No, the other one.
You’re probably thinking Stan Lee, co-creator of some of the greatest comic book heroes. No, I’m referring to the guitar player. And every time I’ve seen him he’s wearing a Marvel shirt, I think he sort of likes the name mix-up.
This Stan Lee is the guitar player for the punk band The Dickies. Perhaps they are most famous for their cover of The Banana Splits theme song (“Tra-la-la”) but there is a heck of a lot more to the band.
Sadly their output has slowed considerably over the last 20 years. The last 3 albums were released in 1989, 1995 and then 2001. A number of live albums keep getting released, but no actual new material. I thought the band actually gave it up a while ago, so I was surprised to hear they were on tour.
I won’t get into the opening bands. There were 4 of them. That’s way too many. I don’t care if it is Saturday night. 5 bands on a bill isn’t a rock show, it’s a marathon.
During the 4th opening band Stan Lee was walking from one area of the club to another. I stopped him and asked for his autograph. I had pulled a 45 from home, but my Sharpie died. He said “I’ll be around,” and walked off. He was nice about it letting me know to try again when I had something that worked.
I visited the merchandise tables and borrowed a Sharpie from one of the opening bands. A few minutes later I spotted Stan Lee on stage setting up his equipment. I took the opportunity and got his autograph. I asked if he would take it back stage to get Leonard Graves Phillips (the band’s singer) to sign it as well, but he said no. I get it. He’s busy. I knew I wouldn’t be seeing Mr. Phillips except while he was on stage performing, but it was worth a shot.
How did I know this? I’ve seen the band twice before.
The last time was… wow… sometime in the mid-90’s. The band then didn’t hang around the public. Most don’t. That’s fine. It was my second time seeing the band. My best friend at the time proposed to his girlfriend during their set. He has since passed away.
My first time seeing The Dickies was at the very same club where I saw them most recently. 1991 or somewhere around there. I wound up running into Stan Lee that time as well. It was after their set and I met him as I was leaving the club. We talked for a couple of minutes, and I mentioned to him my band was considering covering one of their songs, but covering a cover band seemed silly. He remarked that it would be a great idea. He wished my luck and we parted ways. My band would later cover The Dickies song “You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla)” a couple of times. I wish I had a recording of it.
Meeting him this time around happened so fast I didn’t get a chance to mention to him I had met him 20 years previously in that very club and that we indeed did cover one of their songs. I do wish I had been able to tell him that.