Def Leppard 'Songs From The Sparkle Lounge'

The 22nd Annual Carolina Blues Festival was held in downtown Greensboro yesterday and I had a blast! I got to hang out with talented and famous blues performers backstage. I also met a lot of Rock 92 listeners… Of course, the standard question came first… “Are you Goat Boy?”

If I had a pebble for every time that I’ve been asked that question… I’d have enough to rebuild the Berlin Wall.

The rain held off and the crowd got more in a party mood once the sun went down. It’s amazing how hearing the blues will cheer up for a few thousand white folk. I guess the blues make the anti-depressant takers a little bit happier.

And for the first time this year, I got to do some stage announcing. I got to introduce and shake hands with Grammy Award winner Terrence Simien along with “The King of Slide Guitar” Lil’ Ed.

A few years ago, I was asked to do some stage announcements. I sat down to familiarize myself with the copy points. That way it’s less likely for me to get tripped up.

My boss came over and said, “Ronie’s here so you don’t have to do the announcements.” Realizing that she was higher up on the totem pole, I gave up the notes and went back to drinking Miller Lite. My feelings weren’t hurt. The big picture illustrated that less talking equals more drinking. I’m always cool with that.

This year was different because most of the air staff was out of town. So the Self Proclaimed Bad Boy was there to fill the void. I didn’t say anything “stupid” (I was banned from the 2GNC Show because I used a phrase that sounded incredibly raunchy to Deidre… “Takes the rag off the bush”) and I didn’t start a riot. John Amberg or Casey Hazelman never threatened me with violence afterwards.

Terrence Simien and The Zydeco Experience finished up their set a little early. I was asked to go out on stage to bring him back on. That’s when I noticed something… Terrence Simien had his Grammy Award right there!

I had never seen one in person and that joker was within 2 feet of me. So when I left the stage… I had to do it. The urge was incredible. I couldn’t fight it… On my way off the stage, I bent down and touched it!

I’m such a geek.

For some reason, I fully expected to be tackled by a small army of guards for my action. It didn’t happen.

I learned that Mr. Simien takes his Grammy with him everywhere. And like last night… He would let fans hold it while they had their picture taken with him. I think that’s pretty damn cool.

I guess I won’t have to be looking over my shoulder this week for suspicious cars filled with members of G.A.T. (Grammy Assault Team).