I met STONE!!

What a great guy!

I manage a cigar shop part-time in Soho in NYC and I'm standing there at the register yesterday and in walks Stone! I couldn't believe it! Luckily, we were slow at the time and he and I were able to have a pretty cool chat. I told him how much his and the guys' music has meant to me over the years and he made a self-deprecating joke about me still listening after all this time. THE most humble guy I've ever met; just as you'd imagine him to be, actually. I'm sure I was gushing like a school-girl (no offense, school-girls) but I was trying to keep my cool.

I asked him if he was here for a cigar and he said he was looking to buy some for their tour manager because he's a really hard working guy and he wanted to get him a gift. I suggested a really nice stick and he bought the whole box (I hooked him up with a little discount, of course!). I think PJ's tour manager's really gonna love them ("Padron 80yr Anniversary Maduro" for those that means anything to :-) ). The owner of the shop told me later that night that Eddie was in several years ago and cleaned out our collection of vintage lighters. I said that sounds about right to me :-)

I then told Stone that my brother and my friend ("Camaros" on the Pit) and I had been talking about booking our plane tickets now to wherever PJ might be playing their 20th anniversary show in October. He seemed genuinely shocked. Like, "we have a 20 year anniversary coming up?" I told him "yes, your 20th anniversary; 20 years since your first live show on October 22, 1990 (my 11th birthday, by the way) is only a few months away!" You could tell how busy these guys are. October probably feels like another 20 years away when you're on tour.

Anyway, he said he hadn't even thought of it and the guys have never brought it up. He added that that's probably a good thing because sometimes when they get an idea too early they can burn out on it. I said well wherever it is, if you do have one, I'll be there but that in the meantime I'd see him again soon in Boston, Jersey and at MSG. We wrapped things up at the till and I asked him if I could take a picture with him. He said of course and his friend (who was really sweet) took the shot with my phone. I wished him a great show in New Orleans and thanked him again. He said thanks and see ya soon and that was that.

I'm 30 so to meet him was one of those rare moments when you meet a childhood hero who's still your hero in adulthood AND he turns out to be just as cool a guy as you'd imagined him to be. He was all smiles and didn't seem jaded in anyway. He still seemed to radiate a great passion for his fans and their interest in his band even after all these years. My hat's off to ya, Stone. Thanks again for being so cool and for all the ways you've enriched my life with your music.

Man, just when I thought I couldn't love this band anymore than I already did...