WBLM – The Concert Leader – Tommy C Backstage! [PICTURES]

Hall & Oates - my first big show at 'BLM in early '87. To see them in Portland and meet them back stage - I was really excited. I still have the album Daryl autographed that night, 'Along The Red Ledge.' It's one of our favorite records. My wife and I have loved Daryl & John for a long, long, long, long time.

We saw them in Boston at the Orpheum Theater years before in '78. It was a jar-dropping show. Especially at that time when they were so hot. They did this beautiful song, 'August Day.' Daryl by himself on the keyboard. Killer vocal.

When I presented the album to Daryl at the Civic Center, I heard he had this ego and makes a big deal about once they make a record, they move on. So, I was a little nervous and said to him, "I know you don't like to go back and listen to old stuff but this is a real favorite of me and my wife. We saw you at the Orpheum when this came out and you did, 'August Day.' Would you mind signing this."

He was so cool. He checked out the cover and said, "I've only done that song twice. That was good that night." I still can't believe he remembered the Boston show. It was a big deal for me to meet them and to do that here at 'BLM meant a lot.

Jon Bon Jovi - when the 'Jersey' tour came to  the Civic Center, we went and did a live backstage interview - and we were having a hard time getting the equipment set up and dragged in.

I remember Jon Bon Jovi coming over and saying, "Let me give you a hand with that." Jon Bon Jovi actually helping me carry equipment in to set up the stuff. He was a very sweet guy. He was very real.

He was like, "Let's get this thing going," in the sense he could see I was struggling and he went, "Come on," and he picked up a couple of things and we all went in and set it up. Jon actually helping me set up - that was a good night.

Van Halen - We went to the Van Halen show - 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' tour. I was with my daughter, Michelle. She would have been a junior in high school or a senior.

It was backstage and we met everybody. I was very nervous shaking Eddie Van Halen's hand - I mean, that's the hand - it was traumatic, actually.

They took pictures of everybody and they were getting ready to rap it up and their rep said, "Hey, hold on one second." He grabbed my daughter and went up to the band - when everybody was gone - Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar picked up my daughter and the Van Halen brothers were on either side joking with her.

They were like, "what are you doing, you think you're getting away." They were holding her and she was laughing and they took a couple of pictures. That was great. We loved it - they are cool guys.