He is incredibly versatile and talented. I have a lot of respect for him. AND the fact that he hung around all day to be part of this. GOOD on him! Everything I hear about him is of a positive nature.
BTW - JohnnyRingo, you miss-speak when you talk about famous musicians who are to be admired because they are nice to "people who don't really matter."
"Dave Grohl didn't do that because it was such an enormous honor, or because he can't afford bad press from smiting a few zealous fans. He showed up here that day because that's the kind of person he is, and I join Warren in saluting him for remembering his roots and proving that the true worth of a man isn't how wealthy he is, or how many hit songs one pens, but how he treats the people who don't really matter."
You bet your sweet bippy those folks matter! They matter A LOT!!!! It just shows that Dave Grohl has a lot of class, and appreciates that these people helped make him possible. An artist's fans are EVERYTHING. THEY are the ones who support that artist where it means the most, buying their CDs or paintings or sculptures or concert tickets or play tickets or film tickets or whatever. THEY are the ones who make it possible for that artist to follow his/her heart and muse and create outstanding visual or musical art. THEY are the ones who make it possible for that artist to eat, have a sturdy roof overhead, a warm safe place to sleep and live and maybe even have a family, and inspire others with their God-given creativity. THEY are the ones who make it possible for artists everywhere to make all our lives and our surroundings more beautiful, more gentle, more tolerable, more inspiring, more spirit-nourishing. I think an artist owes it to his/her fans! And blessed are the artists who recognize and appreciate that! Dave Grohl obviously does. They put food in his tummy so he in turn can nourish their souls.
I see it in a much smaller way with my own kid and his band. Michael makes it a point to go outside the venue to where people are standing in line, before each show, and personally meet and greet as many of them as he can. And he shakes hands and gives hugs, signs autographs, poses for photos, hands out fun little freebies like stickers and wristbands and buttons, and chats them up. They really respond! They SO appreciate that extra effort, and it makes them feel special - as they well deserve to feel! And sure enough, after the show's over, he's still at it, meeting and hanging and schmoozing with anyone there. Makes me proud.
In a much larger sense, I saw that in Elton John one day while I was still working. He was scheduled to visit the radio station in the morning and schmooze on the air with the morning jock. I was the morning news lady, so I got to work with him a little bit, too. And when it was over? Did he bug outta there to his fancy-ass limousine before anybody else got a chance to meet him? NO! He lingered for another two hours - going from one end of the building to the other, meeting and shaking hands with EVERYBODY he encountered. He'd stop and pose for photos, usually insisting that a second photo was taken just to make sure. He'd sign ANYTHING they handed him. He'd chat and share a few pleasantries. He made a point to meet EVERYBODY there that morning, from the general manager to the last secretary and request-line operator, AND the guy out at the guard gate at the edge of the parking lot. Everybody on the premises was walking on air for the rest of the day - he made every last person there feel like a million bucks! As you indicated with Dave Grohl also, he took the time to give everyone a little bit of individual attention and not a soul was left out. And he was (and still is) a big star. He didn't have to do that. He's a busy man and I'm sure he had other commitments all day. But he treated everybody high-ranking and low with congeniality and respect. He was polite and kind and friendly as could be. Just the best. HUGELY impressive. Made everybody's whole week!
You can't help but love somebody like that!!!!
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