Not a great story in the telling – but one unforgettable moment. I was producing an environmental awareness campaign at BBC Radio 1 in London. Several big names had been booked including Sting (a stringer got him in LA), Paul McCartney – was voicing some of the messages – and PG. I had booked him for an interview but rather the formal routine (star arrives with PR from record company, call from reception, meet & greet before heading directly to the studio) the PR must have had an earlier appointment in BH. I shared an office with about 6 others, and I was not in eyeline of the door. Door knocks and a few seconds later a colleague come round to my desk: “Errr … Davy, Peter Gabriel is here for you.” Of course, the whole office goes into “We’re very cool and don’t flinch when a music giant sits among us” – ‘natch, it was all show. “Would you like some coffee?” Sez I. “Oh,” sez he, “Some water would be nice.” So, I abandon the office and PG and go and spend the next 20 minutes standing in a queue in the busier than usual canteen buying bottles of water.
As I say – not a great story. When McCartney came, he just wandered into reception alone. But at least there were people to meet him. And we had bottles of water at the ready.
Now about that Peter Gabriele story ...
Not a great story in the telling – but one unforgettable moment. I was producing an environmental awareness campaign at BBC Radio 1 in London. Several big names had been booked including Sting (a stringer got him in LA), Paul McCartney – was voicing some of the messages – and PG. I had booked him for an interview but rather the formal routine (star arrives with PR from record company, call from reception, meet & greet before heading directly to the studio) the PR must have had an earlier appointment in BH. I shared an office with about 6 others, and I was not in eyeline of the door. Door knocks and a few seconds later a colleague come round to my desk: “Errr … Davy, Peter Gabriel is here for you.” Of course, the whole office goes into “We’re very cool and don’t flinch when a music giant sits among us” – ‘natch, it was all show. “Would you like some coffee?” Sez I. “Oh,” sez he, “Some water would be nice.” So, I abandon the office and PG and go and spend the next 20 minutes standing in a queue in the busier than usual canteen buying bottles of water.
As I say – not a great story. When McCartney came, he just wandered into reception alone. But at least there were people to meet him. And we had bottles of water at the ready.
Wonderful story.