Pierre Bensusan Master Class (2): Tales from the Road!

Two other guitarist friends of mine and I had the good fortune to be able to attend a master class this week with one of my guitar heros, French guitarist Pierre Bensusan.  One of those friends is none other than Boston-based French bluesman Bertrand Laurence who met Pierre many years ago when he opened for him at Johnny D's here in Somerville.  Not being familiar with Pierre's music back then, Bertrand only realized this was no ordinary gig when he saw a line of hundreds of people waiting to get in for that night's concert!

July 2011 Acoustic Magazine

As folks settled in for the workshop, Bertrand greeted Pierre as a friend and colleague.  I also said hello to Pierre, reminding him that my dad had booked some of his earliest concerts in the States right here at UMass-Boston.  After a great master class, Pierre having signed CDs and being done for the evening, Bertrand suggested to Pierre that we get a beer together.  Pierre had not had dinner yet, so we ended up at Christopher's in Porter Square for a late bite and drinks. And that is when the real fun started with both musicians sharing tales from the road.

It turns out both of them had great Pete Seeger stories.  Early on in Pierre's touring career, the US immigration service had balked at granting him a work visa to tour here. Pete Seeger and Joni Mitchell, among others, had then written letters on Pierre's behalf as they shared the same agent.  Pierre had not had the opportunity to thank Pete for this until some 15 years later at a music festival in Vermont.  Pierre and his wife were having lunch in the performers' tent when who should sit down at the table next to them but Pete and his wife!

Bertrand also reminisced about being at a music festival in France when he offered to help an old hippie-looking dude carry multiple guitar & banjo cases he was unloading from his vehicle.  Dutifully following the guy all the way on to the main stage where 5,000+ fans waited, Bertrand then heard the presenter on the PA system announce to the crowd "Pete Seeger!" much to his shock and surprise!

Speaking of carrying equipment on the road, Pierre recalled playing in LA and having Pierce Brosnan come up after the show to chat.  When Pierre had packed up all his gear, Pierce generously offered to help him carry it out saying that Pierre had already put in his work for the evening. Shortly thereafter, Pierce Brosnan's Bond movie "Die Another Day" came out in theatres and Pierre was able to impress his then 10-year-old son with his experience having Bond help him as his roady!

Thank you to two great musicians for sharing a little bit of themselves for a great evening out in Boston!