The Day I Met My Musical Idols

Too much controversy makes Ginger snap (bada boom, bada bing) so I thought it would be fun to make NM’s head ‘asplode by sharing with you the pictures and story from the day in 1998 that my dream came true, the day I had been waiting for from the time I was 10 years old…yes, the day I met my musical idols, the Bee Gees.

Yes, I know that my adoration of the Brothers Gibb astounds and amuses some, but it really does go more than skin deep or a childhood crush.  Like many people, growing up wasn’t always easy and my house didn’t even remotely resemble that of “Leave It To Beaver.” It was around the age of 8 or so when I discovered buying albums, and when my parents bought me my own stereo I would spend hours in my room listening to music and singing to it.  I’ll never forget hearing “How Deep Is Your Love” the first time.  Actually, I saw the promotional clip on TV (they weren’t called “music videos” yet), and that was it for me…I was head over heels, madly in love, never to turn back…and it’s 30 years later & I still love them.  Once I discovered the Bee Gees‘ music, no matter what else might be going on around me, I locked the door behind me and turned the music up…I would sit by the speakers, study the harmonies and each layer of production and I learned what I know about music today.  To say that they had a major impact on my well-being through some difficult days would be an understatement.

So, that’s why I have such a place in my heart for them.

Having grown up in Miami, which is where they lived, one would have thought I’d have stalked them from the moment I got my first car, but even from a young age, I understood that you just didn’t do such things.  Of course, we won’t count the fact that in ‘98 me and my Ex sat in the car for about an hour outside of their studio as “stalking” will we?  I like to call that “patiently awaiting their arrival.”  hee!  Mind you, by that time, I had already been in the music business 10 years and had met just about every celebrity I had ever wanted to meet in my life, but meeting these guys in a more business-like manner had eluded me.

So a girl had to do what a girl had to do!

And so it was.  My dignity had just about gotten the best of me and I told the Ex that it was ridiculous that I was sitting in my car waiting on these guys and we needed to leave.  He said he had a feeling in his gut that we need to wait just 10 more minutes…that I had waited my entire life to meet them and to not give up for just 10 more minutes.  So I agreed to as I rolled my eyes and huffed profusely thinking how very above this whole situation I was.

Me & Maurice

When suddenly, from behind us drove up a copper Porsche that zipped into the studio parking lot.  Immediately we knew that we had struck Bee Gees gold!  So I very gingerly emerged from my car and approached as Maurice got out of his beautiful Porsche.  Mo flashed that million dollar smile, extended his hand, and said, “Hello!”  He completely put me at ease, as I was so afraid I was going to make him feel awkward or put out.  I introduced myself and told him that I lived in Nashville, and his face completely lit up!  He said, “Oh! I love Nashville! I love country music. I like Tim McGraw! I love Dolly!” Then, he told me this cute story about how when they came to Nashville sometime in the early 70s, somebody told them incorrectly that there was a hotel that Elvis had stayed in called the King’s Inn. So, they insisted that they must stay at that hotel. Now, I am thinking that this was a hotel in one of three locations in Nashville: Murfreesboro Road near Fessler’s Lane, Dickerson Road, or Trinity Lane. You locals can draw your own conclusions from that. The rest of you just know that “seedy” is a good description. So anyway, he said they arrived at the hotel, were horrified, but had nowhere else to go, so that is where they stayed. It must have made a huge impression on Mo, because that was one of his lasting impressions of our fair city. He also said he had friends up in Hendersonville (perhaps Johnny? Barry had never met him, but perhaps Mo did) that he had visited before.

I asked him what they were working on and if all three of the brothers were going to be there that day.  He said yes, and that Robin was on his way, but that Barry had a dentist appointment. Mo, being his comical self proceeds to inform me that, “Barry probably won’t even make it. He hates the dentist. He is such a pussy cat (his words). He is probably sleeping right now.” So, of course, we had a good laugh from that at Barry’s expense.

Mo chatted with me for at least 15 minutes or so when he really needed to be working. From all descriptions and impressions I’ve ever heard, that’s the kind of guy Mo was.

Me & Barry

Maurice went on into the studio and I went back to the car on absolute Cloud 9.  I decided I would definitely wait it out to see if I could catch the other two guys because Mo was so incredibly gracious and nice, and this might be the only opportunity I would ever have to tell them how much their music had meant to me.  (That would prove to be true–at least in the case of Maurice.)

After learning that Barry was having dental issues, I didn’t expect that I would have a chance to meet him, but imagine the squeals that emitted from my being when his shiny black Bentley came cruising up!

Unfortunately, the moment I had been waiting for was almost ruined by two overly enthusiastic fans who literally came from out of nowhere and charged Barry as he was getting out of his car.  Barry had to put his hands up and tell them to “Back off!” because they were invading his personal space. I just stood quietly on the sidewalk and when he walked up, he smiled and said, “Hello, luv.”

Yes, he called me “Luv”…and I melted into a puddle on the ground.

Once he saw that I wasn’t a crazed fan, he relaxed a bit and we chatted for just few short minutes.  He was not feeling well, but was still as sweet as I could’ve hoped for.

We ended our conversation with a hug…and I will never forget how soft his sweater was!  (Sorry guys, it’s a girl thing.)  Something that was kind of odd to me was that as much as Barry seemed to be in a rush to get into the studio in the beginning, when I was walking off from him, he just stood at the door and continued to stare at me the entire way as I walked to my car.  I just kept looking back and smiling.  It was almost as if he was trying to place me in his mind or perhaps I reminded him of somebody.  I don’t know, but it was definitely an interesting situation to say the least.  I didn’t stop, as I figured if he had anything more to say, he’d say it.  Finally, he went inside the building.

Once I got in the car, I squealed and hyperventilated like a little girl.

Me & Robin

With Mo having a Porche and Barry driving a Bentley, we figured Robin, being the most traditionally English of the three, would for sure be driving a Jaguar.

Were we ever wrong.

We are sitting in the car, and into the lot drives this hideous green customized Chevy Van that looked like something from the early 1980s.  I didn’t even give it a second glance when the Ex says, “Uh, Ginger, I think that’s Robin.”  Just as I said, “There’s no way.” Out comes Robin from the van.  I walked over and said hello.  I introduced myself and shook his hand.

Robin was very shy, and while he was extremely gracious, I could tell he was not the hang out and chat kind of guy.  So I just asked if he’d mind if I got a picture, and he mumbled, “Oh, not at all.”

So we took a picture together and that was that.

Oh, I did ask him if that was his van, and he said no that his car was in the shop.

His car was a Mercedes.

So there’s my story about meeting the loves of my life.  I have two regrets:  the first one is that if you’ll notice in the pictures, I’m a bit heavier than I am now.  Try about 50 lbs. heavier.  I sure wish I would’ve looked better in my pics.

The second regret is that the Bee Gees did a Millenium Concert on New Year’s Eve 2000 in Ft. Lauderdale, and I had tickets to go.  Then, we got called to sing back-up for Dolly for her New Year’s Day concert here in Nashville.  So imagine my dilema to have to choose between those two amazing opportunities!  Oh, woe is me!

I chose to stay in Nashville for a number of reasons, mainly because of the whole Y2K scare and because the Ex had never sang with Dolly before and it was one of his biggest dreams to do so.  I just didn’t have the heart to pull him away from that dream to take him to Ft. Lauderdale to the concert.

Who knew that 3 years after that Mo would be gone and I’d never ever have a chance to see them in concert again.  Oh well…there are far, far worse things in life to lament, plus I still got to sing with Dolly Parton on New Year’s Day 2000.  Woot!

I hope you enjoyed this little diversion from the heaviness of economy, election, and everything else that is on our minds right now.  I think election fatigue has set in and these kinds of posts are just what the doctor ordered!