24 Comments
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Chris Cameron's avatar

I think I'm hooked already..

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Laura's avatar

Even though I know most details of this story already, I read riveted and delighted like it's the first time I'm hearing it.

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Richard Simoneau's avatar

Wow! What an incredible story. Your perseverance is greatly appreciated, as us fans are going to be rewarded with the ultimate life story of our idol.

I know I speak for all of John’s fans in saying that what you’ve accomplished is going to be something that is treasured for a very long time.

September can’t come soon enough.

Cheers

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Tim Greiving's avatar

Thank you so much!

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AntonJ's avatar

This is once again a fantastic read and a unique insight. I got goosebumps reading about your third meeting - it's nothing short of a miracle that this book is coming out (with Williams's participation).

As a day-one-subscriber I might eventually send you some topic requests, Tim, but I can safely say nothing I would've requested would be half as compelling as this. Beyond fascinating!

Tuesday is the best day of the week, no competition, haha!

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Tim Greiving's avatar

Thank you!!

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AntonJ's avatar

Must've been hard explaining why you wanted to write this book - to his face - without going into flattery or fanboyism!

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Tim Greiving's avatar

I'm sure I was still a little guilty of both, despite my best efforts...

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Miguel Andrade's avatar

Tuesday has officially become my favourite day of the week. I just love to learn about all these interactions you had with Williams. It makes one better understand the man behind the music and how knowledgeable he is about, I guess, everything.

Thank you, Tim. Looking forward reading episode 3 next Tuesday.

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Tim Greiving's avatar

You're so kind, Miguel. I'm glad you're enjoying these!

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Evan Lancaster's avatar

Since reading last week's post, I have been DYING all this past week for your next post to come out so I could experience the resolution... only to find out that it is merely Episode II in a multi-part saga! Inwardly (and perhaps slightly outwardly) I screamed "NOOOOOOOO!!!! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!!!!" as I realized too late I had gotten to the last line of this post and would have to wait (at least) one more week to find out how the story ends.

You are telling it masterfully so far, my friend. Keep it coming!

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Tim Greiving's avatar

Thank you Evan! Gotta keep you all on your toes :)

The "Empire Strikes Back" allusion in the title should have tipped you off that this would end on a dark cliffhanger. (Actually, I only just now thought of that.)

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Evan Lancaster's avatar

Ooooh, so then, based on that allusion, this post would technically be Episode V. Does that mean there are "prequel" posts already in the pipeline? Does some shady antagonist come out of the shadows and threaten to derail the whole project before it ever gets started? If so, you can make the title for the Episode I post:

"The Fan, Tim... Menaced"

(Sorry y'all; I'll just see myself out...)

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Tim Greiving's avatar

That's it; you're sentenced to pun prison.

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William Hoshal's avatar

Tim, I think you will now need to write a book about how you wrote THIS book.

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William Hoshal's avatar

....or can we just go ahead and count on a very long and enjoyable series of writings here? 🙂

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RICHARD GUERIN's avatar

Would you have swallowed that criticism from anyone else?

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Tim Greiving's avatar

I think so—but not from many people. A great teacher I respected, maybe, or a family member.

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John's avatar
May 6Edited

I like how you use scenes from the Maestro’s films to relate to how you personally felt, like the scene from Jurassic Park when Dr. Alan Grant first meets John Hammond. I could visualize you reacting in the same vein as Dr. Grant when he realized he was meeting John Hammond. Made me chuckle. Nice touch.

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Tim Greiving's avatar

I'm having a blast finding the right visual aids!

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TC's avatar

An incredible turn of events! Thank you for sharing this.

JW's initial reluctance and criticism are indeed reminiscent of the carrot-and-stick strategy of some academic scholars—perhaps a kind of subconscious screening process to determine whether the candidate is suitable for one's own needs and suits one's own taste. In a positive sense, it always involves a certain amount of vanity.

I like the idea that Don—the guy who so proficiently wacks the timps on recent Star Wars and Indy soundtrack recordings—might have provided the initial drumbeat.

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Tim Greiving's avatar

Ha, poetically said!

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John's avatar
May 6Edited

I am amazed; what a journey. I can’t wait to read about the next, fourth, meeting you had with the Maestro.

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Herunen's avatar

Amazing… again. Wouah

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