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Hangin' With Bob Seger
by John Murphy, Access camera operator
He may be sixty-one, but I hope I have Bob Seger’s energy and spirit when I’m his age.
It has been so long since his last tour that at least one original arena, The Boston Garden, where I last saw him play in 1980, fell years ago to a wrecking ball. A new corporate “Gaden” (Boston speak), where I again saw him perform last Saturday night, was erected in its place. Even he said he couldn't believe it’s been over 30 years since, Live Bullet, the double live album that sent him on the path to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Looking at his simplistic stage while shooting his sound check at Madison Square Garden, I might have surmised that Seger could ‘mail in’ his performances. But, watching him direct The Silver Bullet Band, I could see he was concerned with intricacies. He had the band replay one song's section several times fine tuning a heavily percussive beat.
Perhaps his enthusiasm comes from his, well, goofiness. Right before we started an interview with Bob, after his sound check, he went on about one of Payton Manning’s (Indianapolis Colts' Quarterback) commercials.
Where you or I might think of the spot as amusing, he thought it was knockdown hilarious. While recounting the television ad, Bob let out several big, raspy, belly laughs. That big, raspy laugh also came out while talking to one of his back-up singers during sound check. Most guys would mock women getting some shopping in during a New York City stay. Seger on the other hand, displayed a humorous concern to his female band member laughing, “Gotta do it!”
I wonder if it’s been so long since his last concert tour that all those cell phones are an alien sight to him. I gotta’ believe a Bic would make him feel more at home.
HI BOB,
I LOVE YOUR MUSIC !! YOU HAVE GOT AN AWSOME VOICE, AND I LOVE YOU ..
I WOULD SOMEDAY LOVE TO MEET YOU IN PERSON, I PLAY YOUR MUSIC OVER AND OVER
IN MY VEHICLE.. COULD I GET AN AUTOGRAPH
SIGNED PHOTO OF YOU. BOB, YOU ARE MY
IDOL AND ALWAYS WILL BE. PLEASE E-MAIL
ME AND KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ME..
CAROL