What doesn’t one do to be close to one’s idol.
Some fans wait for hours in the pouring rain in front of a hotel to catch a glimpse of a Hollywood star. Others attend every concert of their favorite band because they hope to be let into the backstage area at some point in order to have to realize there at the latest: even superstars can stink of sweat after toiling on stage for two hours.
Well, my good friend Lukas and I didn’t want to settle for that 30 years ago, when we visited the Montreux Jazz Festival for the very first time. We wanted more. We wanted to go to the villa of festival founder Claude Nobs.
We had heard a lot about the place beforehand, but weren’t sure exactly where the chalet was. We didn’t let that get us down. At the train station in Montreux we got into a taxi and tried to explain to the driver in our school French where we wanted to go: “Conduisez nous à la villa de Claude Nobs … s il vous plait.”
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Keystone
Lo and behold: The taxi driver drove off without further inquiry. He drove and drove and drove further and further up the mountain. At some point I asked Lukas: «Where is this guy taking us?» I admit I was a little scared.
Shortly thereafter, the taxi pulled up in front of a rather stately building. In front of it stood an even handsomer man. Countless badges hung around his neck. As soon as Lukas and I got out of the taxi, the man started to smile and opened the door to the house for us. Before we understood what was happening to us, we were already standing in Claude Nobs’ villa.
The chalet was furnished with antique furniture, various juke boxes, miniature trains and musical instruments. However, I can remember more about everything. Because the place felt like a dream come true, but you don’t realize it’s come true until you leave the beautiful place.
Have we met Claude Nobs? I do not know it anymore. All I know is that quite a few people were standing around. But nobody was there who Lukas or I would have known. Far and wide no star, no starlet and also no C or Servelat celebrity.
The afternoon at the chalet ended with some wine, some appetizers from the buffet and a game of ping pong. At some point Lukas and I were afraid of being discovered by someone. And we thinned out again.
Conclusion of the story: Claude Nobs shared his villa with everyone, whether superstars or fans.