Who is the most famous person you've ever met?

[CitizenLeft]

66. Gene Simmons

...at an after party when Kiss played the Coliseum in... I think it was 1979. I was 19, and invited 2 friends to go with me. I got passes because I worked for the (then) famous record store at the time (this would be the Richfield Coliseum, not LA ). It was in a suite at what is now the Ritz, I think. Anyway, we went in, and there were women everywhere (all clothed, LOL). The record company rec, who gave me the passes, called Simmons out from the bedroom where he was lounging with some young ladies, and introduced him to us. Simmons shook our hands, and when he took mine, he leaned in and... licked my face.

I swear.

From working in that record store, I met Walt Frazier when he played for the Cavaliers at that time, and all the other Cavs on those teams when they shopped at Randal Mall (now nearly empty and abandoned Also met Eddie O'Jay and other musicians, but they weren't as well known. Patrick Ewing wandered in there too, along with a number of the Browns.

Shook Charleton Heston's hand when he did the book tour rounds at the Waldenbooks at the mall. Didn't know anything about his politics at the time. Wouldn't have shaken his hand if I had. Hell, wouldn't have gone down there if I had.

Also met Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, a slew of other basketball players (nope, not a groupie, just a big hoops fan back in the day ). Visiting and local athletes used to hang out at a club I used to frequent with friends.

Dennis Kucinich visited our school when I was 9 and he was a councilman, about a decade before he became mayor of Cleveland (he was only 23!). I drew his picture while he spoke to us in the library, and after his speech/presentation, he signed it. Damned if I can't find it now.

My friend and I got hit on by Clifton Davis while at a red light, right in front of that same Ritz hotel 20 years later. I swear!