I had a drink with Elvis Costello and his band one time. Supposedly the 'angry young man' (he was 23) he was actually quite civil and decent. I only noticed one funny thing....if people asked him for an autograph, he would sign it very graciously. But if they were not watching him sign it, he would sign a fake name like Jim Smith or Bob Jones.

Also met Neil Young one time. I would describe him as a really nice, really normal guy. It was just like talking to your neighbor, if your neighbor was a very decent and normal dude. No star ego there at all. I told him he was a very good writer, and his work had really inspired me. He seemed genuinely appreciative.

And, Jeff Healey. The young blind guitarist who was in Road House. He was never an actor, but such a likeable guy, they used him in the film anyway.

I met him after Road House was filmed, but before it was released. I went to see him play in a hotel bar, and we all ended up partying in my hotel room for hours. He really liked his smoke, and I got him and his band really wasted.

I used to keep my contraband in an old chip bag, and he was feeling around for some snacks. I will never forget the look on his face when he pulled out about a 2-ounce chunk of hash. He didn't have to see it to know what it was.

His first record had just come out, and he was on the cusp of fame. A week later, he was on Letterman. The following month, he was in England hobnobbing with the likes of Mark Knopfler (who gave him an unrecorded Dire Straits song, "Think I Love You Too Much", to record); and also George Harrison, who played acoustic guitar on Jeff's cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Those were both on Jeff's second disc.

Eventually the cancer that took his eyes at age 3 took over his lungs and finally killed him. But he really had a life in the meantime, and gave a lot. Jeff was a really nice guy, and I miss him.