The Big Hominid recounts a recent brush with fame, which set me to thinking about the only celebrity encounter I experienced, at least that I can recall.

It was sometime in 1979 or so, back when I was residing in the lovely city of Prescott, Arizona.  My wife from that era was working at a local dining establishment and I came in and sat at the bar while I waited for her shift to end.  I hadn’t really noticed the gentleman sitting on the bar stool next to me until some female patrons approached and asked him for an autograph.  After he obliged I guess he noticed me looking at him trying to figure out who in the fuck he was.  He smiled, offered his hand, and introduced himself as “Jan”.  To be honest, the name didn’t ring a bell but the face was somewhat familiar.

Anyway, we began to chat.  He was in town attending some sessions at a nearby gun school.  I don’t recall if he said this was preparation for a movie role or if he just liked guns. As we talked periodically someone would recognize him and come up to meet him.  He was always gracious, but I could tell he found it somewhat irksome.  About this time my wife appeared and judging by her giddiness I guess she recognized him too.  As we were preparing to leave I asked if he’d like to join us.  I was mostly just being polite so I was a little taken aback when he said “I sure would!”  I don’t recall now where we intended to actually go, but it was likely one of the dives we liked on Whiskey Row.

As it turns out we didn’t make it far.  Once we got into my vehicle (an older but rugged Toyota LandCruiser), Jan asked if we’d like to smoke a joint before we left.  I was a big pot smoker back in those days so naturally I answered in the affirmative.  Damn, it was some good shit.  In fact, it may have been laced with something, because I got real wasted real quick.  And then he pulled out a tin of cocaine!  I did a snort or two of that and the next thing I remember I was leaning out the car door puking my guts out.

I’m pretty sure Jan found my lightweight antics equally disturbing and disgusting.  Suffice to say he changed his mind about joining us, quickly said his goodbyes and left.

And so ended my chance encounter with the B-list celebrity Jan Michael Vincent.

Thanks for reminding me of that night Kevin Kim!