How Did YOU Meet Rachel?
Having spent almost a year conversing with Rachel Fuller, online through email, her blog and this one, I began to wonder how everyone else at rachel F came to meet her. My story is as follows. I'd love to hear yours.
Last summer VH1 aired the program, *Kept*, featuring Jerry Hall along with a gaggle of young American guys who competed to be chosen as her *kept* man. In the process of elimination Jerry relied on expanded tete a tetes with several of her best girlfriends, among them Suzanne Wyman and Rachel Fuller, to help her decide just which man was worthy of winning the title. One show featured Jerry performing *Around This table*, by now a familiar title from Rachel's Cigarettes & Housework CD, to us RF fans. She was accompanied by Rachel and Pete. Their performance blew me away. Of course, I'd *known* Pete from my high school years. *Who* then didn't rock to the first rock opera, *Tommy*, from *Behind Blue (or otherwise) Eyes*?? But Rachel I'd never heard perform, and was just so taken by her piano performance, and especially her voice, I was positive she must have a CD. Out there. Somewhere. She did!
At that time I was posting to the VH1 Kept message boards and posted my thoughts about Rachel there. Others commented and before long Rachel herself appeared in my thread. To make a longer story short, she offered to send me her CD. I was rather skeptical it was truly her, and didn't want to post my snail mail address publically at the VH1 board, so I invited her to this blog to exchange information as to how I might contact her and send my mail/email addy to her privately. Lo and behold, it truly was Rachel that was speaking to me. She made her blog to post here (Black Velvet Lace: July 2005 , Blogger: Post a Comment) and a little while later began posting to her blog regularly. I contacted her through Eelpie and received her autograph and CD. The rest as they say is history.... and now you know the rest of my story...
Please tell me yours!
Last summer VH1 aired the program, *Kept*, featuring Jerry Hall along with a gaggle of young American guys who competed to be chosen as her *kept* man. In the process of elimination Jerry relied on expanded tete a tetes with several of her best girlfriends, among them Suzanne Wyman and Rachel Fuller, to help her decide just which man was worthy of winning the title. One show featured Jerry performing *Around This table*, by now a familiar title from Rachel's Cigarettes & Housework CD, to us RF fans. She was accompanied by Rachel and Pete. Their performance blew me away. Of course, I'd *known* Pete from my high school years. *Who* then didn't rock to the first rock opera, *Tommy*, from *Behind Blue (or otherwise) Eyes*?? But Rachel I'd never heard perform, and was just so taken by her piano performance, and especially her voice, I was positive she must have a CD. Out there. Somewhere. She did!
At that time I was posting to the VH1 Kept message boards and posted my thoughts about Rachel there. Others commented and before long Rachel herself appeared in my thread. To make a longer story short, she offered to send me her CD. I was rather skeptical it was truly her, and didn't want to post my snail mail address publically at the VH1 board, so I invited her to this blog to exchange information as to how I might contact her and send my mail/email addy to her privately. Lo and behold, it truly was Rachel that was speaking to me. She made her blog to post here (Black Velvet Lace: July 2005 , Blogger: Post a Comment) and a little while later began posting to her blog regularly. I contacted her through Eelpie and received her autograph and CD. The rest as they say is history.... and now you know the rest of my story...
Please tell me yours!
posted by BlackVelvetLace at 12:43 PM
26 Comments:
It all started when I was looking for websites of The Who. I found the link to Pete's official website and I was reading the diary entries he had there. I noticed that he was talking about Rachel singing and performing. I thought "Who's Rachel?" At first I thought she was one of his friends, I heard that Pete has many friends. He had a link to Rachels blog, so I went there, but I didn't comment because I didn't know much about blogging then.
I did read her posts and found them very interesting.
When I started reading TBWHM, that's when I started exploring Rachels blog a little more and learned that she's Pete's girlfriend. Overtime I started listening to her songs and liked them.
In short, I met her through Pete Townshend.
Metalchick said...
It all started when I was looking for websites of The Who.
Kewl. When was that?
You are of a younger generation than we of the *Who* generation. What sparked your interest?
~Lace~
Hi Lace.
I was sent an email via eelpie (i'm a registered user there) to listen to 15 second snips of her songs. i sent an email and said i liked them. Next thing was i was sent an email asking if i wanted to be one of her 100 faces. I joined and the rest is history.
I met her first at the gig at the Bedford arms, last year.
I've been a Who fan for almost five years. I found Pete's official site while trying to find new websites of them that I haven't seen yet. That time was about a month before Pete published TBWHM.
P.S. I have a new video blog. The first two posted up shows why I became a Who fan.
So you've met Rachel face-to-face Delbut, kewl. I'm also one of the 100 faces, but no ones seen mine yet! :P
Metalchick, where is your new video blog?
Here's the link to my new blog: http://audioslavewomanvideos.blogspot.com
After that audition on my blog, how could i say no? You are the first female who has openly wanted to take trevor's place. Don't tell any others (including rach's sister, Bex) because thay all want to be in the band.
I'll send you a contract in the post.
Delbut,
YIPPPIIIEEEEEEEEEE I'M IN, I'M IN!! No need to sign a contract, I'll do it for freeeeeee!!!
Uhm, do you think anyone will notice I'm not Trevor?!?!? :P
~Lace~
Metalchick,
Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.
~Lace~
Hi Lace!
I followed a link from Pete's diaries on his website. That's how I found out about Rachel.
I assumed, like many people, that she wouldn't be all that great. Then I listened to some samples of her music on the Eel Pie sight, and was massively impressed, especially by the hooks. So much so I spent ages trying to find her e-mail address so I could tell her.
I wasn't a major Who fan. I had Who's Next, and that was all. Even now I have only added Quadrophenia, but not listened to all of it. I don't know Pete's solo stuff, or most of the Who stuff. I just rated him as a songwriter and guitarist after Who's Next. I bought Rachel's album shortly before going to the gig at the Bedford in Balham, which was so exciting because I got to see a live performance by an artist whose songs I'd only just found and grown to love.
Being a Rachel fan has made me more of a Who fan - I wouldn't have got sucked into the Who's music the way I have were it not for her. But I genuinely love her music and am as much a fan of her as I am of anyone. I think she's a tremendous artist and a wonderful human being.
Ok Firstly cos I can't resist ............
One lowly Autumn day in 1974 I popped into the world kicking and screaming - and this stupid little toddler in a nappy was there prodding me.
I think I knew straight away I was done for.
Oddly enough she seems to have been by my side ever since!
As for the Band - Delbut I will take that up with you personally. So I have been replaced eh????
I will go and cry for a while then compose myself and get on with it.
Love and hugs (cept for delbut)
Bex xxxxxxxxx
James,
Thanks for telling your story, I've been so curious about how others have met her.
It's much the same for me. My cousin is a rabid Who fan, and I never attended a party back in the *days of yore* where Tommy wasn't blasting from someone's car radio; I still absolutely love *Behind Blue Eyes*, but Rachel has led me to the Pete. Not the other way around. I think its great he's beoming more and more visible these days, but I think I'd have to credit Rachel for the comeback!
(Rut rho Delbut, we're busted!!!)
BEX!! HI!! WELCOME TO MY BLOG!!!
I know, I've got sisters (see postings below for the atrocities they've wreaked on me), but as they say, can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.
Really, really tho, how could we possibily survive without 'em. They're my best friends as I'm sure Rachel is yours. We all love her, don't we?
Stop by again... ::hugs::
~Lace~
PS Bex, we can always share the part of Trevor's understudy! You play triangle, I'll back you up on keys.
::Slides up sleeves and plays the magnificent intro to *Into My Heart*. Goes too far and falls off end of piano bench::
~Lace~
PMSL
I think actually to be fair I had backed out of performing (camera shy in case you hadn't twigged)
Think my role was assigned to PR ............... but can manage a triangle for backing track ..............
or if you get stuck and need some piano bits I play a mean Richard Clayderman set as a party piece lol
Apart from that i am afraid I am quite frankly - USELESS!!!!!!
So when are these rehearsals kicking off then - Delbut???????
(Not that I am talking to you)
Love and hugs
bex
Bex honey, you're all the rage for *backing out and about* in the airstream. It's all everyones talking about! I'm sure we can use every talent you're possessing, rite Delbut??
Butt ::wags finger in air:: don't let us hear you say you are useless. A pushup bra for Twiggy is useless.. a charm class for Andrew Dice Clay is useless.. a comb for Don King is useless!! Nevernevernever say ::points finger strait in air:: YOU are USELESS!
Luv
~Lace~
Hi there,
I first heard Rachel's name through Pete's work, and saw a news report that said they were a couple in late '99, I think. I knew a little about what she'd done before, and as soon as Pete put some samples of her songs on his website I ordered a copy of C&H, which I love.
I've been reading Rachel's blog since its first day back in August last year(another tip-off from Pete's site), and been commenting regularly since the Christmas PPV special, when my fear of being branded a lurker and my wish to say thank you overcame my reticence to open a blog.
As you'll see from my pathetic excuse for a page, I still haven't got around to doing anything decent with it, but I am here nonetheless. Have only ever missed one ITA show. I love them, and iit's been great for me to catch up with Simon's music again and of course hear Mikey's too.
And, for all those rabid froth-at-the-mouth Who fans, (and I have been a Who/Pete fan since the early seventies),I would watch ITA whether Pete were on it or not.
Rachel makes me laugh, I enjoy her music very much, and she makes someone I happen to care about very happy and productive.
So there's another story for the collection ...
M x
Margiecm,
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your story. I've been so curious to know how others know of Rachel and her work.
You knew of her relationship to Pete wayyyy before I did. I only discovered they had a connection after I saw her on Kept and started my search for her CD. Her history came up in my search.
OK, here's a little known fact for you! Rachel had a blog entry in July, 05, before the one that appears as the first post now. She deleted that first July one and began posting regularly in August. She's been going strong ever since.
Look forward to seeing you on the *net*! :)
~Lace~
My comment on your post is late here...but hey...they party just started when I walked in so come hither...
I met Rachel..
I created my blog back in 2003 or 2004? I can't recall. It was created for my website as I am a lactation consultant and wanted somewhere FREE that I could put up important information about breastfeeding. (GLAMEROUS I KNOW!...Just say MOO!) I never got around to it and even forgot the password at some point and my Non-profit Org for lactation support was created elsewhere on another site (and for FREE). So I decided when last summer we started designing a fab home to be built I would blog about it and keep track of the work so I would not go mental every time I visited the jobsite and saw that workers taking 10 coffee breaks. Then Katrina hit and we were able to help out a girl who is a most amazing friend now and I decided to blog about that...long story short...My house project did not happen this year (will happen in the FALL fingers crossed) and my blog started being visited by my other blog friends who all posted about their favorite music. I LOVE Delerium and her song on their album caught my eye one day. I downloaded it on Napster (pre-itunes and ipod days for me) and wanted to google who she was and I came accross her blog. I was surprised she was on blogger and When I left her a comment was delighted she returned my comment over on my blog. So I linked her and it sort of turned into my being a huge fan and one of the first on her blog and watching her show. I started the chat when I wanted to see who else was watching her and keep myself company during her show. I ended up getting to know several bloggers, even meeting several at a BLUNCH (bloggers+lunch=BLUNCH) I hosted in LA in March.
So there is my novel..the rest is history!.....I blog for myself now about my days and my illness and my boring nonsense. If anyone can make sense of it they win a prize......
XX-Molly
Hey Dale!
Thanx for stopping in, any identity will do (grin).
Thanx for sharing how you met rachel, and I'll be waiting to see the *challenge* I tagged you with!!
~Lace~
Molly,
A most interesting history (lactation and all!). I really wondered about how you met Rachel as you are so involved with (and good at) connecting her fans both at your blog and in your chatroom.
So far, it may be only you and I that truly have *met* Rachel before knowing of her connection to Pete. Evenso those who tell the story say they are captivated by her on her own merits. I love to tell the story of (take the credit for :P )how her blog began. HaHa. I remember you coming to visit and setting up the fan map and chatroom. Excellent ideas. Thank you for doing both! I'll bet the blunch was fabulous. You're a real go-getter with tons of talent.
As soon as I manage to break into your blog, i can read all about your illness. I hope you are doing well despite it. Along with the house!!! ::hugs::
~Lace~
PS Forgot to say.. you ARE the party Molly! LOL
~Lace~
HAHAHA Party's here! jk!
Thank you kindly for those sweet words to me! I think you are such a sweetheart I remember seeing you from the time I started commenting as an anon. My "hi" is still there on her posts...lol I checked it out last night.
Yes I "met" Rachel and I honestly had heard the name of Pete Townshend but since I was not a fan (and not really still) of The Who, I had no clue who he was and I thought the pics of him and stories she shared were this fun talented gal who is my age going on about the man she lived with and loved. I also though she was uber talented on the piano and voice and didn't know that she had more talent...it just kept growing from there!
Well try my blog now...Storm got in..details in your blog from today above this one.
XX-M.
Awww shucks ::blushes and kicks dirt:: hehehe
I was in high school in the 70s and so of course knew of Pete. Everyone I knew loved the Who, we listened to the rock opera Tommy alllll the time. I still love Behind Blue Eyes beyond measure. But I had no clue Rachel was Pete's girlfriend when she first caught my eye on kept. I think she plays a major part in Pete's comeback. And she herself is a sweetheart. Fun to get to *know* her.
Ok, I'm headed to your blog now.. wish me luck!
~Lace~
Hi there Lace,
I used to read Pete's diaries about twice a year. He directed his readers to a video clip of his partner playing piano. I watched the video and saw a beautiful woman playing Beethoven, then adapting the classical piece to her song, Into My Heart. I was in love. She was wearing an oversized ring on her finger like Liberace. She had a sense of humor too!
I didn't know at the time that partner meant life partner. I don't really follow celeb gossip and just assumed they were partnering on some musical project.
So then I went to her blog. And I have been reading nearly every day, since.
Hi Elizabeth,
I've seen you at Rachel's, welcome here! I know what you mean about Into My Heart. I used to take classical piano as a kid and she blew me away with her transition from classical to contemporary in one fell swoop. I didn't know Pete was online until Rachel blogged about it. I visit them both regularly. It's alot of fun.
~Lace~
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