August 9, 2001: The Q104.3 Golf Tournament - Part I "Sopranoland"

"Never bullshit a bullshitter." Joe Pantoliano. Photo by RD Mathers

On August 9, 2001 the Q104.3 staff gathered at a golf club in Western New Jersey (no, not that one) and held a charity celebrity golf tournament.  Over the next few posts, I'll group the stars that were there.  This installment features members of the television series "The Sopranos." 

We start with a shot of Joe Pantoliano, taken right after I told him he was my favorite character in Eddie & The Cruisers. "Oh, you're the one kid that saw that movie."  

I told him my mother had made her own bumpersticker on our '78 Volaire that said, "Eddie Lives." 

"Well, that explains it... but thanks for saying that, it was a fun project.  Not everyone pulls that deep from my career."

Joe Pantoliano, (unknown) and Michael Rispoli

Below, Little Steven on a mission to find his ball.

Steven Van Zant.  Photo by RD Mathers

All shot on film.

July 19, 2001: Greg Proops

Photo by RD Mathers

Master comedian, seer of truth and 15 years later, author Greg Proops came by the Bob Buchman morning show to plug his gig at Caroline's on Broadway.

I was a big fan of Greg's from his days on the UK and US versions of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"  He'd also had a few lines in Episode I of Star Wars and I asked him what it was like to be part if the Star Wars Cannon.  He said, "Oh sweet Jesus, you're one of those people, right? I bet you can recite all the lines from the movie." 

"Just yours and I knew you were doing a combo of all your favorite baseball announcers." 

"Touche, kid. Tou-fuckin'-che"

I stopped talking after that.

Oh, one should notice that he is not wearing a tie or jacket to the interview.  It was July for bloody sake!

Shot on the Nikon E950

July 12, 2001: Vin Pastore

Vin Pastore.  Photo by RD Mathers

We finally had someone else from "The Sopranos" visit us! This time it was Vin Pastore, still a little tired when he came to appear on Bob Buchman's morning show.

Shot with a Nikon E950.

June 30, 2001: Bad Co, Styx and Billy Squire

Paul Rodgers. Photo by RD Mathers

Back with another triple bill at the PNC Bank Arts Center, where I pretty much had my own summer residency for a few years, along with my compadres at Q104.3.

Bad Co. headlined this show with Styx as the real opening act.   You can see how utterly awkward Billy Squire was (if you stare at the picture long enough, you can even here how out of tune he was.

STYX. Photo by RD Mathers

Billy Squire. Photo by RD Mathers

All shot with Nikon E950.

May 15, 2001 - R.E.M

Photo by RD Mathers

The day after the release of their twelfth studio album, R.E.M. came up to visit with Maria Milito and plug Reveal.  

For me, this was a personal highlight, because R.E.M. was one of the first bands I'd seen in concert and were a band I followed from close to the beginning of their career. At the time, I was also a weekend Air Talent at Q1043, so they cut an ID for my show and had fun with the on-air nickname I used at the time (The Beav).

The lead shot is the a great performance shot of Michael Stipe, Peter Buck and Mike Mills.

This shot below is a favorite of mine. Taken prior to going on air, I liked how easy Mike Mills was around the studio, picking up a copy of Rolling Stone and thumbing through it while Peter Buck tuned up.

What else is particularly interesting about this day, was that I'd seen Sheryl Crow the night before.  She has done some pop up/secret/ rehearsal shows for her upcoming 2001 tour.  Mike Mills played with her for a few numbers and proceeded to down 1/2 a bottle of Jack Daniels during a live mash up of Madonna's "Don't Tell Me" / Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama."

In the below shot, I had just told Mills how impressed I was that he could do that, still play and be top notch for this interview.  His reply, "...well, I am a professional."  One can see Q104.3's Maria Milito holding her laugh.

Photo by RD Mathers

Shot with a Nikon E950