An Encounter with Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja

Posted by The G on October 21, 2010 under Encounters with G | Be the First to Comment

Photo by G.

This is one for the books.  I was on my way to an appointment when I arrived a few minutes early.  I decided to wait outside and enjoy one of the last nice weather days New York will have in 2010.  Moments later, I see a guy walking up the street towards me.  I immediately think it’s Robert Del Naja aka 3D from Massive Attack.  Yes, I know they are playing a show on October 21, 2010 because I am going to it.  I am about to test my skills when the man approaches me. He asks where Houston Street is.  In NYC, the street is pronounced “How-Ston” instead of “Hugh-Ston.”  I told the accented man “you’d better not say ‘Hugh-ston,’ because these New Yorkers’ will kick your butt.”  He laughed and once I heard his accent, I said “Robert, would you mind taking a picture with me?”  I think that was a fair exchange.  I told him that it seemed so strange to see him just walking down the street so I wasn’t sure if it was him or not.  I also told him that I’d be going to see him perform the next night and how great their show was when I saw Massive Attack earlier this year.  We also talked a little bit about street art, because he was around doing street art before forming Massive Attack.  He came up in the same era as our dear old Banksy, but sadly, I didn’t get any Banksy stories out of 3D.  Well, thanks again Robert and I will assume that if you don’t show up at the Beacon Theatre, my directions were dreadfully bad.