Full Drum Circle

Posted on by mikeberretta

Like many real drummers and wannabe drummers (like me) from my generation and a little beyond, there were three great musical influences in my early life- John Bonham, Peter Criss and Ringo Star. Seeing them all in person was a far fetched dream for years…

I had it all planned out to go see Led Zeppelin in 1980. John Bonham was a larger than life legend, though he hid behind the huge personality of Robert Plant and the more spotlight oriented Jimmy Page. My plan was to visit my brother at SUNY Sttonybrook in Long Island and catch them at Nassau Coliseum. At just 15 years of age, I’m not sure exactly how I was going to do it, but I was pretty determined to see one of the greatest rock drummers in the world. Sadly, my plans and hopes were crushed when my first drum hero lost his life to the bottle. The band immediately dissolved along with my dream of seeing him. Led Zeppelin was done and the members went their separate ways. 

Like most people, I have always loved The Beatles, but didn’t fully appreciate Ringo’s drumming until I was much older. A lefty playing right handed. He somehow led with his left hand on a right handed kit. Many drummers never sound quite right playing his parts because of this. I had always wanted to see him play in person and I clearly remember that beautiful summer day in June when I was driving away from the evil building that hosted divorce court. A solid year of nightmarish battles that almost put me out of commission, ended with me losing just about everything. Part of me was just happy it was over- little did I know, my court battles with my ex would go on for years…anyway, as I’m wallowing in my sorrow while temporarily escaping the clutches of the most corrupt court system in the country, I’m listening to the radio. Most likely WPDH. Ringo Star and his All Star Band are visiting Bethel Woods- the sight of the infamous 1969 Woodstock festival. The DJ announces that they are giving away tickets to the fifth caller. What the hell…I call in and the voice on the phone says, “Congratulations- you’re caller five. You win!” I win? After losing so much, I win. I ltold him I just got out of divorce court and lost almost everything, but maybe this is a sign that things are turning around! I’m going to see a Beatle! June 21, 2008- that is until the day of the show. While I was driving down 17B on my hour and a half trip, just a few miles before the hallowed grounds of Woodstock, I got a call from a friend telling me that he heard the show has been canceled. Yeah right I nervously chuckled. A couple of miles further, a large sign confirmed it. No show. No Ringo . Years later, my quest for Ringo continued when I bought tickets to try to see him again and Covid put an end to that plan. The show was canceled and rescheduled…and then canceled again. I eventually got to see him in New York City..finally, my first Beatle. A great show with Steve Lukather, Colin Haye and Greg Bissonette. I was happy, but little did I know what the future held.

The third of my first favorite drummers was Peter Criss. I had seen Kiss several times with and without Peter. I never had the opportunity to meet him. When I heard he was performing at Rick Allen’s charity show at the Cutting Room in New York City, I immediately bought tickets. It was cool to see Peter in a small setting, but it would be really cool to meet him. I noticed the band’s green room was conveniently located downstairs, right across from the men’s room. A pretty large crowd was gathering and there was no real security there. After years of working music venue security, it’s difficult for me to not be “on guard” in most situations. I had been talking to Peter’s people whenever they walked by and generously decided to provide my services for free and help get him work his way through the crowd and get out to his limo. I got to speak to him very briefly and had my hand on his shoulder as he got into his car. My ten to sixteen year old self would have died. 

Now back to the modern day. Yes, I already covered my top three drummers, but we just had the last show of the season at Bethel Woods- and it was Ringo and his All Star Band. Another chance to see a Beetle- my second one after seeing Paul. Yes, at this point, I had seen two Beatles. More than enough to be happy about, but I never dreamed i would meet one. My job at Bethel includes managing security for the entire lower half of the venue, from the top of the pavilion to the backstage parking lot and everything in between, with my former Marine/retired police officer, Ron.  I do not normally approach any artists unless it’s required, but since my job includes the back of house, I have occasionally bumped into a few…and almost literally bumped into a couple. When Randi and I got to the employee tent early at 2:30, I could hear the sound check happening. I told her I wanted to walk down to the pavilion to see some of it. We had a little time before the general security meeting. Unfortunately, as we reached the peak of the hill, soundcheck was over. Oh well. I checked out the stage setup, because i barely get a chance to look at it during the show. Back to the tent. We had our meeting and headed back back to the pavilion. The backstage security briefing with Ringo’s tour manager took place at 4:00 and he said the band will do soundcheck at 5:00. Apparently what I thought was the soundcheck, was just the crew setting up. After the briefing, I was standing with a few of the security guys when two large black vehicles pull up. A parade of band members and crew head towards the dressing rooms- led by. Greg Bissonette, drummer extraordinaire and the beat behind David Lee Roth’s first two solo albums says hello to me. Behind him, a thin, much shorter than I expected, Richard Starkey walks up the steps and says “good morning” to one of the guards. He gets to the top of the stairs and looks at me. I nervously say, “Good morning….uhhh, I mean good afternoon!” His head spins back as he walks by and he said, “Yes, a good afternoon to you!” in that familiar, unmistakable Ringo voice that I remembered so well from the Beatles cartoons I watched as a kid. Ringo Star spoke to me. Ringo. Star. A Beatle. 

Later when walking from the copy room backstage, Ringo popped out of a doorway and I had to quickly hit the brakes! He moves pretty damn good for an 86 year old! On my way back to the pavilion, Steve Lukather was coming toward me and I said, “Welcome back Mr. Lukather!”  He looked at me kind of confused and then took his hand and grabbed my shoulder and shook me with more force than I expected and said, “that’s right! I was here a couple of months ago!” He was there with his main band, Toto.

I know it may seem silly or petty to care about being near or meeting some of these artists and musicians, but these are people who have been a pretty huge part of my life since I was a kid. In a world full of negativity, music has always lifted me up and while I never made it behind my drums in the big stage, it’s pretty cool to be just a little bit involved in bringing some of that music into the lives of others and it will always be pretty cool to have my Ringo story come full circle.

I love my job.

Crossed My Heart

Posted on by mikeberretta


Sadly, there are only two shows left for the season at Bethel Woods, but if Saturday night was the final one, I’d be ok with it. My favorite female fronted band was playing. I’ve seen Heart several times, but I had never worked one of their shows and I was looking forward to seeing them from a different perspective. Not that I ever really get to enjoy a show when I’m working- in fact, most of the time I couldn’t even tell you what the stage looked like or what set changes they had. I can, however, always feel the energy of the show and the crowd. I can also hear the music of course- well, mixed in with the crowd noise and the chatter on my security radio ear piece.

The Wilson sisters have been in a band together for 50 years. I’ve been a fan for as long as I can remember. I owned the album Dog and Butterfly (1978) since I was very young and the title track, written by Nancy, has always been a favorite of mine. While I respect the talent and vocal range of Ann, Nancy has always been my favorite of the sisters and my favorite female rocker.

Like all Berhel work days, one of the most interesting parts for me is the security briefing with the artist’s head of security. There’s usually seven of us- my boss, two security supervisors, two house supervisors, the production director and our GM- plus the performer’s representatives. They go over what they expect from us and inform us of any specific things they need from security. Their head of security looked a bit young to me, but he was covering all the bases and saying the right things. It was to be a pretty standard show. Nothing crazy, but they did have a few extra security requirements. Ann and Nancy Wilson were true pioneers for women in rock. I’m sure they’ve had their share of over-enthusiastic fans and their head of security, Dustin, was very concerned about keeping them safe.

After the briefing, one of our under cover police officers was talking to Dustin. I walked over and joined the conversation. While I’m looking at this “kid” who appeared to be no older than my eldest son, I said, “Can I ask you a question- and you dont have to answer it if you dont want to.”
He said, sure. “
“How old are you?
“27”
I bluntly asked, “How the hell did you get this gig? You probably didn’t even know who Heart was when you got hired.”

He glanced around the patio for a second, as if he was checking to see who was watching us or listening to our conversation. He then looked me in the eye and matter of factly said the completely unexpected, “Ann is my mom.”
Then I blurted out, again without thinking, “So Ann is your mom…that means Nancy Wilson is your aunt??”
He was very understanding of my surprise and slight fanboy moment. We talked for a bit, as I tried to wrap my head around what it must have been like growing up as Ann Wilson’s son. As we parted ways, he reached into his pocket, fumbled around and pulled out a guitar pick and handed it to me.

A short while later, it was time for Nancy to exit her bus for the dressing room. We walked her entourage up the stairs and I opened the door for her and said welcome back to Bethel. She looked up at me and said “Thank you.” Nancy Wilson from Heart spoke to me. My night was complete and the show hadn’t even begun.

The show went smoothly and I did get to have another nice chat with Dustin on the ramp of the pavilion and he gave me the quick version of what it was like growing up with Heart. He told me his mom has a baby picture of him being held by Ozzy- he told me about an unfulfilled promise from former uncle, Cameron Crowe to get him into a Star Wars movie as a stormtrooper. You know- normal kid stuff. He told me about being at the Kennedy Center Honors when Heart performed Stairway To Heaven, bringing Robert Plant to tears, and he told me about how his mom beat two bouts of cervical cancer, foot surgery and a broken elbow, while still keeps a full work and touring schedule.

I didn’t hit 20,000 steps that night, but I was close. When the show ended, we walked with Ann back to the bus and then waited for Nancy’s guests to leave. She eventually came out of her dressing and gave Dustin, who was standing next to me, a big hug. No…I didn’t get a hug, but I said thanks for a great show and she, in her Nancy Wilson voice, said, Awwww…thank you. We walked her to her bus and I made the final security arrangements and headed up the lawn to get the bus to the employee parking lot. 

Driving home, I reflected on the night and how cool it was, to me, anyway. Getting to meet the Wilson sisters…seeing them up close…talking with Ann’s son. Oh- and they did play Dog and Butterfly- just for me…and maybe several thousand other people. 

I love my job.

Sometimes you just never know…

Posted on by mikeberretta

Anyone of my friends can tell you I was and will always be an 80’s metal guy, but I like and listen to almost every type of music. Thanks to my security jobs throughout the years, I have been exposed to many bands and artists that I would not normally listen to. Some good, some great and some…meh, but I’ve always appreciated talent and musicianship, no matter what the genre. Whether it’s the yacht rock band at Daryl’s House on Thursday or at Bethel Woods with Joan Jett and Alanis Morissette on Friday, or Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Robert Plant with Allison Krause, and Celisse on Saturday or any of the less traditional shows I work, one of the things I enjoy the most is seeing how music affects people.

I was reminded of this during Alanis Morissette’s show on Friday. They had a second stage set up in the middle of the pavilion, behind the sound board. I was tasked with leading Alanis off the main stage, through the pavilion and onto the “B stage” where I was positioned in the blocked off the aisles in front of her. As I crouched just a few feet from her, scanning the crowd, a group of elated young girls who suddenly had scored second row seats with the new stage, caught my eye. They, along with the rest of the packed pavilion, were on their feet. One girl in particular who was singing every word with tears in her eyes and at times, just outright sobbing, stood out.

It’s interesting how music can really move people. At the end of thr four song set on the B stage, I had to run back to the main stage with Alanis, but the Impression of that girl’s moment stuck with me, so afterwards, I walked back over to the mix where the B stage was, climbed over the four empty rows of seats toward the girls and reached out to that one super fan, handing her a rolled up copy of the setlist. I didn’t realize that I may have frightened her and her friends for a moment while charging towards them, but after I handed her the setlist, I turned around, climbed back over the four empty rows and heard a very loud shriek and a thank you as I walked away.

On Saturday, we had Willie Nelson’s yearly Outlaw Music Festival with Celisse, Robert Plant, Bob Dylan and of course, Willie- who just rejoined the tour after a brief Illness. Security was very tight, with three legendary performers on the property.

Early in the day, Celisse had finished her sound check and was sitting on a couch in the VIP area. She suddenly got up from the couch and walked over to a section further away. On my way back from checking the “Member’s Area” I saw her getting up again, mumbling something to herself and shaking her head. I asked if everything was ok and if I could help. A little background- she is a large, normally bubbly woman with an amazing voice and some pretty good guitar chops. She was wearing a very bright yellowish green dress which made her seem to be even more cheerful, so it took me by surprise when she replied, “Where can I go to get the fuck away from everybody?? There’s people all over this place.” I said, “Come with me.” I brought her to the far end of the Members Area and told her she’d be good until about 3:30. She said, “Perfect. I just need a few minutes to myself.” Later, during her set, I led her as she came off the stage and walked through the pavilion, jamming away on her 1963 Gibson Les Paul SG.

She was smiling big, happy as can be and the crowd loved her. She came over to me afterwards and said, “Thank you for helping me out before. I appreciate that.”

I wish I was old enough to have seen Led Zeppelin, but sadly John Bonham died and their tour that I was planning on attending, was canceled. While Robert Plant only does a handful of watered down Led Zep songs during his show with Alison Krause, it is still exciting to see and hear him. His has one of the most recognizable and well known voices in rock and roll. God only knows how many times I’ve listened to him on albums and radio. The man is a true legend. Last year I stood next to him for several minutes during a meet and greet. This year, I was walking past him and didn’t realize he was there. I must have looked a little surprised when our eyes met and he said, “Hello” to which I very cool and calmly said, “Ummm…oh…hi.” and kept walking. At least our friendship is growing and I imagine if he comes back next year, we’ll probably have lunch together. 

In addition to all of the normal business of nearly sold out shows, I had to deal with a few additional issues involving patrons and employees. One of which created my favorite memory of the busy weekend and included Willie Nelson’s production manager’s eight year old daughter and honorary granddaughter, Charlie. She and her mom were shooed away from a viewing area inside the pavilion. I was told about the issue and walked over to apologize to them. We talked for a few minutes and I made sure Charlie was ok and she gave me a high five. I bumped into them a few more times throughout the night as they were bouncing all over the venue. At one point, Charlie’s mom explained to me that Charlie has stood next to Willie with his family band during the last song of the show for years. We worked it out so Charlie’s mom could take video from the pit and get up on stage at the completion of the show.

I promised Charlie I would come to the stage to watch her. When the show ended, Charlie came to the edge of the stage where Willie’s fans were begging for set lists. She started handing me the set lists along with instructions on who in the crowd to give them to. The group of Willie’s fans shouted for her attention in hopes of getting a memory from the show. Charlie walked up to me with one last piece of paper left. She handed it to me and said, “This one’s for you.” I thanked her and turned back to the small mob who were expecting me to hand it to someone in the crowd. Charlie called to me again and said, “You have to keep it!” To which I replied, “Only if you autograph it for me.” She very happily obliged and a little later, after the pavilion cleared out, she came back and asked her mom to take a picture of us.

Who would’ve thought that an eight year old girl would leave a more lasting impression than Robert Plant or Willie himself? Sometimes you just never know.