OTHER TECH

9. As new top dog of S&V, do you ever get to keep any cool new equipment that you are reviewing? Absolutely not. None of us do, actually. It's a journalistic ethical thing - we cannot accept gifts from manufacturers (or anyone, really) for anything that has a value more than $100. If any of us want to buy equipment after we've tested it, we can do that.

10. And finally as an adult, have you ever interviewed somebody, who you worshipped as a teenager, and while interviewing them, think, "This is really surreal?" I wouldn't apply "worship" to this guy per se, but my interview with David Lee Roth was TOTALLY surreal. We talked in 2003 and half the time, I honestly couldn't figure out what he was talking about. We cracked each other up a few times because I just went along for the ride and joined in the fun. Woulda made a good radio show - oops.

Since I also love Rush to death, anytime I talk to Alex Lifeson or Geddy Lee is a bit of a trip if I step back and think about what they meant to me growing up, how many times I listened to albums like Moving Pictures, Signals, Power Windows, etc., on headphones and felt a special kinship to them and the music. Actually, I recently figured out that I've interviewed Alex Lifeson more than anyone else - at least 12-15 times now. We usually play "catch up" before we get down to business - what my family is up to, what his is, etc.

Whenever I talk to someone I listened to growing up, I'll usually check in with my best friend (who now lives in Texas) and say things like, "remember that time we went to see Cheap Trick in Indiana in 1988 and we held up that 'WHO D'KING' sign? Just talked to Bun E. Carlos..."

post script

These are good questions. It's a nice thing that part of the job has been interacting with people I've admired musically over the years, and even cooler finding out you have common ground. And, I suppose, even cooler than that when they want to continue the relationship beyond the interview.

My one piece of advice to ANYONE out there who ever meets a celeb, musician, actor, etc., is to treat them just like you treat anyone else. SOME of them have big egos and drink in the genuflection and praise, but MOST of them have heard it all before. Sure, you can tell a David Gilmour you love his work on Dark Side, Comfortably Numb, etc., etc., but try not to pull the "we're not worthy" bit. It's embarrassing. Treat them with respect, talk to them like you'd talk to your friends or peers, and you'll do fine. It's an honor and a privilege to be able to do this kind of thing, honestly.

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