 |
| Robert & I, April 24th,1995, outside STARS Deli, East 52nd & Lex. |
I love Zeppelin! I am a Zep-head from way back in the day, little high school headbanger. I have all 10 albums, including CODA, released after John Bonham's untimely demise. It is almost impossible to single out one favorite but 'Presence' is up there. 'Nobody's Fault But Mine.'
Fast forward, Led Zeppelin had disbanded and Robert Plant had embarked on a solo career. In between his years with Led Zeppelin and his solo career, he did launch the band 'The Honeydrippers', named after the great American blues singer Roosevelt Sykes, in 1981. They released one album. He stated he always wanted to form a rock band with a heavy rhythm and blues basis.
And tonight, May 1988, he is here, Nassau Coliseum, touring his latest release 'Now And Zen' and so am I. This would be the first of four interactions I would have with him over the years. Every ten years we run into each other somewhere.
I'm there doing my catering thing, setting up everything, lunch for the crew, dressing rooms, etc... He arrives and goes directly into his dressing room which I have all set up by now. The dressing room is the NY Islanders Hockey visiting team's locker room. We transform it, put up drapes across the place and bring in furniture. It looks so nice, very inviting.
Now I have to set up the stage area according to the contract. That means one full cooler of iced beverages right next to the drum set, within reach of the drummer and a bustub full of iced beverages off to the side, out of sight, stage left. All this has to be done by 3:50 p.m., at the latest. Soundcheck starts at 4:00 p.m. and I am supposed to be well out of there by then. Around 3:45 p.m. and I am on the stage by myself dropping off the beverages.
Robert Plant and a technician walked onto the stage and went right up front. Robert was pointing at the two monitors and asking something about them. The technician answered, then they left. I finished up a minute later and left myself. I thought "that was very cool to be on stage, at the very same time, as Robert Plant. I mean he was over there in his world, and I am over here in mine, but still, it is still cool that we were on the same stage at the same time."
 |
| My BSP May 18th, 1988 |
9:00 p.m. he took the stage. He looked and sounded terrific, singing and dancing around like he does, hitting all the right notes. Everyone loved seeing him, collectively people were wondering "Will there be any special guests? Will he play any Zeppelin music? Etc...?"
The tour was in support of his fourth solo album, which contained the hit 'Tall Cool One'. He drew his selection of music, to be performed that evening, from his four solo albums, in other words, No Zep. Fine, got it, he wanted to move on, and the fans were cool with that. No one left early grumbling, they stayed for the entire concert. I was able to see only portions of the show as I was working. I would stop, briefly, here and there, long enough to take in a full song. It was enthralling. The audience was captivated.
I had to go into the production office and call the local pizza parlor and place an order for 10 pizzas and a dozen parmigiana heroes: chicken, meatball, eggplant. These were going to be placed on the tour bus for when the band rolls out. While I am in there I see a stack of about 50-VIP backstage passes just sitting there unused. The show had started, Robert had taken the stage, the only value these backstage passes had anymore were to a collector, much like myself. I asked if I could have a few and someone in there said "Yes". I got five, one was for my collection. The rest I was going to give away to friends. The backstage pass I currently had was a "working backstage pass", this new one was a "VIP".
I walk out to my car so I can go pick up the pizzas. I have a parking pass which allows me access up and down the loading ramp all day for when I go out and get stuff. I can't be carrying ten pizzas from the parking lot, down the ramp, to the buses by hand. I started to drive up the ramp and wave to the security guards like always. I'm almost at the top of the ramp, when all the sudden I see five people just sitting there along the wall.
They had absolutely no place to go and were just waiting for a huge miracle. My first thought was "No way! Absolutely not! I'm not giving them these backstage passes because I want my VIP Backstage pass and I want to give a few away." I took a deep breath and thought, "Be cool, man, my friends aren't here and these people are." So I pulled over. (Once I got to the top of the ramp, that is, I didn't need my car rolling back on all these poor souls. No good deed goes unpunished.)
We have all seen the rock-documentary movie 'The Song Remains The Same', remember that one scene? Concert night, at MSG, sold-out, no way to get in, people milling about aimlessly. All the sudden, two NYC policemen, who are inside, open up an exit door and ask three guys outside "You want in?" They're so excited for the chance to get in and the police let them in.
It happens all the time. It's called a "New York Minute" and anybody can make one happen, if you have the right energy. And if you don't have the right energy, get the right energy. I was about to make five people's New York Minute. They were casting the right energy just by sitting there, on the concrete, of the ramp, not giving up.
I walked right up to them. They looked at me. I said "Do you want a backstage pass?" And handed the first person theirs, then on down the line. They couldn't believe it. They were so exhilarated. I don't know if you know this feeling. There is no feeling like it, going to a sold-out show, you have wanted to go to for weeks, night of, absolutely no way in, all the sudden, you're in.
Now they are jumping up and down and hugging and they were all exuberant. I get back in my car to go get the pizzas and I see them in my rear view running down the ramp and I'm thinking to myself that I really should have told them "When you get inside, play it real cool, like you belong, like you've been there before."
Whatever they'll figure it out. I returned, everything was fine, no reports from security of any fans running amok. I load up the buses then watch some more of the show. The performance was top notch, people really enjoyed themselves. The concert finishes, the final bow is taken, then Robert and his bandmates are on to the next city on the tour.
Six years later, the second interaction I would have with Robert Plant was in 1994 when he was staying at the hotel I was working at, The New York Palace. He was with two people when he walked up to the desk and asked where he could get a good pastrami on rye. We directed him around the corner, to the closest good Jewish Deli, The Stars Deli. It's closed now.
I happened to bring my camera with me to work that day and it was downstairs in my locker. I waited about 45 minutes, after Robert Plant stopped by the desk, then I decided to go on my lunch break. I went downstairs and got my camera and then beelined it over to Stars to wait for him to come out. After a bit, he did. I got a great photo and his autograph. He wrote "To BC On & On Boogieing" Robert Plant. It's from 'The Song Remains The Same'. What a great day.
 |
| To BC On & On Boogieing- Robert Plant |
Eight years later, the third interaction. I'm working as a waiter (I've gone through my share of jobs over the years, what can I say?) at a great Jewish Deli, this one was Wolfe's on West 57th, 2002. It's closed now too. One day he walks in, with his family, to get a pastrami and rye. A few people recognized him, some of the staff was younger so they weren't sure. Myself and a few other waiters did recognize him and said hello and nodded as he went by. He was having lunch with his family so everyone was very respectful. I already got a photo and autograph years earlier so I was good.
After their lunch, they did stop at the little gift shop area. They were looking at all the specialty brown mustards. They picked out a few fun novelty items. We noticed that they were in no real hurry to rush out so we kind of casually sauntered on over to talk to them a wee bit. Robert did sign one autograph on a menu for a waiter which was very cordial of him. I did get to ask him one question and that was "Is there going to be any private, pop-up, unannounced shows anywhere?" If I'm only going to get one question in, make sure it counts. He told me "No, we're leaving for the airport in an hour."
Fourth and final time, fast forward sixteen years, 2018. One day I was hanging out with friends and one had mentioned he had never seen Robert Plant so I made a mental note of it. Robert Plant announced he was going on tour and they were going to be in town on June 13th. I reached out to WBAB and they obliged. I am eternally grateful for them and their absolute hospitality over the years. They are the greatest radio station in the world, 102.3 FM. I went with John Sopko, he was thrilled to finally be seeing Robert Plant live. And Robert Plant did not disappoint, he was incredible.
Sheryl Crow was the support act. The concert was at the Forest Hills Stadium. It was my first time seeing a show there. It is a newer venue and they really planned it well while designing the place. For one, they have more restrooms for females than males so there never was a line for either one all night. That was nice. Also being in the NYC five boroughs, there were full on gourmet restaurants in the food court area. These restaurants have to compete for space there. It could be a bit pricey, but it is so tasty, and worth it, it was quality.
 |
| From the collection- A Sheryl Crow signed CD and a BSP from 1997 |
Sheryl hit the stage and she was rocking! She looked good and sounded better. Our seats were perfect! It was so nice to not be working and be able to actually sit down and take in the performance. She was really fun. While playing the song 'All I Wanna Do' the sun set on the stadium. She hit the line "Until the sun comes up on the Santa Monica Boulevard." And when she sang 'sun comes up' the sun set, that exact moment! She sang great, had fun fan interaction, I would definitely go see her again anytime she is in the area.
Robert came out, the stage lights were all on by now. Every seat was taken. He and his band rocked it! He played from his entire catalog of music, including Zeppelin. This is what they have been patiently waiting for. 'Going to California' was really memorable that evening, maybe because he sat down to deliver that one, very laid back. The entire show was just remarkable coming from a legend, a true rock icon.
 |
| Ticket stub from last time I saw him |
Next time he is in New York, you know he is going to stop in somewhere and get himself a nice pastrami on rye.
