Has anyone ever gotten backstage passes or all access passes?

[Yucko]

Just wondering if anyone has ever gotten backstage and cares to share their experiences.

 

[achtung y'all]

Got backstage at Earls Court during the Elevation tour. After the show as everyone was filing out, my friend and I headed past the heart to the small entrance backstage. There were several people trying to beg their way in, fortunately we had the passes and were let through. Because of Bono heading back to see his dad the band left straight away. However, we did see some U2 regulars like Willie Williams and Joe O' Herillhy and caught a couple of VIP's like Bryan Adams and Jennifer Love Hewitt milling around. The main points of interest were just the behind-the-scenes going ons you never see. The hospitality tent, the VIP area (which we weren't allowed into) the coaches for the staff, the massive trucks that carry all the stage and equipment, the wardrobe area for the band and Paul McGuiness - it was definately a great experience even if we didn't rub shoulders with the boys that night!

 

[Yucko]

The reason I ask is because my cousin works at Fleet Center in Boston and is in the process of hooking me up with all access or backstage passes for the Oct 4th show. I was just wondering what to expect. Sounds like a pretty cool experience though.

 

[editorinchief]

A Fleetcenter employee would have no access to backstage passes. They are distrubuted by the band for their guests, vips and working crew.

There is really nothing exciting backstage anyway. Its a bunch of people working. Its not like the 80's anymore. Ive been backstage at 100+ concerts and Ive never seen anything exciting (except for at a Billy Idol show!)

 

[martha]

The reason I ask is because my cousin works at Fleet Center in Boston and is in the process of hooking me up with all access

No random employee of an arena will have access to all-access passes. Those come from the band and its management. Can you imagine the security risks if any arena employee could decide who gets all-access?

 

[Yucko]

He's just not an employee at Fleet. He deals directly with promoters. He said as long as its the same promoter he just dealt with he could hook me up. As I said not sure what to expect though.

 

[editorinchief]

No offense but it sounds sketchy. I work in the music business and attend most every show at the Fleetcenter.

The only show I recall in the past three years that didnt use ClearChannel was the Justin Timberlake/Christina Aguilera show (they used concerts west?) It seems like your contact isnt familar with this fact which if it was their job they should be. Also, most bands are very strict about promoters not giving out passes. They band's management and publicists approved the lists for passes.

Nonetheless, if you can get a pass then more power to you. I just wouldnt bank on meeting the guys. Like the person above stated you are, at best, likely to see some local celebs in the VIP area but not the band.

 

[Yucko]

He's worked at Fleet for a while so he knows what he's doing. Considering he works at Fleey and has good connections I'm sure he'll get me something. Just don't know what though. He says this happens al the time when acts come through. I did n't even ask to be hooked up. He offered so he must know the right people.

 

[TheFly40]

I have to agree with the other guys. My good friend thought she was getting seats and backstage passes for the 5/21 Madison Square Garden show. Someone in her family is an executive at Clear Channel.

She ended up getting 100 level seats and limited VIP passes through her Clear Channel connection. Here's what she had to say:

We went to a pre party beforehand that was pretty nice but Bono didn't show up. They did not allow/grant any back stage passes so I didn't get to meet my husband. The only star that I saw was Kelly Clarkson.

 

[dsmith2904]

If your cousin is a promoter, they might get access to certain backstage parties but it's doubtful the band would be there, you'd probably just be hanging out with other business people.

 

[OffAxis]

He's worked at Fleet for a while so he knows what he's doing. Considering he works at Fleey and has good connections I'm sure he'll get me something. Just don't know what though. He says this happens al the time when acts come through. I did n't even ask to be hooked up. He offered so he must know the right people.

What he could get you into is the soundcheck (most likely). I have a buddy hat was working for the Pacers during Elevation. I asked him if I could go to work with him that day and sure enough, I was standing in the club level seats listening to the soundcheck. Nothing real exciting as far as songs (except a full band version of Acrobat done flawlessly, ). Just played some of WOWY, Stuck in a Moment, and Pride. Bono only sang like a line or two of each song. Still cool as hell being in the room with them when hardly anyone else was.

 

[cmb737]

I once got backstage at 4th and B in San Diego for Billy Idol. We didn't even plan to go to the show, we were standing at the box office trying to buy tickets for another concert and the lady offered them to us. They were radio press all access passes. So we go check out his show, and head back stage. We get back there and it is Billy, and his wife/girlfriend sitting on a couch both talking on cell phones to other people, two very 80's chicks standing there giggling, and my buddy and I. In a room maybe a bit bigger than a walk in closet. There was a cooler with beer in it, and my buddy and I each took one and walked out.

Super lame.

I think editorinchief must have caught him a bit earlier in his career, or I certainly missed out on the orgy and free heroine.

 

[editorinchief]

Actually, It was in 2003 (Im only 26). He played at the FleetBoston Pavillion in Boston. I was covering the show. I was hanging out backstage at the end of the show and about 100 MILFS lined up at the backstage gate. Everyone in the bands (sans Billy) come to the gate and started pointing out girls to let in.

A side note to that story is that at the end of the show Billy was coming off stage and walked right into me. He said "sorry" and walked away and as he was walking away I said " Billy Idol gets it" (ala Adam Sandler in the Wedding Singer) to which he turned around with his infamous grin and chuckled at me. Its not really all that exciting of a story but it was funny to me.

There were a lot of chicks backstage at Motley Crue. They give out what they call "p*ssy passes". Those 80's bands arent willing to give up the lifestyle.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

backstage after the show is pretty lame and/or boring. the band normaly doesn't hang around for long, so the only people back there are management and sound types.

so if that's the kinda crowd you're into, go nuts

 

[Harry Vest]

I've gotten backstage many many times - sometimes it was legit and other times I snuck back...
U2
R.E.M.
The Clash
The Rolling Stones
Smashing Pumpkins
Pearl Jam/Soundgarden/Blues Traveller/Neil Young
Grateful Dead
Metallica
Tragically Hip (more times than I can count)
and a slew of others.
The trick is (at least the trick used to be) "Where there is a will there is a way" - that and some good old fashioned luck. Try to look like you belong. In the case of Pearl Jam/Soundgarden/Blues Traveller and Neil Young it was thanks to Daniel Lanois. Hopefully old Danny can come through this year??? Don't think I won't try.

 

[BWU2Buffs]

The only star that I saw was Kelly Clarkson.

Wow, that's a stretch.


Kidding, some people like her, to each their own.

I'm curious as to who attends the sound check -- Headache offered a great schedule, but is it Dallas? Edge? Both -- whole band?

I'm working a (longshot) connection as a temporary union load in - load out / set up type helper for the 3rd leg -- hoping to linger around for the sound check.

Any inside info?

 

[thrillme]

I met Bono and Edge before a soundcheck, no backstage pass needed.

 

[Super_Fan]

I hate these types of threads. Backstage passes are for people that work for the band, friends of the band or the venue or Stagehands( yes stagehands that make fun of most people in the audience and on the trusts above the stage ). . A Meet N Greet pass does not county as backstage. Its an escort pass that allows you into a special room to meet the artist briefly for a few minutes speak to them and get an autograph and head back onto the concourse or to your seats. Anyways if there are passes its VIP and thats another way of just free food and limited access to special areas. A Real Backstage pass is a Tour Laminate with the other passes needed to go anywhere you want. I have had working satan passes and one laminate for the Foo Fighters (it was aa VIP laminate) for the MTV 2$Bill show.

 

[Super_Fan]

I've gotten backstage many many times - sometimes it was legit and other times I snuck back...
U2
R.E.M.
The Clash
The Rolling Stones
Smashing Pumpkins
Pearl Jam/Soundgarden/Blues Traveller/Neil Young
Grateful Dead
Metallica
Tragically Hip (more times than I can count)
and a slew of others.
The trick is (at least the trick used to be) "Where there is a will there is a way" - that and some good old fashioned luck. Try to look like you belong. In the case of Pearl Jam/Soundgarden/Blues Traveller and Neil Young it was thanks to Daniel Lanois. Hopefully old Danny can come through this year??? Don't think I won't try.

Yeah right you snuck backstage at a Metallica concert unless you had a security guard t-shirt for the company working security at the venue. Gio would have notice and would have thrown you out.

 

[bridonohue]

backstage is better between the soundcheck and the show. the band are normally sequestered in their dressing area which is usually out of the way and has seperate security in the hallway. they also usually have a seperate place where they eat. it is rare to see them tooling around back there.
paul m's hospitality room is usually more accessable and you might see people you would recognize, but it's mostly just a bunch of folks workin. sometimes you might run into cool celebs hanging out, like elvis costello, but not that often. best thing about backstage is it offers you easy access to the ellipse.
9/10 the band leave immediately after the last song, before the lights are even up, so the only way you might catch a glimpse of them is if their car races past you in the corridor as they head out.

 

[bonovox1972]

pretty sad really

 

[editorinchief]

I hate these types of threads. Backstage passes are for people that work for the band, friends of the band or the venue or Stagehands( yes stagehands that make fun of most people in the audience and on the trusts above the stage ). . A Meet N Greet pass does not county as backstage. Its an escort pass that allows you into a special room to meet the artist briefly for a few minutes speak to them and get an autograph and head back onto the concourse or to your seats. Anyways if there are passes its VIP and thats another way of just free food and limited access to special areas. A Real Backstage pass is a Tour Laminate with the other passes needed to go anywhere you want. I have had working satan passes and one laminate for the Foo Fighters (it was aa VIP laminate) for the MTV 2$Bill show.

It really depends on who the band is and what venue it is. At smaller club shows a VIP (not all access) pass has gotten me anywhere I wanted to go as well as allowed me to escort people in to the show (audioslave club tour). It shouldnt have but the staff at the large clubs and smaller arenas tend to be dolts.

Another time I was hanging out with Adam Duritz backstage at a Counting Crows show and he didnt have a pass on him and the security guard wouldnt let him in the dressing room. I had to go with my pass and get his pass so he could get in. (The security guy was reassigned about 2 minutes after that)