JUNE 2009
Harder Beat Magazine Online



Unwigged & Unplugged,
Zebra’s Randy Jackson, UFO


Randy Jackson
Photo: Andy Laudano

Before their amazing Unwigged & Unplugged show at Nokia, Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer signed autographs for fans. Whenever they signed something from Spinal Tap, they’d sign it as their characters, David St. Hubbins. Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls. One Spinal Tap super fan had a bunch of things to get signed. When McKean found out the guy wasn’t coming to the show because illness had kept him from working recently, he got the guy’s name and added him to the guest list so he could go.

Zebra vocalist/guitarist Randy Jackson and Terry Brock (his partner in The Music of The Eagles symphony shows) signed autographs for fans following their acoustic performance at Poor David’s Pub.

Over the last seven or so years I’ve worked for Harder Beat, I’ve had the opportunity to do some awesome interviews — either over the phone or in person at the venue, hotel or tour bus. UFO drummer Andy Parker took it one step farther when he graciously invited me out to his home for an interview. Andy is a great guy who had all kinds of wonderful stories to tell during the three hours or so I spent with him and his lovely wife. It felt more like I was visiting relatives or catching up with old friends than an actual interview. After a tour of his beautiful home, seeing before and after photos of all the work they’ve done to it and playing catch with his dogs in the back yard, I was sent home with a bag of fresh pecans from his trees and two exclusive UFO metal pins that aren’t even available for purchase yet.

I’ve been a UFO fan since the first time I heard “Lights Out” as a kid, and it’s really cool to find out one of your childhood heroes is such a genuine class act. Thanks again to Andy and his wife for their hospitality and Jon Paris at SPV for setting it up.


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