Wildman's World
Les Paul
(June 9, 1915 – August 13, 2009)
Photo by Janet Macoska
Monday, January 23rd, 1995
Fat Tuesday's (Jazz Club, now defunct)
New York City, New York
It is with great sadness to revive this column under these circumstances and reflect on, without a doubt, a pure musical legend and a profound musical influence on yours truly. Earlier today, 8-13-09, the news was passed onto me that Les Paul has died at the age of 94 from complications of pneumonia. Normally, when we read & learn of our favorite musicians & singers who pass away, we pause & instantly flashback to that persons' best songs, videos, concert appearances and other moments that will remain forever etched in our minds.
For most people, we never really got the chance to meet & greet our favorite musicians, except maybe by chance in an airport, at a restaurant or a bar, winning a radio contest to go backstage or just casually bumping into an artist at an arena/pavillion, if they just happened to be wandering around before or after their show.
Sometimes, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time, by chance or by luck!
In January 1995, a friend of mine flew us to New York City for my 22nd birthday. It had been several years since I'd been back to New York, back in the days when the World Trade Centers stood tall & proud and one year before the New York Yankees won the World Series. My friend knew of some of my favorite musicians and bands from past discussions, but I had no idea what awaited me. All I knew is that we were going to see someone, some band, but I didn't know who.
January in New York is quite COLD to say the least! After arriving and settling into the hotel, we just wandered around Manhatten, hitting various shops & eateries. The sounds of people cussing at cab drivers, fussy & pushy people on the streets, rude panhandlers, NYPD writing tickets to morons who were double-parked, the screeching of the subway train brakes that were so loud, even Helen Keller could've heard them....ah! I love New York!!
We arrived in front of this small club I'd never heard of before called Fat Tuesdays. I asked my friend what kind of place is this? I was told it was a jazz club. Hmmmm. I do have some jazz favorites, I thought, but mostly I'm into classic rock, blues & heavy metal, mostly. Who is here that I want to see?
Within a few short seconds, I GOT my answer! It was around 6:45pm in the evening and wow, it was cold outside on this night. We were standing at the front door, peeking in, wondering if the place was even open?
We heard the door unlock and an old man's head popped out, asking "Can I help you?" It was Les Paul! Les Paul?? What the fuck?? Les Paul just opened the door of this club?? Needless to say, I was STUNNED! My friend explained we were there for the show, his show at 8:00 pm, one of two sets Les did every Monday for years at that club, before the club closed and he moved to the Iridium, in or around 2000. Les said "We don't really open until closer to 7:30 pm, but come on in and get out of that cold." I'm still basically stunned here, but we went inside and my friend told Les we flew in from Ohio and it was my birthday. Les looked at me and said "Really, it's your birthday and you came to see me?" I said "Yes."
Les asked one of the waitresses to seat my friend and he looked and me and asked "What's your name, kid?" "Dave," I said. Les told "Come with me with Dave," and he took me into this room beside the bar, evidentally his dressing room. Keep in mind, I am still in a state of shock here, not believing Les Paul just opened the door to the club and here I am sitting in this little office with a man who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! Everytime I've ever seen this guy, he was surrounded by the best in the business- Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, Steve Miller, Billy Idol, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Keith Richards, Chet Atkins so on and so forth, always giving interviews and playing on TV, always in the guitar magazines giving advice and tips as well as reflecting on his own career, hosting various guitar instructional videos- I mean, the guy was a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge and I'm thinking, this is insane! I'm in the room with Les Paul and nobody was around, it was quiet, except for the sound of him tuning up his guitar for the evening' show.
When he got finished tuning up, he put the guitar down and then moved his chair around, facing me. I'm thinking "Oh SHIT, is he going to be pissed about us coming in early or something?" Not at all. Les said "Well, it's your birthday so whatever you want to drink is on the house." DAMN! THAT was nice of him! I ordered a drink and then we proceeded to just talk about, well, what else? Guitars! He asked me "Do you play?" I told Les "I try, I practice a lot, but I don't play professionally and I damn sure can't play like you and your contemporaries." He laughed and asked me "What kind of guitar do you play?"
I told him I have (at that time) one 1993 Gibson Les Paul Epiphone and one1994 Fender Stratocaster, which since was sold and a late 80s Gibson SG, also since sold, all while Les was nodding his head with approval. He told me some stories about Leo Fender and his own history with the Gibson guitar company. He talked about his various inventions of the 8 Track, Echo/Delay, and all of the other advancements in equipment that made him famous. I asked him about Mary Ford and that started another in-depth conversation about their music, life & times. We also discussed favorite musicians, bands, albums, some of his favorite amps and my frustration about practicing guitar. The man was fascinating as hell and it was just one of those conversations you never wanted to end! He was very encouraging to me about practicing and said "Yes, it is frustrating but keep at it. Practice every day. Let the guitar become part of you, like your arm or leg. Don't worry about making money or becoming famous. If you never make a dime playing the guitar, then you've lived your life having fun playing the guitar- that's all that matters." DAMN! What could I say to that?
Les reached into his bag and told me "I have some things for your birthday, here's a shirt with my name on it and the name of the club, I hope it fits."
(Front)
(Back)
I thanked Les kindly, but he said "There's more, here's a (VHS) video I made a couple of years ago (1993) and on it, I'm performing with my (Les Paul) Trio. I think you'll like it. I'm also having a conversation in between some of the songs, much like what you and I are talking about now. I think you'll like this video!" I again thanked Les, totally overwhelmed by these gifts!
Living Legend of the Electric Guitar (1993) VHS format
The one thing I realized at that point is that neither my friend or myself brought along a camera to take pictures, so I did not get any pictures of Les and I, but- Les asked me if I had anything that he could sign and I was scrambling looking for a pen and paper, neither of which I had on me. The only thing in my pocket was a New York City subway map! Les said "Give it here, and he pulled out a marker and signed " To Dave, Happy Birthday, Les Paul!"
Les Paul Autograph
After our discussion, it was getting close to showtime and Les took me out to the main dining room & stage area, where he pulled a table close to where he would be sitting and moved my friend and I literally inches away from his legs, right front & center! From there, he just did, well, what Les Paul did- played amazing & influential music!
The man was a total professional and a class act all the way around! He gave me an unforgettable birthday and I will ALWAYS remember that convesation I had with him, as well as his kind gifts that he gave me. I came home from New York a few days later and I was still in awe!
Les Paul's passing will be felt for many years to come, but it's amazing to think what the mans' left behind- thousands upon thousands of friends & contemporaries all over the world, his inventions of all sorts of equipment to better advance the music industry, his legendary work with Leo Fender and the Gibson guitar company, his countless albums & television appearances with Mary Ford, Chet Atkins, his Les Paul Trio and his solo recordings, his memorable concerts, watching him flash that trademark smile whenever he received any award, all of which were most well deserved and many inductions into many different Halls of Fame!
For those who play guitar, especially Les's Gibson Les Paul guitars, they will tell you, if not for him, there would be no THEM! Many musicians and guitar players will have much to say about Les Paul in the coming months and years, just as they have honored him while he was still alive.
I am one person who happened to be in the right place at the right time and I was very honored and humbled to shake hands with one of the most fascinating musical personalities of the 20th & 21st century! I thanked him on that night and I will thank him again-
Thank you, Les Paul! Vaya Con Dios, Legend......
"Wildman" Dave Diamond
8-13-09
