Freeze-frame after 15 seconds this video below of Mick Jagger visiting the Monaco Grand Prix and you will see me just behind him preparing my camera for a photograph of Mick that I eventually put on this blog. I did not realize at the time that the line I would start my Formula One race report story with and that Jagger said at precisely this moment – “What a madhouse!”, had been caught on video with me in it. Talk about multimedia! Here am I and my New York Times story lede quote being put up on the Rolling Stones web site. I had actually thought I was the only one who heard him say “what a madhouse.” So I suppose that is my 15 seconds of fame…. (you get the video directly in the link above, if you click on it below you get an advertisement first….)
Anyway, it would have been a much better story if Mick showed up for my second gig in a row at the Sunday brunch at the Mecano yesterday. I had to settle for Dan Haggis, the drummer and singer of the band the Wombats, who was there talking to Earle, eating brunch, and eventually listening to my first set. A very cool, down-to-earth guy, was Dan of the Wombats. A contrast to Mick? I wouldn’t know. I was so dumbstruck facing Mick that I could not think of a thing to say to him. It was only after I returned to the media center and saw my guitar sitting there ready for playing at McCarthy’s that night that I said, damn, I could have asked Mick to jam with me….
Anyway, the afternoon yesterday was another great success, and this time not only did I play three sets, but Rafa Ellan played a long set, Les DeShane played a short set and the daughter of a friend of Earle’s played a few songs too. Let’s hope this is the beginning of a new tradition.