anyone, he says in a wimpy voice, " I cant right now!"  Ok, fine, i thought, ill get ya on the way out.  An hour later he comes out with his trailer trash son and they just jet down the street and disappear.  Ok!  Ill try one more time!  By this time there is just 3 of us waiting for this signature.  We line up nicely, each with an album in our hands when he returns.  We ask nicely and say please, and this shithead, once again without looking at us states " I aint gonna sign no shit for f#$@$#@kin Ebay!!!"  That pissed me off.  I yelled back, stating how it wasnt, how dare he treat a fan this way, called him an asshole!!!!   Hate that guy! and you should too lol

Creedence Clearwater Revisited

July 2009, London, Ont    This was my 2nd time tracking down CCR.  As you can see in the pics above, those pics were taken about 2 yrs ago when I first met them.  So this time i had them sign those pics and also an album this time too.  Both Cosmo and Stu(only orig members left) were both class acts, and even joked about how much of an ass John Fogerty still is after all these years!

Aaron Prittchet

Location, London, Ontario.  Canadian Country artist, Aaron was at the same hotel the other bands were at that weeked that I was after.  I didnt have anything for him to sign, so just got my pic taken with him.  All around nice guy, posed for other pics and signed stuff for people.  Nice guy.

NO DOUBT

Location: London, Ont  John Labatt Centre 2009  Snagged a pic and signature from Adrian before the show.  After the show, tried my luck waiting with ALOT of fans from the concert.  Never expected to get all the signatures, but one by one, they all came over to the barricades and singed for eveyone there.  Even when Gwen Stefani was being led away by security after signing, she spotted a group of fans that hadnt gotten anything from her yet, so she made her way over to them.  Totally classy!  So if you cant grab them all before a show, best best is to wait around after.  Time spent to get all 4 autographs.....around 7 hrs and thats including the time spent inside watching the show too!

Paramore

2009   London, Ont  John Labatt Centre   Ok, these guys opened up for No Doubt.  Any normal person would think these guys, who are still on the rise, would be the for sure signers and not the main act No Doubt .  But alas, never assume lol.  Out of the 4 sigs I needed, I only got one.  The rest would just wave or say say shit like "I cant, I gotta go play"  even though they werent playing yet as the first opener was still on!  Here's a band whose still on the rise, so you would think that they would come over and sign for the few people who were after their signatures.  So overall, BAD SIGNERS!!!!!!  Doubt I would ever attempt for them again.

Jay Malinowski of Bedouin Soundclash

2009  London, Ont  John Labatt Centre    Bedouin was the first act of 3 that night on the No Doubt tour.  Caught Jay coming out of their bus on their was up to go perform.  He gladley stopped and signed and posed for pics.  I forgot they were opening that night so I just opted for the photo op.  Good guy.

Lukas Rossi (Rock Star Supernova)

2009 London, Ont   During a little stint of doing some stories for RogersTv Inside Oxford, had the opportunity to interview Lukas Rossi before his show in London.  Very gracious, great interviewee and all around genuine good guy.  I have even spoke with him not too long ago, and plan on meeting for a drink next time he's around in the area.  I had a stack of photos, both for me and for some friends, and he gladly signed them all.  He even filmed a little "deznation" promo for me and this site.

Howie Mandell

Aug 2008  Caesars Casino , Windsor, Ont     After being pranked by his show in Toronto, Howie Do It sent my wife and I to Windsor to attend the taping of the actual program in front of a live studio audience.  Here we actually got to see how they put our prank together and how it was gonna look on the show.  We even had to get on stage with Howie and do a little piece with him, but that never made it to air.  Go to officially meet Howie afte the taping.  Seemed to be an ok guy, pretty low key.  Had our pic taken, but silly me, didnt bring anything for him to sign.

Air Supply

September 2008  Caesars Casino, Windsor, Ont    Talked the casino into giving me free tickets to the show since I was just there filming the Howie show.  Not only were the tickets fee, but they were 3rd row centre.  Amazing seats.  Once we got to our seats, we were greeted by the head of operations for entertainment there and she presented me with the autograph pic you see above.  After the concert was over, which was amazing...these old guys can still sing their asses off, they came out for a meet and greet.  Got my album signed, and had 2 quick photos taken.  Lots of people waiting for them to sign, so they werent really impressed about posing for photos, but oh well!

Billy Idol

2008  London, Ontario    Billy was in town opening up for Def Leppard.  Took a drive around that afternoon and noticed a tour bus.  Waited for about 45 mins, then Billy came out of the hotel to get to his bus.  3 of us were there hanging aound, so we briskly walked towards him, as we were a little distance away, and held our albums up so he could see them.  He stopped, signed 2 albums for me, as well as posed fo a pic with me.  Billy's long time guitar player Steve Stevens came out a few moments later.  He signed our stuff too before heading off on the bus.  We did beat Billy's bus to the arena that day and those that were there waiting to see if they could get him did not until after his show, which then he signed and posed for pics.  Good guy, good signer.

Def Leppard

2009  London, Ont  John Labatt Centre    This was about a 12 hr day to get all the signatures I wanted.  Phil was nice enough to sign and pose fo a photo during the day.  Joe Elliott wouldnt.  That was it until after the show, when one by one, they came out and signed for everyone they could.  I had them sign my Pyromania album and had Vivian Campbell sign my Dio album which he plays on.  All seemed to be pretty good guys.  Joe Elliott did refuse to sign for some of the crowd stating once again, that it was for Ebay.  If i remember correctly, it was a drum head that he refused to sign.  The rest of the band did though.  I guess there are alot of fake sigs of the them floating around Ebay and such.  They even address it on their website. 

Zack Werner

2008  Toronto, Ont    Took my daughter to see a taping of Canadian Idol, and when I came outside to get some "fresh air", ran into Canadian Idol Judge Zack Werner.  Pretty nice guy.

Pat Travers

2008 London, Ontario  Rock the Park Festival    Caught Blues legend Pat Travers coming back to the hotel after being in the hospital er room all night nursing a bad eye infection.  Still posed for a pic.  My album was up in my hotel room at the time so I was unable to get that signed as this was the only time I saw him that day.  We did chat though as we shared an elevator ride together.  Good guy.

Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad)

2008  London, Ont  Rock the Park festival    Met Mark when his tour bus dropped him off at the hotel.  Signed for everyone and posed for pics.  I didnt have anything for him to sign so once again, just settled for the photo op. 

Matt Good

2008  London, Ont  Centennial Hall      After his concert, Matt welcomed fans one by one to come up to the bus to get sigs and pics.  Had my cd and guitar signed.  He was in a good mood so fa that night so it was a good signing experience.  Drunk fans usually ruin it, so hopefully you get him before the drunks do!  Oh, and a bit of a germaphobe too.

Air Farce Live

2008  Toronto, Ont  CBC Studios   Was invited to watch a taping of Air Farce live.  The director of the show was also the director for CWH3 that i was in, so he got us good seats.  After the show, walked into the VIP lounge and 2 of the cast was there, so grabbed myself a photo op.

Great White

2009 London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival    It was a chilly summer day, but lucked out and got all of Great White to sign.  All super nice, talkative, and they all signed and posed for pics with everyone.  No big hair like the old days, but these guys still can put on a great show and they sound amazing live.  All great signers.  Was also able to score a GreatWhite guitar pic off them too!

April Wine

2008, 2005   London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival   Now here's one band that i have seen numerous times and never really get sick of!  After all these years, these guys still deliver a great show.  All very nice guys.  Always sign and pose for pics.  As seen above, the first time I met them was the 2nd yr of Rock the Park, where all I bought to sign was glossy index cards.  So, on that I got the entire band, all orignals.  In 2008, only 3 originals left so thats why there is only 3 sigs on the album.  Recently, drummer Jerry Mercer retired, leaving only 2 originals left.  Always nice to see these guys!

Tom Cochrane & Red Rider

2008  London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival and John Labatt Centre    Met them all twice in a year.  Once when they were opening for John Cougar mellencamp and at RTP.  At the JLC, they all came over to greet us when they arrived.  Tom told us he didnt have time but would come over to talk to us as soon as soundcheck was done.  He was true to his word.  Got my Red Rider album signed and a few pics taken.  Saw them again in the summer time and was actually riding the elevator with Tom, where I snapped a pic and had him sign the pic I had taken with him earlier in the year.  All good signers!

Streetheart

2008  London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival    The band was actually watching CWH3 so I was able to get a backstage pass for their show to hang with them after they played.  All great guys.  Got 2 albums signed and pics taken and a guitar pic from them.  Super nice and still sound great!

Lee Aaron

2008  London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival       Ah...my metal queen lol   Still sounds great, still looks amazing if not better then she did in the 80's!  When I was having my album signed, when she wrote my name, she looked up and said "why didnt you come backstage after the show?"  I guess she has me on the guest list but her management forgot to email me to let me know.  Wow!  Dont matter anyways, as I snagged her twice, once after the show in a meet and greet tent and when she was leaving the hotel the next day.  Super nice lady!

Honeymoon Suite

2008  London, Ont  Rock the Park Festival    All original line up together.  All pretty good with signing and pics.  Johnnie Dee was a little tipsy when I met him but he still was nice until after people noticed who he was they kinda started bugging him for more and more.  otherwise, pretty good bunch of guys.  The album above was not signed when I met them as I didnt have anything with me fo them at the time.  I had a friend get the album signed for me at another gig a few months later.