Jeremy & The Harlequins – CRAZY TOUR STORIES

This crazy story from the road was written by the rock band, Jeremy & The Harlequins. You can check out the band’s story, after the break.

This is one wild world we live in. You never know when you’re going to run into your heroes or idols, be it by chance, fate, or whatever word you’re comfortable with.

Our story begins one night a few months back after playing a rock n’ roll show in downtown Manhattan. We were really on that night and left the stage with plenty of energy, ready to continue the night with a couple of pops (like we so often do). And what better a place to get loose than the Russian bars in midtown. Our only obligation was that we were flying to Los Angeles the next morning to play some shows and showcases. We had booked separate tickets so a few of us were on different flights. No problem, as long as we all met back up the next day in the City of Angels.

Back to the evening after the NY gig: We took the train uptown, instruments in tow, and met a few kooky friends who were in NY from across the pond. Several infused vodkas and some drunken piano playing later by one of our guys, and we were being asked to leave. But we weren’t ready to call it a night quite yet, and headed to our local corner pub.

Within minutes, that same friend who got us punted from the Russian bar, got himself thrown out after saying a few uncouth words to some girls. And so the theme continued for two more bars…

The next morning we made it, not soberly, but made it nonetheless to the airport and proceeded to get our tickets and pass through security. What happened next, I didn’t find out about until the next day in LA.

Craig happened to be carrying a corkscrew in his pocket that had a small knife on it. When told he wasn’t able to take this on the plane, his response was, “Oh yeah, I’m going to take down the plane with that.”

Not really the best response, be it a joke or not, in post 9/11 NYC. Somehow they let him through security and onto the plane, however, just prior to the plane doors closing, two enormous officers came onto his plane, went right to his seat, and told him he wasn’t going to be flying with that airline on that day.

After shelling out over an arm and a leg for a new ticket in order to make our shows in Los Angeles, he makes it on the 2nd airplane unscathed. Exhausted from the ballyhoo, Craig now in his seat wanted nothing more than to pass out, however, he can’t but hear the conversation of a young woman and older man sitting behind. They’re talking about bands, old rock ‘n’ roll, and all that stuff. Craig’s ears perk up and introduces himself. He comes to find that this older gentlemen is none other than songwriting and producing legend, Richard Gottehrer, famous for writing such songs as, “My Boyfriend’s Back”, “Hang On Sloopy,” and “I Want Candy.” They hit it off, talked the whole flight, and exchanged info, still staying in contact to this day.

It just goes to show; sometimes if you get drunk, threaten the TSA, and get thrown off a plane, you end up meeting the people that inspired you to do this crazy music thing in the first place. Lesson learned.

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