Anyway, after an hour, we finally got to go to another room, all the groupies got pared down and either taken to another area or dismissed, and we walk into their backstage wind down area with food and places to relax. Before we can take anything in, DLR's manager comes up to us and lays down the ground rules. Don't ask for his autograph. Don't take his picture. Don't ask him about van halen. Don't try to hug him. Wait until he comes to you, don't speak to him until then. oooookay. then, after a few minutes, the band comes in (minus DLR). Now back then, I hadn't started to play guitar, so I didn't have a ton of questions for vai, but I immediately made my way to him to tell him how great he was that night. I can't remember anything else I asked him or said to him other than some remark about flex-able to which he replied, so, you're the one that bought it or something like that. Anyway, I had a couple of minutes with him, enough to see he was a very nice, thoughtful person. When I shook his hand, his hand looked longer than normal and it wasn't a firm or weak handshake, more like,.... graceful. I turned around and was greeted by Billy Sheehan. He grabbed my hand and CRUSHED it. My friend and I talked to him the most, probably 10 minutes, but again, this was 23 years ago, can't remember the conversations. Then Bissonette (the drummer) came in and was a madman, really screwing with everyone, having a good time. He came up to me and my friend and asked if we wanted a picture? Before I knew it, we were posing for a pic and he asked me, Hey, have you ever had a guy grab you on the tit? WHAT? (an aside, I'm a guy) WHAT? before I knew it, he's got his arm around my back and grabbing my pec and I just have this stupid stunned look on my face looking at him. Then, before I could say anything, he was gone, going to mess with someone else. Then it got to be a little awkward, everyone in the band was talking to people they knew, and the contest winnders were all in one area just watching. That went on for another 20 minutes, then DLR's manager finally came back in. He told us, "guys, Dave has taken so long because he was in the shower, but he's making his way back here now. Remember what I said to you earlier" After about 10 more minutes, Dave finally appears, he's in a bathrobe sandals and shades, and has a pretty big hot woman on his side propping him up. The 10 year old kid immediately gets all wound up and breaks every rule the manager gave us. Of course, though, Dave signed his tshirt and was patient with him for a minute before moving on. He came up to me and kind of slurred, "Hi". He tried to shake my hand, but this dude was out of his mind on something, and just sort of layed his hand in mine and stood there. I said something or other to him, he smiled and slurred something I couldn't understand, then moved off. After another 2 minutes, he was out of the room and we were being hustled out. 
But you being familiar with Flexable and Talas made you most deserving of being there than anybody. 6 or 7 years ago I saw one of the G3 tours and Vai was playing w Sheehan. Of course they're both spot on and toward the end of the show, this dude next to us, clearly old enough to know, asks Who is this Sheehan person? ...we shoulda ran him outta there!
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