Chris

What a great idea! I'd be happy to share my encounter with Keith for you and also be interested in being interviewed or contributing more. Here goes:

I have LOVED keith since i was 13. Discovering his music and learning about his life changed my own. So of course, my ultimate goal was to meet him. I always carried an old tattered "Rolling Stones official fan club card" in my purse JUST IN CASE! I got shit from all my friends for being so corny, but I always told them that some day I'd meet him and get him to sign it. It became a long running joke.

Well, in '92, Keith and the Winos toured and came to Mpls. I had tickets to the show and couldn't wait to go. I'd seen the Stones before but this was going to be more up close and personal! In the middle of the afternoon, I decided to go over to the hotel that the band was staying at just to see what was going on. It was a small, quiant European-style hotel...not one used to having "groupies" hanging out in the lobby! So I was honest as to what my intentions were and the doorman told me that my timing couldn't have been more perfect because the band was just getting ready to go to soundcheck. He didn't think Keith would actually go too but said it would be cool if I hung out.

Little by little, the band came down into the lobby to wait for their rides. I struck up conversations with Ivan Neville, Sarah Dash and Waddy Wachtel. They were all very cool and said that they thought Keith WOULD be coming down so I should stick around. I showed Ivan and Sarah my fan club card and we all laughed over the possibility that I might get it signed after all. Their van came and they all took off. I was left alone in the lobby thinking that although I had probably missed Keith, I at least got to chat with his band.

I waited a little longer and then got up to leave. As soon as I stood up, I saw HIM come into the lobby. He had on a long, black duster-type coat, dark shades and a head band...in other words, he looked exactly like he was supposed to! There was no one else in the lobby except the two of us. I think I left my body! I remember thinking that I would just stand there and watch him walk through...I couldn't bring myself to actually speak to him. Then I heard my voice say "Hey Keith!" and saw him turn to walk over to me. I was stuck!

He came over and I introduced myself and he took my hand and said, "Nice ta meet ya, luv." This was right around the time that Bill had quit the Stones so I asked him a few questions about that and he was obviously quite pissed off about the whole thing and said he didn't really know WHAT was going to happen with Bill. But he said that as long as Charlie stuck around, there would always be a Stones. He was so down to earth, very quiet and smooth.

He called me "luv" and "dahling" and asked if I had tickets to the show. I said "Yes, front row, center" and he said he he'd see me at the show. The one thing that I walked out of that hotel thinking was (and I know how dorky this sounds), "I have NEVER smelled anyone as good!" I mean, seriously, wouldn't you expect that he'd, well...uh, stink like booze and cigarettes?! My hand smelled like whatever colgne he wears for HOURS after he had touched it! And as you might have noticed, I never asked him to sign my card because I didn't want him to think I was a dork. So I went back to work with a dazed look in my eyes and told all my friends to smell my hand! This confirmed to them that I had completely lost it!

Part 2: So I got to the show early and saw Ivan Neville milling around while the stage was being set up. He remembered me from the hotel and asked if I had gotten my card signed. I said no, but I did get to meet Keith so I was happy. He said, "no, no, no--i saw how pathetically worn out that thing was! you can't get this close!" So he took me backstage and Keith signed it. My goal was achieved! The concert was amazing. I got tons of cool pictures, a guitar pick and a drumstick from Keith.

Needless to say, I continue to be a fan of his 16 years after I first discovered him. People ask me all the time why I dig him so much and I really can't put it into words. Maybe it's the fact that he embodies rock'n roll. Despite all his success, it's obvious that he was born to crank those riffs out of his soul and he'd be doing it for free if he had to. You rarely come across someone who so totally believes in what they do everyday, whether it be playing guitar, taking drugs, or whatever and doesn't feel that they must compromise or explain themselves to anyone. Keith is someone like that...what you see is what you get and I appreciate that.