News From The Road
Aero Force One
December 12, 2007
Bustle in my Hedgerow
Just got back from London where I got to see Led Zeppelin at the 02 arena - thanks to Ross Halfin and Wilf Wright. Rock and Roll is alive and well my friends. What a great show this was. The whole weekend was awesome. It was a star studded event.
I was told to meet Ross at a hotel in town where he was meeting his friend Randy and then we would go back to his place in Cheam to hang out before going to the show. I showed up a little early and waited for the Little General. In the distance I see Ross round a corner with his buddy Randy. I thought to myself, geez that looks just like Randy Johnson. It was him. He was a good foot and a half taller than our favorite shutterbug. I thought, why the hell is Randy Johnson hanging out with Ross Halfin? Well, it seems Randy is a huge (no pun intended) rock fan and also a big (no pun intended) Ross Halfin fan. He was going to Ross’s house to check out some of Ross’s prints. For a 6 foot 10 man Randy went through London virtually unnoticed. Londoners were more taken back from his humungous-ness than being one of major league baseball’s best pitcher of the last 20 years or so.
Me lounging with Randy
Photo by Nori the klepto at Casa Del Halfin
When we got to Ross’s house we were met by his houseboy Nori. Nori is an odd fellow. Straight from Japan. Nori has one eye, one good ear and one arm. I shit you not. Seems the fireworks are a little bit more powerful in Japan. He is a sweet guy however and when he opened the door he just about cried. Randy Johnson is just as popular in Japan than in the US. Listening to Randy and Ross talk I felt like I was in an up to date version of the Odd Couple. Now that would be a hit reality show. Are you listening VH1?
Right in front of Randy, Ross is asking me if he is any good? Is he as good as Babe Ruth? I just shook my head. The only thing I could come up with is he is the next best thing to Cy Young. Randy didn’t say anything but he didn’t disagree either. I then told Ross if Randy is like Cy Young then you would be like Ty Cobb, because Cobb was the meanest, dirtiest, hated player there was. Cobb's legacy has sometimes been overshadowed by his surly temperament and aggressive reputation which was described as "daring to the point of dementia. I thought that fit Ross pretty well. Ross agreed.
We hung out at his place for a while to look at some of his vast bootleg and memorabilia collection. Ross gave me the award KISS won from the Classic Rock awards last month. He said that they didn’t pick it up so he grabbed it. I left the 7 lb. award at his house hoping to get it later. Nori promised to send me a rare KISS Japanese single of “Rock and Roll All Night.” We then headed off for the Tube to go to the show.
We arrived at the gig with hours to spare. I took the time to case the joint. I caught some of the celebs coming in the back door. Dave Grohl, Bill Wyman, Paul Rogers, Chad Smith, Oasis, Naomi Campbell and Jeff Beck to name a few. Holy shit this is unreal. As the crowd filled the empty arena you could feel the excitement in the air. Something similar to what I could only imagine someone who saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.
My only task of the evening was to deliver a note to Jimmy Page from Joe Perry. I saw Ross standing close to the dressing room area and thought I would give it to a trusty messenger. As I was handing the note to Ross he said why don’t you give it to him yourself he’s right there. There he was in his stage clothes with a Gibson Les Paul slung over his shoulder. He greeted me by my surname and a smile. He took the note and disappeared back into his dressing room.
It was dangerously close to showtime and I had to find my seat. On my way I spotted Mr. Udo the famed Japanese promoter. I was just as happy to see him as I was Page. He asked how the band was doing and wished them well. I also said hi to Dick (Scatman) Carruthers who was filming the show for a DVD. Dick filmed Aerosmith’s Hard Rock show a few years ago. I can’t wait to see how this one comes out.
No caption needed...
Photo by John B.
After a short tribute video to Ahmet Ertegun, for whom the entire event was dedicated to, it was time for history. Out with a bang came “Good Times,” “Bad Times,” “Ramble On,” “Black Dog” with no let up. The band seem to be in mid tour form. It wasn’t until 2 hours and 10 minutes later that it was over. Will they ever play together again? It seems to be the magical question.
Led Zeppelin's set list
Photo by John B.
After some after show parties at the venue I knew had to get back to my hotel and pack as I had an early morning flight. I left completely drained and with the last notes of Rock and Roll ringing in my head I realized I had left London with a boatload of memory’s and I had also left without the KISS award. I rang Ross after I got through customs in Boston to tell him to send it to me but he informed me that Nori had left to go back to Japan with his boatload of memory’s and with my KISS award packed safely in his carry on bag.
File this one under: Good Times...
John B.
December 12, 2007
Bustle in my Hedgerow
Just got back from London where I got to see Led Zeppelin at the 02 arena - thanks to Ross Halfin and Wilf Wright. Rock and Roll is alive and well my friends. What a great show this was. The whole weekend was awesome. It was a star studded event.
I was told to meet Ross at a hotel in town where he was meeting his friend Randy and then we would go back to his place in Cheam to hang out before going to the show. I showed up a little early and waited for the Little General. In the distance I see Ross round a corner with his buddy Randy. I thought to myself, geez that looks just like Randy Johnson. It was him. He was a good foot and a half taller than our favorite shutterbug. I thought, why the hell is Randy Johnson hanging out with Ross Halfin? Well, it seems Randy is a huge (no pun intended) rock fan and also a big (no pun intended) Ross Halfin fan. He was going to Ross’s house to check out some of Ross’s prints. For a 6 foot 10 man Randy went through London virtually unnoticed. Londoners were more taken back from his humungous-ness than being one of major league baseball’s best pitcher of the last 20 years or so.
Me lounging with Randy
Photo by Nori the klepto at Casa Del Halfin
When we got to Ross’s house we were met by his houseboy Nori. Nori is an odd fellow. Straight from Japan. Nori has one eye, one good ear and one arm. I shit you not. Seems the fireworks are a little bit more powerful in Japan. He is a sweet guy however and when he opened the door he just about cried. Randy Johnson is just as popular in Japan than in the US. Listening to Randy and Ross talk I felt like I was in an up to date version of the Odd Couple. Now that would be a hit reality show. Are you listening VH1?
Right in front of Randy, Ross is asking me if he is any good? Is he as good as Babe Ruth? I just shook my head. The only thing I could come up with is he is the next best thing to Cy Young. Randy didn’t say anything but he didn’t disagree either. I then told Ross if Randy is like Cy Young then you would be like Ty Cobb, because Cobb was the meanest, dirtiest, hated player there was. Cobb's legacy has sometimes been overshadowed by his surly temperament and aggressive reputation which was described as "daring to the point of dementia. I thought that fit Ross pretty well. Ross agreed.
We hung out at his place for a while to look at some of his vast bootleg and memorabilia collection. Ross gave me the award KISS won from the Classic Rock awards last month. He said that they didn’t pick it up so he grabbed it. I left the 7 lb. award at his house hoping to get it later. Nori promised to send me a rare KISS Japanese single of “Rock and Roll All Night.” We then headed off for the Tube to go to the show.
We arrived at the gig with hours to spare. I took the time to case the joint. I caught some of the celebs coming in the back door. Dave Grohl, Bill Wyman, Paul Rogers, Chad Smith, Oasis, Naomi Campbell and Jeff Beck to name a few. Holy shit this is unreal. As the crowd filled the empty arena you could feel the excitement in the air. Something similar to what I could only imagine someone who saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium.
My only task of the evening was to deliver a note to Jimmy Page from Joe Perry. I saw Ross standing close to the dressing room area and thought I would give it to a trusty messenger. As I was handing the note to Ross he said why don’t you give it to him yourself he’s right there. There he was in his stage clothes with a Gibson Les Paul slung over his shoulder. He greeted me by my surname and a smile. He took the note and disappeared back into his dressing room.
It was dangerously close to showtime and I had to find my seat. On my way I spotted Mr. Udo the famed Japanese promoter. I was just as happy to see him as I was Page. He asked how the band was doing and wished them well. I also said hi to Dick (Scatman) Carruthers who was filming the show for a DVD. Dick filmed Aerosmith’s Hard Rock show a few years ago. I can’t wait to see how this one comes out.
No caption needed...
Photo by John B.
After a short tribute video to Ahmet Ertegun, for whom the entire event was dedicated to, it was time for history. Out with a bang came “Good Times,” “Bad Times,” “Ramble On,” “Black Dog” with no let up. The band seem to be in mid tour form. It wasn’t until 2 hours and 10 minutes later that it was over. Will they ever play together again? It seems to be the magical question.
Led Zeppelin's set list
Photo by John B.
After some after show parties at the venue I knew had to get back to my hotel and pack as I had an early morning flight. I left completely drained and with the last notes of Rock and Roll ringing in my head I realized I had left London with a boatload of memory’s and I had also left without the KISS award. I rang Ross after I got through customs in Boston to tell him to send it to me but he informed me that Nori had left to go back to Japan with his boatload of memory’s and with my KISS award packed safely in his carry on bag.
File this one under: Good Times...
John B.
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