User:Gradynichols

Who, me? A "Star Trek" fan? Seriously? I mean, what would give you that idea?

I know I have pictures of myself with Bill Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Picardo, and Jonathan Frakes on MySpace.

I can explain that. We ran into each other at various Star Trek conventions. What was I doing at a Star Trek convention, you ask? Well, I was there in a professional capacity, of course, doing music.

Trust me, if you can successfully pull off entertaining a room full of Klingons, Romulans, Vulcans and other assorted alien species – you've definitely earned your pay for the week!

Now, you probably want to ask if I watch "Star Trek" much. I own all of them on DVD, both the series and the films, but that doesn't mean I'm a big fan or a Trekkie! I simply have an admiration for the greatest science fiction television program of all time, that's all.

Actually, I have had some wonderful experiences meeting various cast members of "Star Trek." They are genuinely nice, professional people. If you're interested, let me know if you'd like to hear about my first time meeting Leonard Nimoy. I'll post a blog about it if you'd like.

I also have had the opportunity to tour the "Star Trek" sets on the Paramount lot and that was really cool. "Deep Space Nine" and "Voyager" were in production at the time. The sets were enormous and, man, talk about a kid in a candy store! I so didn't want to leave.

I always have been a fan of the music of "Star Trek," especially the work of Jerry Goldsmith, whom I also had the privilege of meeting in an L.A. restaurant a few years before he passed away. I did a re-interpretation of his theme from the Next Generation film, "First Contact."

Brannon Braga, the screenwriter for the film and subsequent producer and creator of "Enterprise," even said: "Until Grady Nichols, 'Star Trek' never sounded so hip!" How cool was that?!? I was pretty excited about it.

You can check out "First Contact" from Amazon.com or CDBaby. Let me know what you think! Until my next blog, Kirk out...

Remember, I'm just an admirer of the show, that's all!!!

- Grady