Has anyone here ever met the band? Share your stories!

[Brooks]

Let's see if that drunk Warrel can remember any of these


Me and about 3 of my closest metalheads drove out to Brooklyn NY for the Nevermore/Opeth show, and being that we know how L'amours works we got there about three hours early.

And what to our wonderful eyes should appear? But Loomis and Van, out drinkin a beer.

Yes, the secret to meeting bands is to arrive way earlier than the show is gonna start, cause odds are the band'll just be hangin out, as they have plenty of time to kill before a show.

So we went up to Jeff and started shootin the shit about the band, the new record, Opeth, Symphony X, blah blah, all sorts of cool stuff. Jeff and Van even bummed cigarettes off me (bastards!).

So me and my friends wanted to get something to eat, and since the only place nearby to get some food around there was a nearby bowling alley, we graciously asked Jeff and Van if they'd like to go bowling. For a second, they almost seemed like they wanted to take us up on that offer, but some sound guy reminded them that they had plenty of soundcheck to do. Oh well.

On our way back from the bowling alley we saw Jeff, on acoustic guitar, and some dude on a fiddle , playing a duet on the street. They were playing Tea Party songs on the sidewalk, so naturally the first thing I did was throw some change in front of them and walk by That was loads of fun, and if anyone needs me to remind them, Jeff KILLS on guitar.

So, later on line, an extremely cool thing happened. As most people who've met "famous" musicians know, you usually have to go up to them, try to make some small talk, then keep the flame of conversation alive (as since they're always on tour, they're always been bogged down with questions from fans), but as we were standing outside, WARREL DANE actually comes up to US and starts shooting the shit! Imagine the musician coming up to YOU to start talking? That was pretty fuckin cool. So, I made fun of Warrel's post show love of vodka (the sound guy was telling me he always reeks in the bed on the bus), and a good time was had by all.

Theres my little story, anyone else got one?

 

[TexunNYC]

 

[White Rabbit]

I talked to them backstage at Wacken last year. Nothing really worth talking about, I just conversed briefly with each of them, but it was monumental for me seeing as how meeting Warrel in particular was one of my life's ambitions.

 

[ms. anthrope]

sweetest, fun, down-to-earth guys you'll ever meet. van keeps me in stitches!

 

[Iced Dragon]

too many to remember..ahum...but I believe Jeff forcing me to drink of his vodka lemon was kool. and the fact he played and signed my sweet RR1 LTG!!
oh and the time....
aaaaaaah in memory...

 

[Iced Dragon]

oh and what had Jeff to say about Symphony X/michael Romeo?

 

[nemesis v.2]

Symphony X rules...I'm just getting into them...gonna pick up V or Diving Wings next time I see either...

and I wish I could meet Warrel or Jeff...or any of 'em...

one question: I saw the Believe in Nothing video, wtf is that about? and was it ever on vh1 or mtv?

 

[Rebirth]

Tip:Try to remember not to talk shop....to them.

 

[ZANEX]

I've met the guys twice, all except for Tim Calvert. I saw them on the "Politics" tour opening for Flotsam & Jetsam and then on the"Dreaming" tour with "12 seconds of rage" and a local band on my birthday July 7, a few years back. All the guys are very down-to-earth, and I got to talk with them all. I sat by Van And Warrel as they drank, Van was downing the tequila shots. I also saw them with Arch Enemy and Deep again on the "Dreaming" tour but only talked to Jim that time. He remembered me from previous show were I met them after jarring his memory. Great bunch of guys.

 

[etherealsadness]

Too many to remember.....

 

[Raven]

Too many to remember all of the details (and with Jim buying drinks, I couldn't remember them if I tried.) But one of the mot memorable was with Tim Calvert. We were standing outside of the club and some homeless guy came up and asked for money. Tim said to him, "Do you know what they call a musician without a girlfriend? Homeless!" Needless to say, this guy was less than amused.

 

[Tee]

met them only twice, very nice and kind people. nothing special though, just gave them the pics of the previous show (2 weeks before that, in Vienna), Jim is a real musketeer, Jeff is - the only one who will shake your hand while saying thank you. Van is the nicest to talk to, and WD the most interesting (you get two versions of him, one clean before the show, and one not so clean, after the show. ).

see, not interesting at all... and nothing to remeber.

all in all, lovely.

 

[Jimbo]

I've actually hung out with them on a couple occasions (see pictures section for photo evidence of one of them) but it was the most recent time, during the Savatage/Nevermore show that sticks out most.

See, they hit Tempe on September 13th, last year. For those in the states, you'll remember that things were pretty funky all around. Half the people were in shock, and when you looked in the sky, there were not jets or planes to be found. Nobody seemed to be doing much of anything, be it going out and having fun or whatever. But, the boys in both bands made it to town, and the show was really amazing, on the parts of both bands, but especially Nevermore.

I was wearing my death t-shirt, and Warrel pointed me out midset to basically give me a hell yeah, then he dedicated "Heart Collector" to Chuck. And to the people who'd died two days previous. It was a touching moment, all around. After the show, my friends and I were hanging out, talking to the other fans and to guys in both bands (and my old roommate, Heidi, who was an old school rocker and groupie was hot on the heels of Johnny Lee Middleton whom she'd apparently slept with back during the Streets tour, but anyhow) and Warrel came out of the bus. I've seen Nevermore every single time they'd come through, he remembered me. Maybe he was drunk or maybe we were all feeling a little less secure in our lives, but he gave me a hug. We talked, in front of their bus, drinking beer and talking about everything from what to hope for with the new album, politics *of ecstasy, haha*, girls he knew back in Sanctuary (thanks to Heidi, she spent her time around the Seattle boys too). Jeff told me about how he was glad to have switched producers, much as he liked Neil, because he was finally really hearing his guitar in the mix.

Yeah, I remember all the details rather vividly. Like Jim and Van giving another friend of mine a hell yeah for his Haunted shirt. THe weird back of fourteen year old girls who had just discovered Nevermore and were wearing white tank tops with "Jeff Loomis fan club" written in black magic marker on the fronts.

So, that's my story. That particular concert will always be special in my soul, both for the performances (Engines of Hate just blistered) and for the real, heart-felt moments. THanks Warrel, thanks Jeff. You guys are metal in the truest sense

Jimbo

 

[AngelWitch73]

I´ve not had the opportunity to meet them...

 

[Battle Angel]

So we went up to Jeff and started shootin the shit about the band, the new record, Opeth, Symphony X, blah blah, all sorts of cool stuff. Jeff and Van even bummed cigarettes off me (bastards!).

Ahaha! What brand you smoke, dude?

It's a coincidence, every member of Adelaide bands I've met always scabbed a cigarette or two off of me. That's probably what the music industry is, a way for cheapos to get cigarettes for free.

Angel

 

[Brooks]

Well, I used to smoke Camel filters, but I've been nicotine free for about 11 months now.

And I dont know about most people, but quitting smoking was just about the easiest thing I ever did! I just... decided not to smoke anymore. People have no will, it seems.

 

[Faith]

I have to say the funniest thing that happened when I met the guys was carding Jeff when he tried to bumb a ciggerette from me.....needless to say the expression on his face was amusing. I only had one left so we talked about psyco women and the fact that I knew more words to their songs then he did.....lol. It was a great night.

 

[Aethernal]

Mine is a frustrating story. I saw Nevermore with Mercyful fate back in 99, at the Ventura, California theatre. At the time, I had been deeply into Mercyful Fate and had not listened too much to Nevermore. I definitely enjoyed both bands equally, though.

After the concert, I sat out back near the tour busses with a few other people. As I sat, head in hands, pondering the previous few hours of awesome music, I hear a voice: "hey, does anyone have a joint?" I look up to see that it's Jim Sheppard, asking the group of people that I was near. When no one answered, he says, "damn, I can go anywhere else and find a joint, but why not here?" and walked away.

To this day, I wish I would have sparked a conversation with the guy, but alas, I didn't. That night, though, I was able to talk to Sharlee D'angelo, Hank Shermann, and Bjarne T. Holm from Mercyful Fate, which was quite cool.

 

[Metros]

I've met the guys a few times throught the few shows that I see when they play here (NY). I remember seeing them at Lamours in Brooklyn and I was just hanging out and seen Warrel walking by but I didn't know it was him! The few pics I've seen before that, he was with his hair down. This time, his hair was in a pony tail, had a sweater hat (or whatever you call them) and a nose ring. I started talking and he signed some stuff, took a few pics. He seemed like the shy type. Later that night, while hanging out in the back after the previous band before them went off, I see Tim Calvert right in front of me. We started talking about music and stuff... anyway... that was one show. Another time I saw them play at a club called Downtime. Awesome show.....was all the way on the side toward the front and singing to every song. Seemed that every time Warrel shook somebodys hand or whatever, he rolled by me...... whatever...at the end of the show, Van shook everybodys hand.. A few minutes later, I go up one flight and see Jeff there and some others....we start talking about guitar stuff and I asked him how he does this one part in the Learning and if they ever going to play it cause it is my favorite song (so far)....he just rolled his eyes and said that the intro is long and boring... I just started laughing and he said "c'mon, I will show you how to play it." He took me to the area that Downtime I guess calls the back stage area and he pulls out his guitar. I of course, start saying to myself "holy shit" it's not everyday that somebody you itolise shows you licks let above talk to you! Anyway, he didn't have a pick and asked a guitarist from another band to borrow one and started playing that riff before the solo.....we couldn't hear so he suggested that we go to the bathroom were it is more quiet. He jokingly said not to try anything. lol We go inside and this dude coming out was like "ooh, kinky" whatever, I found it funny. ANYWAY, he shows it to me and some other stuff. I was blown away from the whole situation. Had him sign a poster and some stuff and we left.
Point is that I was used to being back stage at like Metallica or Megadeth concerts were everything is so anal and you have to stand in line and do this and you can't do that and you MAYBE only meet one member for like 10 seconds.
Another time, and I found this dissapointing, was at lamours again (another show, I believe with symphony x) and Jim was in the back lying down asking for pot from anybody that sat near him or talked to him. Eh, oh well......

 

[Metros]

come to think of it, it probably wasn't symphony x and it could've been the opeth show that I was thinking about (seen so many bands there I forget who played with who and all that shit)....sad thing for that show is that a lot of people left after Opeth (before Nevermore)......