Last week, on the 20th anniversary of the Post-Gazette Pavilion, I offered what I considered to be the Top 20 Most Memorable Moments at the Burgettstown amphitheatre. Just about all of those took place on the stage.
But Joe Katrencik, a former publicist for Star Lake, had a much more interesting view, seeing everything that happened behind the scenes. He offered us the following memorable moments:
Bob Seger faces his critic
On the day of Bob Seger's concert at Coca-Cola Star Lake I got a call from Post-Gazette reviewer Ed Masley. He said he was going to be hosted at that night's concert by a Bob Seger fan who took offense to Masley's review of a previous Bob Seger concert - where Masley stated that "...Seger doesn't rock." The fan was going to show Ed that he was wrong.
So I arranged for the Seger fan and his wife to sit next to Ed in the reviewer section, about 20 rows from the stage. The Seger fan was pumped.
During the opening act I went backstage to the tour production office to ask for a set list. I casually mentioned to the road manager the circumstances regarding Ed Masley
"Excuse me," he said. "I'll be back in a second."
Returning a few minutes later, he said, "Bob would like to meet Ed Masley and this fan. Do you know where they are?"
"Sure," I said. "Be back in less than 10 minutes."
But Masley was hesitant to participate, since he had written that less-than-favorable review of Seger's previous concert, and might have been wary of a confrontation. I told him it would probably just be the usual "meet & greet" with quick handshakes, smiles and so forth.
Backstage the fan, Masley and I were escorted to Bob Seger's dressing room.
Upon seeing Bob Seger before him, the first thing the fan said was "Hey, Bob, this here is the man who wrote those mean things about you the last time you were in town!"
"See, I told you he was young," said Bob Seger's wife, standing beside him.
Then Seger laughed, his wife laughed, and we all laughed.
A Jewel of a Girl
The delicate little girl was about 12 years old, and accompanied only by her best friend as they awaited a backstage meeting with her favorite singer - Jewel. As I recall, I think this was arranged by Make-A-Wish.
We sat at an outdoor table - where I learned that she had a rare neurological disease that affects involuntary functioning of certain organs. A sister had the disease, and another sister had died from it.
Visibly excited, she would hold her friend's hand and repeated more than once, "I have to remember to breathe."
Expecting a quick "meet & greet," I was surprised when the girls were invited to Jewel's dressing room, where they talked with her for nearly 15 minutes. Then Jewel wrote and gave the little girl a special message inside a copy of her book of poems.
Stung by a Sting Photo
Paula Hill was Group Party Director at Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre, and adored Sting. A prized possession was a large photo of Sting on the wall next to her desk. It was much better than the photos I had to publicize the upcoming Sting concert, and it was also in color, so I asked if I could borrow it to copy and distribute to the media.
The photo was mounted only on foamcore, so it was light and easy to carry to my car.
I set it against my briefcase on the ground as I reached for the car keys, but a sudden gust of wind picked it up and blew it onto the parking lot access road - where a Coca-Cola delivery truck promptly ran over it.
Paula was saddened to see Michelin treads and gravel pock marks on Sting's face, but was so understanding and forgiving that I vowed to make it up to her some way on the night of the Sting concert.
Luck was with me the night of the concert - I found out that the star was scheduled for a small meet & greet with guests of one of the tour sponsors. I told my story of the crushed photo to the tour manager, and he gave me a guest pass so that Paula could meet Sting in person backstage. She was thrilled, and even more so at the meet & greet when I asked Sting if she could kiss him on the cheek. "My pleasure," he replied. And now Paula has the photo to prove it.
And here are more:
Britney Spears: It was the morning of the Britney Spears concert and I was backstage with an NBC cable news producer looking for an empty dressing room where they could interview Britney later in the day. Usually the dressing rooms are empty until early afternoon when the tour arrives, so it surprised me when I knocked on one dressing room door and a sleepy eyed young woman opened it. "Sorry, " I said, and we turned and walked away to look for another room. I hadn't realized the woman was Britney until two burly bodyguards arrived and ordered us to the production office, where we were severely chastised for disturbing Britney's sleep.
Destiny's Child: One year I was preparing for the Pavilion's 10th anniversary by videotaping congratulatory messages from as many artists as I could get. Destiny's Child manager Matthew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) agreed that the girls would do it and said to come back to their dressing room in about 10 minutes. Used to off the cuff one liners, I was surprised with a polished, sparkling skit, created special for the occasion.
Iggy Pop: After their Pavilion performance, Iggy Popp gathered his band on the catwalk outside the backstage dressing rooms and proceeded to analyze the entire performance, suggesting ways to make it better musically the next time.
Jackson Browne: On the afternoon previous to his performance, Jackson Browne was rollerblading the paved walkway around the lawn, occasionally stopping to chat with and sign autographs for workers who were busy stocking the concession stands and making the place ready for the night's show. This was a rare and appreciated opportunity for some of the behind the scenes people to actually meet a rock star.
Joan Baez: During a day long folk festival, practically never leaving the immediate backstage area, encouraging the performers and enjoying the social opportunities tremendously.
Bob Dylan: Sent the Security department into overdrive when he unexpectedly called the audience to join him onstage.
Steve Miller: Lifting weights in the production office before the show.
Spice Girls: Tour manager asking KDKA TV's broadcast truck to retract its antenna, fearing they might bootleg the music.
Wynona Judd: Show delayed while security searches for Wynona's lost puppy. Found safe but frightened under Wynona's tour bus.
Pantera: "Hi-jacking" a hi-lift backstage after the show, after an afternoon when they ran golf carts ragged at a local country club.
Tommy James, Peter Noone, Davey Jones, Bobby Sherman: In a backstage bull session, Noone relates how the relatively unknown The Who once opened for Herman's Hermits, and many, including critics, thought The Who were smashing guitars because they were angry that the crowd kept chanting "Herman, Herman" during their performance.
Michael Bolton's daughter: Trying to convince security that she can take photos of Michael Bolton from her front row seat, despite not having a photo pass, because she is Michael Bolton's daughter. Backstage, the tour manager confirmed her claim.
Steven Tyler: Wearing a sweatsuit and jogging through the parking lots before the show. Fans realize too late who just whizzed by.
Snoop Dogg: Playing basketball with roadies in the backstage parking lot.
Kid Rock: Looking cool while tooling slowly on his motorbike through the parking lots, the bike stalls, and he has to push.
Brian Wilson: Led by the elbow to the backstage dining tent by his manager, Wilson later proved his mettle onstage, besting a Paul Simon performance according to some critics.
Eagles: Perfect weather conditions - a great sound system - and a terrific band produced an ethereal sound that literally stopped me in my tracks ( I moved around a lot in my job as media coordinator)
Black Crowes: Rich and Chris Robinson fishing in Star Lake before the show.
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Posted
Jun 01 2009, 03:01 PM
by
Scott Mervis