A Penticton record store employee got a surprise on Monday when her favourite childhood pop star stopped in.
Larry Gowan, who is the current lead vocalist and keyboardist of the band Styx, was in the Grooveyard in downtown Penticton browsing through the store while employee Stacy Frank was working.
Gowan and Styx performed at the South Okanagan Events Centre Wednesday with Loverboy.
Frank was training a new employee when Gowan came in and Frank said she had a difficult time keeping it together once she realized it was him.
“I didn’t know at first because he was just walking around laughing at all the funny T-shirt sayings. He asked about an album we were playing and I was thinking, ‘OK, you have to say something.’ So I said ‘has anyone ever told you that you look like Gowan?’ He said ‘yeah, uh huh’ and I was like, oh my God, you are Gowan,” said Frank.
Gowan ended up buying a Captain Marvel patch, which also happens to be Frank’s favourite Marvel superhero, and gave her a guitar pick.
READ MORE: South Okanagan Styx fans in for a treat at upcoming show in Penticton
Frank said Gowan was very friendly and they chatted for about 30 minutes about different bands and how they influenced his music. She said Gowan then said he would try and get her a ticket to the show because there might have been some cancellations for their VIP guest list.
READ MORE: Photos- Styx, Loverboy rock Penticton
“I am guessing because Loverboy (whose lead singer Mike Reno grew up in Penticton) is also performing it was full, but he wanted to get me a ticket and was going to call this morning if he got one. If he does call that will be amazing however if he doesn’t, I am still glad I got to meet him. It would be great to go though,” said Frank.
Less than an hour after talking to the Western News, Frank got the news that Gowan ended up getting a pair of tickets to the concert for her.
Store co-owner Andrew Jakubeit said he wasn’t able to make it in to visit with Gowan, the Scottish Canadian singer, but got the lowdown on the visit. He said the Frank and Gowan ended up having a good conversation and she asked him if he performs any of his solo hits (which include Strange Animal, All the Lovers in the World, Moonlight Desires) in crossover with Styx. Jakubeit was told that he mentioned he does sing A Criminal Mind with Styx.
Jakubeit said it was a great experience for the Grooveyard employee.
“He has been here for part of the long weekend already, so that is cool that he is enjoying the Okanagan for a few days,” he said.
Gowan is just one of a few celebrities that have stopped in to shop at the Grooveyard. Frank said Alice Cooper came into the store before his performance at the SOEC, but she did not recognize him at the time.
“Nick Cage came through and we have had a few others come through, but certainly this is one of the larger musicians that have come through. We see band members and roadies that are on tour that sometimes pop in but typically it is not the lead singer coming in, so that is neat,” said Jakubeit.
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