Corky Laing – Best Seat in the House

Corky Meets Salvador Dali as Alice Cooper

At 28, I was very aware and thrilled about exactly how lucky I was in life, although the experience of living through the 60s and 70s could leave anyone scared and jaded. I felt it was just plain luck - right place, right time.

In the summer of 1978, I was residing at the very posh St Regis Hotel, at 55th and 5th Avenue in the Big Apple. (New York) I was instructed by my record label president at Warner Brothers, to stay and enjoy all the amenities while a summit meeting would be scheduled that week with Warner Brothers president Steve Wax, manager Irving Azoff, and my celebrity lawyer, John Eastman. This was all very new to me and like I said I was totally impressed with my situation.

Since I realized there would be days of down time I invited my mother, Sarah to come from Montreal to join me at the hotel so we could hang out. Of course I would try to impress her with the affluent accommodations. So there I was, standing under the St Regis Canopy at the ornate entrance way. I was in a trance like state, pouffed up in my loud 70s glam rock attire and my recently straightened long black hair. Mesmerized by the sound of the rain, while my attention was focused on the reflections of the considerable lights off the puddles in front of me when suddenly my Zen like state was interrupted by a huge splash coming from an enormous white limo, that came to an abrupt halt right in front of me. I couldn’t help but notice there were 2 gorgeous women slowly pulling themselves out of the back seat, while ceremoniously embracing a third party who resembled a character in a Dickenson novel. My first impression was the recognition of the signature moustache. Who else but Salvador Dali, standing right in front of me decked out in a hooded black velvet cape trimmed in gold fringe. This ghost of a man looked up right at me and caught my astonished glare. In a striking Spanish Accent and whisky voice he said, “It’s so nice to see you again”, and proceeded to give me a big warm hug. I was god smacked. Salvador Dali was extremely happy to see me but why? I was ready to confess, Sallie you got the wrong guy, whoever you think I am, I am not. But I instantly stopped myself because this was too freaken’ cool. These gorgeous women were going along with everything and I welcomed their welcoming hugs. There was a spontaneous public scene developing into a mini event. Just then a bright yellow taxi pulls up behind the limo with non other than, Sarah Laing from Montreal,Canada. Stunned, all I could say at this point is Sarah meet Salvador Dali and Salvador this is my mom, Sarah Laing.

At which time Dali took my mothers hand and graciously kissed it and in his sexy Spanish accent said, “It’s my pleasure.” “ Its my pleasure Mr. Dali” Sarah responded. “ Sarah, it’s Salvador to you.” Said Dali.

The excitement continued when he invited us to join his entourage for the premiere opening of his solo exhibit at the Guggenheim that evening. A New York minute later we were off in his limo. The communication was limited but the smiles and laughs were abundant.

After our glamorous assault at the museum, we headed back to the hotel and I was invited to join in a private intimate party in their suite. My mom was now hip to the charade and reminded me it was time to ‘fess up with the cliché shit that ‘truth is beauty’. I said, “ Mom I’ll tell you what is beauty, Beauty is the ladies Salvador wore on each arm.” So ultimately I passed on the intimate freaky party and instead went to studio 54, but that’s another story.

As the road goes ever on, I crossed paths years later with Alice Cooper on a Joe Satriani tour, in Phoenix, Arizona. I sat down with Alice and his beautiful wife and revealed the entire debacle and our assault that evening at the Guggenheim Museum. After a good laugh Alice shook his head and said, “ Great story, there should have been more blood.”

Cashbox Canada is proud to now announce that this music icon will be joining our ranks to share his stories of the road, the music and memories he has experienced while touring with Mountain, West Bruce and Laing, Cork and many others. One legacy meets another, so please watch for his stories and his ‘Best Seat in The House’ column here on Cashbox Canada.