Inspired by Danny Baker's anecdote from the recent Podcast about being in Led Zeppelin for half an hour (at a Q Awards event) I was wondering if any readers have had a similar experience with either a legendary or prominent band.

To get the ball rolling;

I was nearly in The Clash for a night.

In 1981 when I was 17 I was in a small band, as was the law in those days, that blagged our way into supporting The Clash at the Glasgow Apollo. After hanging around waiting before the gig we eventually got in, sound-checked and took our place in our room backstage. With a combination of youthful bravado and utter terror we sat waiting until we were called.

Baker Glare kept coming in to use the phone (pre-mobile days). Mick hadn’t turned up for their sound-check. Not unprecedented apparently. An hour and several increasingly frantic phone calls later, Baker stood in front of us contemplating possibilities. To fill the silence I picked up my guitar and with ridiculous affront offered to fill-in for Mick if he didn’t turn up. I know all the songs, see.

Baker looked me up and down, looked at the Fender copy guitar and said “Nah. He’ll turn up.”

He turned up. They played. Spine-tinglingly brilliantly.