CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 6:04 am Post subject: 'This guy knows his projectors!'

Funny story to share with ya:

About a month ago I get a call from an a/v installer customer asking if I had a HVPS for a MArquee. At the time I had one, so I sold it to him. The customer asked me to send it out overnight air, as it was for a high end client, one Herbie Hancock. (for those of you not in the know, check out www.herbiehancock.com). I commented that this was the first time I had sold a projector part to a famous celebrity, and the installer asked if I wanted Herbie to call me. I said sure, not really expecting a call, and frankly, not really knowing what to say to Mr Hancock if he did indeed call... Smile

So he did actually call me a couple of days later, and we spent about 20 minutes chatting about HDMI signals, Marquee projectors, etc. etc. He thanked me for my expertise, and not that I'm really a celebrity chaser or anything, but I thought it was kind of funny that a multiple Grammy award winner was thanking a geeky glorified TV repairman for advice. Oh, he also mentioned that he'd set me up with two tickets to his upcoming Vancouver show on June 20 (last week). So I thanked him, figuring that would be the end of it.

So last week I get a call from the installer, saying that the tickets and backstage passes are all set up, and that I should go to the venue and pick them up. So I call an old high schoool buddy of mine that is an extreme jazz fan, and he was thrilled to go. So sure enough, row 5 tickets and backstage passes await us as we get down there. SWEEEEEET!

So we enjoyed the show, and afterwards we went to the side stage door, but were told by the security guard that Mr Hancock would come out and see us, that we were not allowed backstage. So we hung around for 20 minutes, and sure enough, Mr Hancock came out, but there were about 8 people waiting for him, and the woman right behind Mr Hancock told him that he had about 3 minutes to talk before he had some prearranged meeting to go to. So, as luck would have it, he turned to the people that were waiting alongside us, let them take a pix, and he and his assistant walked away. Damn!

So since we had backstage passes, I convinced my friend to go backstage and we'd go look for Herbie's drummer who used to play with Frank Zappa (Vinnie Colaiuta), and we found him having a smoke outside. So my buddy and he talked about drums for 20 minutes, and I got a couple of pix of them. Nice guy. So literally as we're about to leave, Mr Hancock comes in through the door, apparently finished with whatever meeting he had. So I shook his hand and introduced myself, and it was clear that to him I was just another guy that had backstage passes. He didn't make the connection between me and his HVPS.. Wink

So I couldn't help myself, I had to ask him how his projector was doing. Mr Hancock still was not putting two and two together (I mean really, can you blame him?) So when I told him that I was the guy that sent him a power supply, he shook my hand, introduced me to everyone around and said 'Man, this guy knows his projectors!' I got my picture with him (to be posted as soon as I get it out of my camera), and I had my 15 seconds of fame.

A fun experience!.. Smile

outwest · Joined: 17 Dec 2006 Posts: 212 Location: Honolulu

Wow! What a great story. It is great to hear that some payback made it your way after all the help and advice you have given out. Thumbs Up

WTS · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 1276 Location: Calgary

COOL!, Great story Curt, now that's an experience to hold in the memory banks.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

Great story indeed!

So what kind of Marquee does he run? 9500LC I hope!

Kal

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

Close, an 8500 LC. Sounds like his tech is right on top of setup and maintenance with the set.

It was really nice to meet two musicians that had zero attitude, that are at the top of their game. As a complete hack wanna be piano player, I'm in awe of musical talent.

Years ago, my shop was kittie corner to Little Mountain Sound where many of the hard rock albums were recorded..

-Metallica Black album
-Motley Crue- Dr Feelgood
-Bon Jovi- Slippery when wet
-AC DC- Thunderstruck
-David Lee Roth
-etc

Since I worked a lot of late nights, it wasn't uncommon to hear drum tracks being recorded in their loading bay. I met a number of the artists in the back alley, and since I was Mr Introvert back then, I never had anything to say to them other than being a starstruck geek. It was easy to see who was nice and who was a complete *******.

David Lee Roth was full of himself, ACDC were super nice guys, and took the time out to sign a CD as they were hopping into a limo one day.

Those were the days... Smile

aspec2 · Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 549

Curt

Herbie Hancock. YOU SUCK.

97ss150 · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 161

post is worthless without said pics lol

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

I'll upload tonight. Got a call, my virused computer is all fixered up.. Smile

It's got the camera software on it.

97ss150 · Joined: 19 Dec 2007 Posts: 161

my compis jacked up too. for 4 days i was unable to check my yahoo email. WTF lol

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

Since i have all of my dads albums... i have this in mint condition Vinyl! Thumbs Up

Angus_rg · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:13 pm Post subject:

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:24 pm Post subject:

Yeah, but you have to agree, the DLR 'attitude' was all part of his persona. You can't have an over the top rock star being humble, right? At the time he was recording here, he was at the top of his game, and gawd knows the spandex groupies were hanging around the studio all times of the day and night.

I did sit outside the studio late one night when Metallica was recording drum tracks, and I recognized one of the tracks when the Load album came out.

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

I think just being a rock star has GOT to be MINDBENDING.

10's of thousands of people hanging on your every word. Thousands of hot women BEGGING you to bang 'em.

Millions of dollars, Private jets, to limo's, to Penthouses, to venues. The best seats in restaurants.... it's got to be a TRIP!

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:33 pm Post subject:

I agree, that's on the plus side. OTOH, the time it usually takes to make a name for yourself is downright scary.

I remember seeing the Tubes years ago when they were somewhat past their peak. I loved the Tubes, thought they were great. I managed to get backstage, and most of them were sitting on the floor doing lines of coke after the show. It completely destroyed my image of them. I walked out of the room, completely disgusted.

Angus_rg · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject:

energeezer · Joined: 08 Aug 2007 Posts: 67

Curt
I just heard Kelly Hazell has a Marquee and the HVPS is down!!! Now is your chance.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

Well, if she's down with me, I'm down with that.. Wink

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

so does Herby have a Moome card and HD player?

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject:

I didn't ask. I think everything is run analog now, but when he called we did talk about the Fury, the Moome card and the possibility of HDMI glitching.. Smile

Arno P · Joined: 01 Jan 2007 Posts: 282 Location: The Netherlands