Diary of an Ardent Fan

I went to the Horrorhound convention for the second time this weekend.

Like last year when I went, it was at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH.

They had a lot of great guests, including Bruce Dickinson, the singer of Iron Maiden (his first ever convention appearance), Geezer Butler, bassist/lyricist of Black Sabbath (also his first ever convention appearance), Dee Snider, singer/songwriter of Twisted Sister and actor/author/screenwriter/radio DJ/voiceovers, actors Bradley Whitford (The West Wing, Adventures In Babysitting, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, A Perfect World, Billy Madison, The Cabin In The Woods, The Post, and more), Tobin Bell (Saw movie franchise and so much more), P.J. Soles (Halloween, Carrie, Rock And Roll High School, Stripes, The Devil’s Rejects), Nick Castle (Michael Myers in the original Halloween and cameos in the last three Halloween movies, director of The Last Starfighter, co-writer of Escape From New York, director of Denis The Menace, writer of Hook), Dick Warlock (stunt double for Kurt Russell for 25 years, Michael Myers in Halloween II and a robot villain in Halloween III), Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter, 1923), wrestlers Matt and Jeff Hardy, Lex Luger, and Sting, Jenna Davis (Lisa Frankenstein, Megan & Megan 2.0), and several others.

I would’ve liked to have met more, but I was able to meet Bruce, Dee (for the second time) and Geezer, which was more than enough for me.

Bruce was only there on the Friday (it’s a three day event) and Dee and Geezer were showing up on Saturday and Sunday.

I bought an all weekend early entry pass so I could get in sooner on Friday and Saturday (I didn’t need to come back on Sunday and frankly I couldn’t afford anymore at that point.).

Bruce is one of my favorite singers and is still going strong with Iron Maiden and as a solo artist too.

He only could do the Friday appearance because he’s currently on a solo tour, but I’m glad he was able to fit this into his schedule.

Some people say he’s a jerk, but I thought he was just quiet, which is fine.

When I met him, I had him sign my first/favorite Maiden album called Brave New World.  I told him I loved it the most, said his newest solo album (The Mandrake Project) is really good and thanked him for all the great music over the years.  And Bruce said “thank you” and smiled.  

Now, that may mean nothing to you readers, but it means a lot to me.

When you go to these events, come of the guests will really talk to you and others don’t.  Doesn’t mean they’re jerks.  

I have no complaints and I’m very glad I got to meet one of the best singers/front men in the world.

Also on Friday, I met P.J. Soles, who was very nice and was more personable. 

I wanted to get a Halloween picture signed, but my favorite picture she had at her table was of her movie Carrie.

I told her that I watched it recently and that it still holds up.  She told me people of all ages still love it and said she loves meeting the fans and appreciates them.  And I told her that we appreciate her.  Also, I got some free selfies with her too and she gave me a wink while I was waiting in line!!  Thanks P.J.!! You’re awesome.

Friday night, I stayed at my friend Kevin’s house, and went back to Horrorhound Saturday to meet Dee again and Geezer for the first time.

Again, two of my biggest heroes.  I cannot emphasize that enough.

I first met Dee six years ago (actually six years ago to the day as I type this, story here).

It boggles my mind that Dee knows who I am and appreciates me as a fan of him and his work.

And he actually signs my stuff for free!!!

When I met him this time, he said he adopted me!!

He told me and this is not an exact quote but it goes something like this:  “How did I adopt Lucas?  When he’s accumulated this much of my stuff, then you adopt Lucas.”  Sorry that’s not an exact quote, but you get the picture.  

I’m so not worthy, but I’m very grateful to him and his agent/friend Danny Stanton for making this happen again.

Dee told me his Teenage Survival Guide book, which he released in the 1980s and signed for me, is being released again with his modern commentary.  And his book Frats, which he also signed for me, I told him should be a movie.  And he said there is interest in it being adapted into a movie or a TV show.  And I said it should because it’s very visual.  And he said “I was going to say that.  Thanks for saying it.”

I congratulated him on his band Twisted Sister’s recent reunion announcement and said I hope I can see them next year when they do some shows.  And he said “I hope so too”. 

And when we got selfies done, I told him I was wearing one of his official shirts, and he really appreciated that too.

Dee has actually said that I am in the top 10 of his true fans, which again I’m not worthy, but again very grateful.

If you ever read this Dee, and I know you know this because I’ve told you, but I love you and I always will.

I hope I can see you again someday, but no matter what, keep on rocking sir!!!!!

After I met Dee again, I got into Geezer’s autograph line.  I had him sign the Black Sabbath CD booklets of their albums Dehumanizer and Reunion.

I told him that Dehumanizer is my favorite of the Ronnie James Dio era Sabbath albums and he was surprised to hear me say that.  He said “really?!”.  I figured he was surprised because that album does not get talked about as much, but it definitely should.  I love all the Sabbath albums and I told him that too, but I also told him that Dehumanizer was my first of the Ronnie era albums I bought.  After I told him I loved them all, he said “thanks for listening”.

And he actually even looked at both of the albums too to see what they were, which I thought was cool too.

I made him chuckle when I said something, but I don’t know what it was, but it was great seeing Geezer in a great mood and seemingly having fun.

Like I said, this was his first ever convention appearance and not everyone loves doing these, but he seemed like he was having a great time.  I’m very glad of that and am very glad I got to meet literally one of the inventors of the musical genre “Heavy Metal”.

Geezer is one of my favorite bassists and he is  a great lyricist too.  He wrote most of the lyrics during the Ozzy Osbourne era of Sabbath.

Thank you Geezer soooooo much for all the great music and lyrics over the decades and I love you too!!  In fact, when I told him I loved him, he smiled and said “cheers”.

I was so star struck seeing and talking to Geezer that I didn’t take a picture of him signing my stuff, but like with Bruce and Dee, I also got a professional picture with Geezer too.  After that was done, I told him thank you and he smiled and happily said “Okay”.

I even got two professional pictures with Dee because the camera person thought there was a glare.  I got both pictures and I think it was fine.  And hey, I’m not complaining.

Such a great time at Horrorhound.

You have to wait in lines more than a bit, and it’s definitely a different experience than going to concerts, but it’s still a lot of fun and I love going to these events.

Thank you to everyone involved with Horrorhound for putting on such a great event.

Thanks to all the great vendors (Lots of great stuff.  I especially liked the trading card collection.) and people making and serving food.

And again, thank you to Bruce, PJ, Dee (Thanks for adopting me!!!!!), Danny, and Geezer!!!!

I love you all.