Gillan visits Glen

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Gillan in the bar

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Gillan in my living room!!

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SAT/AUG. 2/Gillan in the bar

     Carl and Sherri Kottmeier, my wife Alice and I, made our way to the Owl’s Nest bar after having seen an excellent lineup of bands all day Saturday. We arrived about 11:45 p.m. and as we turned the corner through the doorway, we saw Bruce and Ian Gillan sitting at the bar, enjoying some liquid nourishment. I didn’t know if Ian would remember me from the Toronto and N.Y. concerts, but he recognized me right away and warmly greeted me. I then introduced Alice (who was anxious, nervous and dying to see this moment finally arrive) to him and re-introduced Carl, who was also backstage at the Toronto show.
     The conversation began something like this:

GLEN: So, where are the rest of the guys?
IAN: They went to bed . . . bunch of wimps :—)
GLEN: So Bruce, how was the course?
BRUCE: Excellent. I just wish I wouldn’t have found the water so much.
GLEN: OK, out with it . . . what were the scores?
BRUCE: (smiling, with that famous cigar) I shot a 95 and Charlie shot a 97.
GLEN: Gee, you really kicked his ass. (Ian laughs). Sorry, I didn’t tell you just how much water there was out there :-)
BRUCE: We had a great time . . . thanks again for setting it up

     Is the above not a Hollywood script, or what? Actually, it was spicier than that, but I have to protect the guilty parties involved!

     Something magical happened later on this night and all I can tell you, for now, is that the cruise thing seems to have its bow pointing upwards. Thanks to all of you who responded to the “Would you do a cruise with DP” posting. I made printouts of all your repsonses and they were presented to the proper authorities.
     I can’t begin to tell you how happy we all were to talk with Ian and Bruce in a nice quiet setting with the DP side picking up the tab!
     Thanks again, guys.
     After an hour or so, Bruce said goodnight and Ian joined him, but only to drop off a few things up in his room. Ian announced he would return in about 10-15 minutes. And that he did. So then it was just the four fans and Ian at the bar now, and Alice was soon enamored with him.
     Having talked to Ian extensively in Toronto and N.Y., he is one of the nicest, most sincere gentlemen you’d want to meet. Other fans who have met him know what I’m talking about. I talk to him like an old friend now.
     Anyway, the conversation was riveting as Ian was hanging off my every word . . . oh, sorry, it was perhaps, the other way round :-) Lots of laughs, lots of drinks, (Carl was thrilled to buy Ian a drink just to say, for the record, he had done so). Not me, man . . . I was on a Purple roll . . . they kept offering drinks and I kept saying: “Thanks.” :-) . . . just kidding. But I got the cost of LATO back in alcohol in a New York minute!
     So, it was another round of “see you laters” . . . the best was yet to come . . . oh, people, you have no idea . . .

Next: Aug 3/High River review