HERE'S A picture Derek got despite the Gestapo
security folks at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Don't tell anybody.HERE'S A picture Derek got despite the Gestapo
security folks at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Don't tell anybody.
(Reprinted from the Star Beacon HEAT section, Oct. 18, 2002)
A ROBERT LEBZELTER column
CLEVELAND - It's one time middle-aged people can feel they
are back in school.
You can't stand there. Move back. You have to move along. Do you have authorization
for being here?
That's what it was like Sunday night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at
the opening of the Ron Wood art collection.
Wood comes from an artistic family and started drawing at age 3. Much of
his artwork is on temporary display at the rock hall on the fourth floor.
There's drawings of himself, fellow Rolling Stones and other rock stars,
as well as more esoteric work.
Years ago I became a major fan of the Stones and when I found out Wood would
be appearing at the debut of his art show, I got inside as a member of the
media. Not only would I meet the great Ronnie Wood, but snag a decent story
for the HEAT section.
Wood and his fellow Stones were in town for a concert at the Gund Monday
night, part of their "40 Licks" tour.
Arriving with son Derek in tow, (he happens to go to Case Western Reserve
University and lives in Cleveland Heights) we checked at the desk and learned
that as of Sunday morning, Wood's handlers decided cameras and recording
equipment would only be allowed until Wood showed up.
We could take photos of his paintings (some of which were already on an
Internet site), but once he arrived, all such equipment had to be checked
at the door. Also, Wood was only doing a few select interviews.
It's a bit handicapping to have no access to the artist, receive no press
information and be unable to take any photographs of him with his artwork.
It's sort of like being asked to bake a cherry pie but being told you could
not have any cherries. Worse yet, someone monitors you to make sure you
don't get the cherries elsewhere.
The artwork is in a cramped area and there were plenty of people on hand
to meet the famous entertainer.
Wood himself was very congenial, very friendly. When he walked by me on
his way to see his display, I thrust my hand out, said "Hi Ronnie"
and was met with a firm clasp of my hand, a slap on the arm and a "Hello
Mate" in his clipped, British accent. I said hello to wife Jo as well,
who smiled and said hello back.
The evening became a contest. There were people who wanted to meet Wood,
get his autograph on a CD or paper and maybe a photograph. There were security
goons who moved about the crowd, searching for people with cameras and pens
poised. It was like the junior high teachers searching for students who
were chewing gum.
Now Ronnie didn't seem too distressed about an occasional camera flash or
request for an autograph. He seemed happy to oblige. It was the security
people trying to prove they too were important that caused problems.
One Doug Neidermeyer type saw my son's digital camera. Never mind the only
photographs on it were of artwork, not Wood. Neidermeyer starts shouting
like he found the gunman on the grassy knoll, ignoring my requests he look
at the photos we had before inciting the third world war.
The next night Derek, myself and wife Louise found ourselves in front of
the second, small stage, where the band traditionally does three songs.
Since the small stage somewhat obstructed our view of the main stage, we
walked up and leaned against the railing of the small stage. We would have
to stand to see anyway, so why not lean?
More security people were quick to move us back. It was once again junior
high time.
The Stones really rocked. The show made all of those articles about their
ages sound ridiculous. The Stones are ageless and proved it by wearing out
the audience jumping, dancing, leaping, playing, smiling and laughing.
Suddenly it was time for the Stones to move to the small stage, a few feet
from where we were standing and not leaning. A man appeared from nowhere
and started leaning on the railing. As if at the same moment, Louise, Derek
and I strolled to the rail ourselves. No way where we going to allow the
surging crowd to usurp our spots.
Security left us alone for a dream set of songs, including "Stray Cat
Blues," a cover of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" and
their trademark "Brown Sugar." When the small stage set ended,
we were asked to move closer to our seats.
Not only did I have Ronnie in front of me again but Mick Jagger, Keith Richards
and Charlie Watts.
The great, upclose view of the band helped me put aside my experiences at
the rock hall the day before.
And the guy who first started hanging at the stage that prompted the rest
of us to move closer? I recognized him as one of the security people at
the rock hall the day before.
It seems overly aggressive security personnel check their own beliefs in
their importance at the door if it's going to get them upclose with the
Stones.
Lebzelter is special sections editor. Meet him at the Stones concert
in Columbus Sunday.