Pics from NAMM Show 1989

[fullmetalguitar]

I was 17 and it was my first NAMM. Being a teenager growing up in the 80s and playing rock guitar, this was the ultimate experience for me. It was 1989, and man what a weekend. You all should recognize these faces.

[Ben...]

Marty!!!!!

And

JASON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jacksons Shred]

Dude I fucking hate you!

HATE!

Marty..Jason...Lynch..Vinnie!

FUCK!

Please tell me about meeting Marty and Jason!

[fullmetalguitar]

Not much to tell. I don't think I exchanged any words with Marty other than "Can I take a picture with you?" and of course he said yes and was nice about it.

With Jason, I half expected him to be kind of a dick because I thought he was this young hotshot with that attitude to go along with it. But to my delight, he was super nice, gracious, said thanks when I told him how great his playing was, and seemed to enjoy posing for a photo with me. I met him more than once at future NAMMs. The last time I saw him some years later, he was walking with two canes because of his condition. Again, he was very gracious. I told him good luck with his health, which he seemed to appreciate because he knew I meant it. Top notch guy even in the face of adversity.

[Jacksons Shred]

Not much to tell. I don't think I exchanged any words with Marty other than "Can I take a picture with you?" and of course he said yes and was nice about it.

With Jason, I half expected him to be kind of a dick because I thought he was this young hotshot with that attitude to go along with it. But to my delight, he was super nice, gracious, said thanks when I told him how great his playing was, and seemed to enjoy posing for a photo with me. I met him more than once at future NAMMs. The last time I saw him some years later, he was walking with two canes because of his condition. Again, he was very gracious. I told him good luck with his health, which he seemed to appreciate because he knew I meant it. Top notch guy even in the face of adversity.

I don't think I've ever heard one story about Jason where anyone said he was a dick or anything. Always really nice stories. Did you get to see him play live?

[fullmetalguitar]

For sure, I've never heard anything but nice things about Jason. But in 1989, before the dawn of the internet, I hadn't heard anything about how he was with fans so I just didn't know what to expect.

I didn't see Jason or Marty play, but those early NAMM shows (1989 - early 90s) were a shredder's utopia. Up close and personal, I saw guys like Paul Gilbert, Ritchie Kotzen, Vinnie Moore, Michael Lee Firkins, Michael Angelo, Blues Sareceno, Nuno, Jeff Watson, Andy Timmons, Mitch Perry, MacAlpine, and many more playing in a booth or small room. It was amazing. Just mind boggling at the time.

[Jacksons Shred]

That sounds like a wet dream. It also sounds like it could have been Clash of the Ego's.

The 80's was such a great time for guitar...

[Grandturk]

Horns up for Dio!

Great pics!

[Alvin_Wilson]

Awesome pics! Thanks for posting.

[sixx_ gunner]

AWESOME pics!
Wow!!
Again, thanks for sharing.

[toxikdeth]

Damn dio marty jason and vinnie you lucky basterd

[fullmetalguitar]

Damn dio marty jason and vinnie you lucky basterd

I met a lot more people than that my first year. It was a dream come true.

[toxikdeth]

I met a lot more people than that my first year. It was a dream come true.

Very cool

[toxikdeth]

Did you get to talk to Vinnie in his interviews he sounds like a cool dude

[fullmetalguitar]

From '89, I met and talked to Vinnie many times. He was always super nice and even seemed to remember me after a while. I was a pretty big fan, so I always made it a point to talk to him and get pictures at every NAMM for several years.