HalfwayToGone

I suppose I’ll PM you here sometime between now and Tuesday, so we can exchange info to text you when I get there. You seem to be the default organizer I guess, not that it’s a big job with only one other board member confirming so far. FWIW, if the line is getting too big right away and you don’t want to wait for me, maybe you can find me in line after you’re done and come say hello before leaving. I’ll probably wear a non-Rush tshirt to be less invisible in the crowd once indoors.

If it starts at 5, I won't be able to be there by 3--my son gets out of school at 3:05, so we'll have to leave from there and probably be at Bookends sometime between 3:30 and 4 depending on traffic, etc.

I think they are starting to line people up around 5:30pm, right? I will probably try to shoot for arrival between 5 and 5:30. I don’t really care if we are near the front or back of the line, though, so I don’t mind hanging around a little to wait for people to assemble if others want to meet up.

Alex got hired to play guitar in Sebastian Bach’s band, but he has to wear a buzzard costume with gigantic wings on stage.

Do I even need to comment that there are some really whiny babies that live on here, and think they’re entitled to imagine whatever they want about the band’s inner thoughts and workings? I certainly don’t think TRF should be shut down for having a few killjoys chiming in, but I have no problem with calling them out when they are acting like whiny little narcissistic “you owe me for liking your music” maniacs.

You’d probably be better off getting one of those numbered editions than flying anywhere for a signing, as cool as it is to get a rare moment face to face.

Lots of people idolize steve harris, but his isolated bass parts sound like garbage from what I’m told. Geddy’s parts on the other hand...

It was a good try but they announced the event with plenty of time for ebay flippers to collect buyers and get their names ahead of time.

I actually got no email—the NJ event has nothing to do with indigo, it’s run by the local bookstore, and I only found out about the personalization issue after it was posted in this thread. I checked the bookstore’s website, and they added all those details to the description of the event on the home page, so I gave them a call and gave them the info. I think if I was on their mailing list I would have gotten an email, but I didn’t join it. I’m guessing anyone who doesn’t give them the info ahead of time will be asked before their books are handed to them on the 18th. Indigo could do that if they didn’t request names up front. I wouldn’t worry about it, though. You’re getting to say hello and a signed book no matter what, so any other little details are just details unless you’re intent is to scalp these things on ebay—scalper’s have just resorted to listing them in advance and promising to have them personalized for the ebay buyer to get around the effort to avoid re-sales.

I caught this article and flipped thru the slides reaaly quick to see who was there, and there was only one guy on there I found surprising (that would be Les Claypool—I’d say Tony Levin instead, and probably Les would too. He once described his band as a “shameless King Crimson ripoff band”). I could think of a few other guys who are list worthy, but all of Geddy’s picks are worthy too. I’d have Geddy on my list. Marcus Miller. Geezer. Paul McCartney. Bootsy.

You’re basically just paying for the book at both signings I’m pretty sure—no extra fee at all that I’m aware of, just full retail price plus tax. Nice that he was able to work it out for 2 days in a row, and at home a day earlier than official release day.

carpal tunnel syndrome can kiss my you know what....seriously though, my plan is to not be “that guy” That’s why I’m not going to bring my wife... Morgan Fairchild!...whom I’ve slept with! Yeah, that’s the ticket!

I just gave them my name and my son’s. Maybe I’ll call back and ask for a John Lovitz style dedication: “To my best friend in the whole world, Dan, the bestest drummer in the world (don’t tell Neil I said that), who I have dinner with all the time and the only person I’d take bullet for outside of my immediate family. Your biggest fan, Geddy Lee!!!!!!!” And there has to be exactly 7 exclamation points at the end. My son’s could be, “To Josh, the most handsomest, smartest, strongest, most creative, talented and lovable little boy in the world. I wish I could be your dad! Your biggest fan, Geddy Lee!!!!!!!” On the other hand, maybe I’ll just leave it “To Dan” and “To Josh” Hey, how about this? “To Dan, Halfway To Gone is my favorite band of all time! Good thing you formed in 1999, because you would have smoked us every night if our bands ever had to tour together! Your #1 fan, Geddy Lee!” (Note only one exclamation point—wouldn’t want to be silly, now would we?)

That's an error. It's supposed to say Geddy Lee. I sent a message to Jag2112 to fix it. That’s too bad—it would’ve been hilarious if he referred to him by the wrong name for his whole piece...

SPOILER ALERT “Teddy Lee is still my best friend” haha! Classic Al!

I’ll check my junk folder just in case, not that it matters. It’s not like I’d demand my money back if they hit me with this on arrival. It’s to discourage profiteering and get more “real fans” a shot at getting in. EDIT—yeah, I got nothing from bookends, but I see it on the website now and it says to call them to give them names. Gave them a call, and also confirmed that I’m bringing my son for the second book, so we’re all set.

Really? What about people with multiple books? Id think he’d just ask at the table if he is personalizing them. Otherwise it’s fine by me. I got no contact about this. My email confirming my order just says give them you name and order number at the counter before joining the line, I thought to pick up your copies of the book and get wristbands.

Odd that NJ is #1 on the list, not that I’m complaining.

Yeah,I’m down for having each other’s backs for photos whether it’s “here take my phone” or just text/email them from our own phones after we are done. My 7 year-old son will be tagging along, so I can’t really do a bar hangout, but I’m guessing Geddy will spend a second or two chatting him up.

I already pre-ordered—they sell limited books for the signings. Jackie Chan a couple of weeks earlier is sold out. If you want to attend, use the link on their website to attend an event and then click on Geddy’s photo to preorder. Limit of 5 books per person.

If there’s a book tour, I’ll be sure to tell Geddy you feel that way. Please do, though i'm sure the depths of his indifference will be truly outstanding. “Fridge from TRF wouldn’t touch this with a long shitty stick”. I’m sure he’ll track you down to personally grovel apologetically at your feet and lick the fungus from your toes. BTW I’ll be seeing him in a month in NJ. And of course I’ll not be wasting even one of my 30 seconds talking about you, don’t worry.

If he were shooting for release day we’d probably already be informed by now (only just over a month away). But then again, we have no idea whether he’s planning a real “book tour,” a very few signings in maybe 2-3 big towns in both the US and Canada, or no signing appearances at all. Just have to keep checking the interwebs

If there’s a book tour, I’ll be sure to tell Geddy you feel that way.

December 18 can’t get here soon enough for me

It’s weird seeing this because 1) Like others posted above KISS was pretty much it when I was 9 in ‘77, and Peter Criss was actually who I caught the drum bug from, before NP sealed the deal much later. I had no idea they were tour buddies until a few years back when they started reminiscing publicly and Ace and Peter wrote autobiographies. And 2) that guy sitting next to KISS is a friend of mine from way back when our bands used to hang out together with our mutual friend scotti hill.